UNH Study Proposes Measures to Save Millions for Managing Great Bay

A section of the Squamscott River in Newfields. Photo by Jim Richmond/Wikimedia Creative Commons

A study published by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of NH in Durham proposes enhanced collaborative and integrated planning measures to save communities managing the Great Bay Estuary up to $220 million in water regulation costs. 

A collaborative team of scientists, community leaders and water resources experts took part in the study, named the Water Integration for Squamscott-Exeter (WISE) project. The study was aimed at addressing the decline in water quality in the Great Bay Estuary due to rising populations and increased development in NH coastal communities.

The team reviewed the Exeter-Squamscott watershed, which encompasses 80,000 acres and portions of 13 municipalities. The lower section of it includes Exeter, Stratham and Newfields, which together account for 24 percent of the total area but generate nearly 50 percent of the nitrogen to the river. “Though nitrogen is naturally present in estuarine water, excess amounts support algae growth, decrease oxygen and ultimately damage aquatic species,” the report states.

The researchers found that meeting goals for nitrogen reduction won’t be possible without the commitment of every municipality along the river, including those not currently required to regulate nitrogen under the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972. If the three examined communities focus on integrating their watershed treatment plans, the team estimates savings of $100 million to $220 million in 50-year lifecycle costs, including facility operations and maintenance costs.

“If communities work together, they can prioritize nitrogen reduction strategies across the watershed and across permits, starting with the most cost-effective actions,” the report states. “The greatest degree of cooperation leads to the greatest cost savings.”

The team behind the study included Alison Watts, research assistant professor at UNH; Robert Roseen, principal and owner of Waterstone Engineering in Stratham; Paul Stacey, research coordinator at Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve in Greenland; Renee Bourdeau, water resources engineer at Wright-Pierce in Massachusetts; and Theresa Walker, consultant environmental planner at Rockingham Planning Commission in Exeter.