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54-207 Portsmouth Street | Concord, NH 03301 603.228.6472

Why we love the New Hampshire Rivers Council

We have spent most of our professional lives working to protect and improve New Hampshire’s air and water. Because of our busy schedules, however, we haven’t had as much time as we’d like to get out and enjoy our sparkling rivers, the beautiful scenery that surrounds them, and the gratifying feeling that one gets after spending a day on the river. Fortunately, more than twenty-five years ago, the New Hampshire Rivers Council was formed by far-sighted individuals who realized that our rivers needed an effective advocate to preserve them for future generations. Since then, everyone associated with the Council has worked tirelessly to ensure that New Hampshire’s rivers and streams flow with clean, clear water and that development along their shorelines and throughout their watersheds maintains their integrity. Today, the importance of our public waters to New Hampshire’s economy and quality-of-life is indisputable. As new grandparents, we want to guarantee New Hampshire’s legacy of clean, clear rivers and lakes for the next twenty-five years as well. Our twin grandchildren, EJ and Aylin, live in New York City, so they will depend on visits to New Hampshire to create their own memorable nature experiences. Since 1993, the New Hampshire Rivers Council has helped make unique and rewarding river experiences possible for all of us. We thank the New Hampshire Rivers Council for its significant work over the last generation, and we happily support it so the next generation—our grandchildren and yours—can enjoy the miles and miles of exceptional rivers and streams that traverse this beautiful state for years to come.

—Jacquie and Ken Colburn, New Hampshire Rivers Council members

Jacquie, Ken, and new twin grandchildren, Aylin Grace and EJ (Evan Nigel).

on the cover: Needle Shop Brook (displaying alternating gravel bars) in Hill Village.

Progress and Partnerships: 2014 Annual Report

The New Hampshire Rivers Council is committed to the conservation and ecologically sound management of New Hampshire’s rivers, watersheds and related natural resources.

The New Hampshire Rivers Council is the only statewide conservation organization dedi-cated to the protection and conservation of New Hampshire rivers. Since its incorpora-tion as a nonprofit organization in 1993, the Rivers Council has worked to inform citizens about the value of the state’s rivers, designate rivers in the state’s protection program, and advocate for strong public policies and wise management of New Hampshire river resources.

The Rivers Council grew out of the New Hampshire Rivers Campaign, a group of concerned citizens and conservation organizations that united in 1985 to create a voice for protec-tion of New Hampshire rivers. The Campaign helped establish the state’s Rivers Manage-ment and Protection Program in 1989. The Campaign also helped shepherd river nomina-tions into the new state protection program and helped establish river corridor protec-tions under the state’s Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act. In 1992, the participants in the campaign recognized the need for a permanent, ongoing voice for river protection in the state, and formed the New Hampshire Rivers Council.

Officers Michele L. Tremblay Boscawen President

Danna Truslow Rye Treasurer

Steven Lowe Canterbury Secretary

Directors Jacquie Colburn Meredith and Bar Harbor

The Honourable Judith Spang Durham

Frank TupperCanterbury

Honorary Directors Stephen Blackmer Camilla Lockwood Patricia Schlesinger

Kelly Short Staff and contract Tanya Robidoux Program Administrator

Laura Byergo Contractor, Winnicut River Watershed Coalition

Board of Directors, staff, and contractors

The Council was proud to host its fourth Wild & Scenic® Film Festival at the Red River Theatres in Concord on March 28, 2014. The 2014 theme was, “emPOWERment.” The event sold out days before the big night. Filmmakers Heather Hoglund and Matt Lowe were on hand to provide background on their film, “The Strong People,” and to answer audience questions. Music was provided by Paul Hubert from Ashland. Other films included, “A Brief History of the 5 cent bag tax,” “A Life Well Lives,” and “A Rock and a Hard Place,” and local offering, “River Story: The Lamprey Through History.” Thank you to our 2014 Wild & Scenic® Film Festival generous local sponsors including, VHB, Inc.; Eastern Mountain Sports; Adam Bronstein; BCM Environmental & Land Law; CEI, Inc.; Lamprey River Watershed Association; naturesource communications; ReVision Energy; Stonyfield Or-ganic; Truslow Resource Consulting, LLC; Ken and Jacquie Colburn; FB Envi-

ronmental; First Colebrook Bank; Foothills Physical Therapy; Gibson’s Bookstore; Green Concord; Merrimack County Savings Bank; White Birch Communications Group; 959PhotoWorkshops; Tall Tiber Lodge; Café Indigo; Concord Food Co-op; Hermanos; and The Works Bakery Café. Be sure to save the date, March 25, 2016 for our sixth annual film festival. To learn more, visit http://nhrivers.org/film-festival.

Wild & Scenic® Film Festival: a sold-out house–and more

Working to empower citizens and build partnerships

The Council builds partnerships with many citizen and nonprofit organizations. It also provides fiscal management or support to groups throughout the state.New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Local River Management Advisory Committee workshop Save Our Groundwater Governor’s Water Sustainability Commission Discover Wild NH Day NH Lakes Lakefest 2014 Raft-a-Palooza Manchester Flyfishing Association Trout Unlimited Ducks Unlimited Amoskeag Fishways River Network Anheuser-Busch, Merrimack City of Manchester Towns of Bedford, Greenland, New Hampton, and Stratham …and all of our River Runners™ and Wild & Scenic® Film Festival partners and sponsors.

Our members and donors are the lifeblood of the organization. The New Hampshire Rivers Council board of directors and staff work hard each and every day to secure financial support and to work with partners to assure that your generous donations are maximized and are effective in individual communities and throughout the state. Thank you for your continued support.

Kally and Eric Abrams Judith and Kenneth Ackerson

Chris Albert Isabel Aley

Tom Archibald Neil Arlin

Constance Aubin-Adams Thomas and Trisha Ballestero

Kerry Barnsley Althea Barton

Anne Nordstrom and William Batesole Grace Beauregard

Chelsea Berg Roland Berube Taylor Blachly

Kelly Short and Steve Blackmer Jeffrey Blecharayk

George and Martha Booth Peter Brankman Rachel A. Brown

Elaine Brown Ellen and Randy Bryan

Annette and Donald Burgess John and Irene Bush

Matthew Cahillane and Karen Kelly Sara Cairns

Jed Z. Callen and Carol J. Hess Alfred Cann

Kristen Cannatelli Alan Cantor

Wayne and Patricia Castro John Ceriello

Bill and Susan Champney Jane Chandler

Thomas and Mary Anne Chapman The Chormann Family

Mark Ciborowski Erik and Martha Coats

Arthur E. Cohen Gena Cohen Moses

Ken and Jacquie Colburn Richard Conde

Lawrence and Brigitte Cook Oliver Bradford and Jil M. Coolidge

John W Corrigan Chris Courtemanche

Sandy Crystall Stephen and Janice D’Alessio

Susan Damour Joanne Davis

Kenneth Davis Victoria Davis

David Deen Julie Dewdney Peter Donahue

Paul and Deborra Doscher Barry Draper

Gretchen Draper Jen Drociak

Michael Duclos Craig and Kleta Sue Dudley

Paul I. Egbert Luke and Eglington

Anne and David Emerson Peter and Mary Eppig

Margaret Fischang Beth Flagler

Kathleen P. Flagler Charles Forrence Jr.

Jamie Fosburgh Carol R. Foss

Emily Gabriella Al and Liz Garlo

Dawn Genes Heather Gilbert Claire Gleeson

Joseph Goodnough Richard Goyette

Walter and Ingrid Graff Jim and Chris Graham

Linda Graham Holly Green

Jonathan Gregory Carolyn Guerdet Colleen Haggerty

Kate and Warren Haggerty John and Nancy Halloran

Becca Harding Andrew Hatch and Julie Cooke

Peter and Deb Hayden Nathan and Helen Hazen

Bruce Healey Erling and Kim Heistad

John C. and Nancy J. Herper Michael and Elizabeth Herrmann

Debby Hinman Donald and Mary-Lou Hinman

Paul Hodgdon Alden and Josette Hofling Gary and Cindy Hogland

Heather Hogland David Howe Tom Howe

Mary Jo Howe Linda Hunter

Harold and Betsy Janeway Matt Jeannotte

Lindsay Johnson Marilyn Johnson

Jennifer Jones Michael Kenyon

Carl Paulsen and Meg Kerr Julia Khorana

Megan Burke Kidder

Kenneth D. and Sarah Kimball Norman Zane Knoy

Paul M Kotila Luke Laboe

Philip and Andrea LaMoreaux Stephen C. Landry

Ellen Langlais John Lanier

Lisa LaPierre Mimi Larsen Becker

Lynne Lawrie Zach Lebreux

Mary Lee Nancy L. Levesque

Robert and Helen Lindstrom Laurence Little Ingeborg Lock

Camilla C. Lockwood Matt Long

Steven and Madeleine Lowe Richard and Ann Ludders

Rachelle Lyons James and Tina MacCartney

John and Donna Magee Matt Marchand James C. Martel

Charles F. and Martha S. Martin Tom Masland and Sylvia Bates Michael and Kathleen Maxwell

George May Brian and Susan McDonough

Barbara McMillan Fred McNeill

Loren and Bonnie Meeker Anne H. Melvin

Donald and Eileen Miller Genevieve R. Miller

James D. Miller David Mills

Raymond Miner Charlie and Nanci Mitchell

Howard Moffett Randolph Monti

Margaret Mumford Ken Munney

Richard Nassa Elizabeth Nelson

Mark and Kristi Nieman Lauren Noether

Ken Norton Tom O’Brien

Jennifer O’Hare Mark O’Meara Aisling O’Shea Phineas Owen

Daniel A. Paradis Henry H. Peterson

Ralph and Christine Perron Jean-Marie Peterson

James and Elizabeth Petrus Tim and Julie Pifer

Joel and Prudence Potter Tom Quarles

Michael Racine Cory Ritz and Gretchen Rae

James F. and Jane E. Raymond Lucinda Reid

Kim Rheinlander Jonathan Ring River Network Keith Robinson Stan Robinson

Thomas and Nancy J. Roy Tracie Sales

Patricia P. Schlesinger Pamela Skovira Vilius Slubelus

Boyd Smith and Annette Zamarachi Richard Snow

Carl and Judith Spang Mike and Patricia Speltz

Larry and Eleanor Spencer Max and Helga Stamp

Kenneth and Ilene Stern Frankie Stracchia

William R. Stratton Thomas and Herta M. Sutton

Cyrus and Barbara Sweet Guy and Susan Sylvester

Jeffrey and Dorothy Taylor Scott and Sheryl Tedford

Sarah Thorne Eric and Debra Thum

Ruth G. and Mark Timchak Jean Towns

Charles and Jean Clark Townsend Michele L. Tremblay

Anne G. Truslow Bill and Danna Truslow

Frank A Tupper John D. Unger Cricket Vlas Erica Walker

Chris Wall Margaret B. Watkins

Peter and Karen Weiler Jane-Holly Weintraub

Joan S. Weston Doug and Gwen Whitbeck Eric and Becky Williams

Robert Wofchuck Robert and Nancy Wyatt

Devon Yesberger Geoff Zimmerman

Thank you, members and donors for your generous and continued support

The Rivers Council at work for your rivers The New Hampshire Rivers Council continues to be a strong advocate for the state’s rivers and water resources by informing legislators through involvement in and representation on many key groups.

Winnicut River Watershed Coalition The Coalition, an initiative of the New Hampshire Rivers Council, was formed in 2009. The nine-mile Winnicut River and forty-two miles of streams that feed it run through the communities of North Hampton, Stratham, and Greenland. This beautiful natural resource flows directly into Great Bay. Federally mandated testing in 2008 identified impairments in the Winnicut River. Chemicals and bacteria have polluted some sections and impervious surfaces are increasing stormwater runoff. With the help of volunteers, the Coalition works with the three communities in the watershed to monitor river water quality, promote techniques to reduce stormwater, and remove barriers to natural water flow and migratory fish. The data collected are used to determine the health of the Winnicut River and its tributaries for the Winnicut watershed community’s residents, neighbors downstream, wildlife, recreational pursuits, property values, and Great Bay. Work is underway to educate and congratulate homeowners and work with partners to draft a watershed restoration and management plan. To learn more, visit http://nhrivers.org/winnicut.

River Runners™ With generous support from the NH Department of Environmental Services and gifts from members like you, the New Hampshire Rivers Council offered six River Runners Invasive Aquatic Plants Identification and Monitoring Workshops throughout the state to train volunteers in detecting and preventing the spread of Didymo, also known as “Rock Snot,” and other invasive species. The conducted workshops with regionally specific species training sessions with local hosts. Belknap County Conservation District in Laconia, Upper Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee in Concord, Nashua River Watershed Association in Merrimack, Contoocook and North Branch Rivers Local Advisory Committee in Bennington, Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, and Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership in Durham.

To learn more, visit http://nhrivers.org/river-runners.

Environmental Policy Roundtable, Local River Management Advisory Committees Lean, Legislative Exotic Aquatic Weeds and Species Committee, New Hampshire Lives on Water Steering Committee, Public Water Access Advisory Board,

Rivers Management Advisory Committee, Shoreland Advisory Committee, Stream Rules Work Group, Wetlands Rules Work Group, and Water Council.

The Council continues its work with the NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Fish and Game Department, City of Manchester, Town of Bedford, Trout Unlimited Merrimack Valley Chapter, Ducks Unlimited, Manchester Flyfishing Association, Anheuser-Busch, and other partners to protect and improve the McQuesten Brook watershed. In the heart of a bustling urban area in Man-chester and Bedford, McQuesten Brook sup-ports one of the state’s highest quality popula-tions of naturally reproducing wild brook trout as well as a variety of other wildlife. The watershed provides sensitive wildlife habitat that is threatened by stormwater run-off. Runoff can include chemicals, sediment, nutrients, and toxins that discharge into McQuesten Brook after rainfall, snow melt, or from yard sprinklers, car washing and other activities where water flows off streets, drive-ways, and lawns. The New Hampshire Rivers Council spawned the idea for a McQuesten Brook watershed restoration and management plan after it worked with volunteers from the Anheuser Busch Merrimack plant. During one of the clean-up events, several otherwise healthy, na-tive Eastern Brook Trout were discovered dead. They suffocated when they were stranded by debris. In 2014, the Council continued its work with partners to implement the restoration and manage-ment plan. Working with Inter-Fluve, Inc. and the City of Manchester, modeling and plans were devel-oped to remove a series of dams in McQuesten Brook. In the Bedford, work began to model and de-velop permits to remove one culvert by discontinuing a short road, and to upgrade another culvert to

a wider bridge. When these obstructions to the brook’s flow are removed, the native brook trout will move with ease and safety in cooler water with more oxygen in it. Stormwater remediation and management plans are beginning with several area commercial land-owners. The Council plans to work with area home-owners through its Watershed Steward™ Program. This project is made possible through grants from the NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Fish and Game Department, the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, and your generous membership dues. To learn more, visit http://nhrivers.org/mcquesten-brook.

Town and country: a watershed partnership

Soon-to-be removed dams in McQuesten Brook in Manchester.

Clockwise from upper left: volunteers and clean-up debris, sediment in brook in Manchester, culvert in Bedford, and brook with parking lot on right in commercial plaza. Center: native Eastern Brook Trout in Manchester.

Your gifts are maximized and made meaningful

Expense

Thank you, generous sponsors, grantors, and partners Anonymous generous sponsor

959 Photo Workshops BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC

Belknap County Sportsmens Association Bend Fly Guides, LLC

Adam Bronstein, Woodworker Café Indigo

CEI, Inc. Checkmate Workforce Management

Solutions Concord Food Co-op

Conservation Law Foundation Eastern Mountain Sports

FB Environmental First Colebrook Bank

Foothills Physical Therapy Gibson’s Bookstore

Granite State Naturals Green Concord

Paul Hubert, Musician Lamprey River Watershed Association

Merrimack County Savings Bank naturesource communications

NH Department Environmental Services Exotic Aquatic Weed Infestation

Prevention and Watershed Assistance Grants

NH LAKES ReVision Energy

Save Our Groundwater Stonyfield Organic

Susty’s Café Tall Timber Lodge

The Works Bakery Café Truslow Resource Consulting, LLC

The Gilbert Verney Foundation VHB, Inc.

Walker Silverworks White Birch Communications Group

Revenue