We help communities address the impacts of development and a changing climate throughout the Great Bay watershed. Our focus areas include…

• Water quality protection through more effective stormwater and wastewater management, reduction of nonpoint source pollution, and the protection of wetland buffers
• Land use planning to support conservation, floodplain management, and habitat, encourage living shorelines, and promote natural resource-based management at the watershed
  • See an example of a Living Shoreline project and learn about the process with a virtual field trip to Wagon Hill Farm in Durham.
• Shoreline management that balances land use with the need to adapt to a changing climate
• Climate change preparedness that addresses how changes in precipitation, sea level rise, and temperature are impacting municipal infrastructure, natural resources, cultural resources, groundwater, drinking water, and economic vitality.
• Building baseline conservation and group process skills that help communities be more effective and inclusive in natural resource management decisions

We work with a range of partners to provide up-to-date scientific information and skill-building opportunities for anyone responsible for making decisions that affect New Hampshire’s coastal resources. Held at the Reserve or in local communities, our workshops can be customized to meet your needs. We often offer one-on-one and small group technical assistance after the workshops. Please sign up on the form below for more information.

Serving on a conservation commission or planning board is a big commitment that can include steep learning curves.

We partner with the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership and the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions to empower municipal board members to make, balanced science-based decisions that protect water quality and natural resource protection. Together, we offer skill and knowledge building opportunities for new and veteran board members. Trainings are designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning during and after the event. Fill out the form below  for more information.

The Great Bay Reserve is a founding member of the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (NHCAW) coalition, and our municipal outreach lead, Steve Miller, has been a co-chair since the group’s inception.

Through NHCAW, 29 organizations work to ensure coastal watershed communities are resourceful, ready, and resilient to the impacts of extreme weather and long term climate change. NHCAW helps communities by providing resources, facilitation, and guidance to enhance readiness and resilience.