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Estuaries Face Serious Environmental Threats
By Amy Quinton on Friday, October 16, 2009.
A new study shows that New Hampshire’s estuaries are facing serious environmental threats. The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership recently released its State of the Estuaries report.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton has more.
Every three years, the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership measures the environmental quality of both the Great Bay and the Hampton Seabrook Estuaries.
They look at indicators to judge the health of the estuaries, such as the number of adult oysters, the amount of eelgrass cover, and toxic pollutants, among others.
This year, 11 of the 12 indicators showed deteriorating or cautionary conditions.
Phillip Trowbridge, a coastal scientist with the Partnership, says population growth and the associated increase in nutrients like nitrogen is causing the most pressing threat.
He says excess nitrogen can deplete the estuary of oxygen.
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nh audubon has a seabrook/hampton estuary report. the estuary and marshlands are part of the important bird area program.