Great Bay

Legislators Will Take Up Great Bay Issues In January

Sam Evans-Brown — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:18:38 +0000

Come January, New Hampshire lawmakers will consider a bevy of bills dealing with the water quality of Great Bay. Some proposals confront waste-water treatment plant costs head-on, while others skirt that controversy.

The decline in the ecosystem of the Great Bay, coupled with Portsmouth, Rochester, and Dover's decision to fight the EPA over required wastewater treatment plant to upgrades is inspiring action in Concord.

Seacoast Scientists Say Great Bay Is In "Stasis"

Sam Evans-Brown — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:42:37 +0000

A new report out Friday finds that the Great Bay Estuary is still struggling. Every 3 years the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, or PREP releases its State Of Our Estuaries report. The report’s data plays into an ongoing battle over the cost of new wastewater treatment plants on the seacoast.

Towns Sue E.P.A. Over Nitrogen Emissions In The Great Bay

Roger Wood — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:42:15 +0000

Top municipal officials of three Seacoast region communities are continuing their fight against tough new environmental regulations for their wastewater treatment plants.

The Future of Great Bay

Laura Knoy — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Monday on the Exchange we look at the future of the Great Bay region of our stat and see how best to stop pollution from taking a further toll on its ecosystem.

Efforts to Restore Oyster Beds Could be a Stopgap Measure for Great Bay

Sam Evans-Brown — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 02:36:51 +0000

The Nature Conservancy and the University of New Hampshire are working to restore oyster beds in the Great Bay. The organization hopes its efforts can help stave off an ecosystem collapse while towns in the watershed work toward upgrading their wastewater plants.

Great Bay Communities and EPA Square Off In Exeter

Sam Evans-Brown — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Representatives of five New Hampshire towns say the Environmental Protection Agency is imposing wastewater limits on the Great Bay that are a financial burden. They made their case to two members of the Congressional Committee on Oversight at a field hearing held in Exeter Monday. While towns and regulators haggle over the cost of improving waste water treatment, time may be running out for the Great Bay estuary.

A Contentious Issue

Conservation Law Foundation Joins DES in Great Bay Lawsuit

Sam Evans-Brown — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:20:05 +0000

The Conservation Law Foundation has asked to help defend the Department of Environmental Services in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of Great Bay area communities.

The suit is an attempt to block rules that would require the towns to upgrade their wastewater treatment plants.

The CLF’s Director, Tom Irwin, says the suit is a stalling tactic, aimed to delay measures needed to help the Great Bay recover its health.

Great Bay Area Communities Sue State Over Water Quality Issues

Amy Quinton — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:03:35 +0000

A coalition of Great Bay area communities is suing the state and the Department of Environmental Services, claiming DES failed to follow proper rules when determining water quality standards in the Great Bay.

Dover, Portsmouth, Rochester, Exeter and Newmarket claim DES violated state and federal law by not conducting a formal public process when determining water quality standards in the Great Bay.

As a result, the communities say they face unnecessary multi-million dollar wastewater treatment upgrades.

Development Plays Key Role in Pollution of the Great Bay Estuary

Amy Quinton — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:55:11 +0000

This week NHPR’s Amy Quinton has been taking an in-depth look at the New Hampshire’s Great Bay.

The estuary is one of the state’s natural treasures.

But it’s in trouble.

Restoring Oysters Could Help Clean the Great Bay Estuary

Amy Quinton — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

This week, NHPR’s Amy Quinton has been taking a look at some of the challenges facing the Great Bay estuary.

Earlier she reported on how pollution is killing the bay’s eelgrass, a source of food and habitat for wildlife.

Can We Fix the Great Bay Estuary?

Amy Quinton — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

All this week, NHPR’s Amy Quinton has reported on some of the challenges facing the Great Bay.

Pollution is threatening the health of the estuary, but officials are discussing ways to prevent further deterioration.

In the last part of her series, environment reporter Amy Quinton takes a look at possible solutions.

(nat sound..squawking)

Development Plays Key Role in Pollution of the Great Bay Estuary

Amy Quinton — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

This week NHPR’s Amy Quinton has been taking an in-depth look at the New Hampshire’s Great Bay.

The estuary is one of the state’s natural treasures.

But it’s in trouble.

Sewage Treatment Plants Part of Pollution Problem in the Great Bay

Amy Quinton — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency has designated New Hampshire’s Great Bay as officially impaired.

That means the 14 New Hampshire wastewater treatment plants that discharge into the estuary face tougher clean water standards.

And that could cost ratepayers millions.

In the second part of her series on the challenges facing the Great Bay, NHPR’s environment reporter Amy Quinton reports.

Great Bay Estuary Faces Pollution Threats

Amy Quinton — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

At 18 miles long, the New Hampshire coastline is the shortest in the country.

But if you include the Great Bay, the state’s meager coast grows by about 144 miles of tidal shoreline.

The rare inland estuary, where salt water meets fresh, spans more than 13,000 acres.

And nearly a quarter of the state’s population lives within its watershed.