Isinglass River Management Plan

ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared for the Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee by the Strafford Regional Planning Commission June 30, 2008 Revision 1 – March 2018 ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISION HISTORY Revision No. Date Revision Made By: 0 - original issuance June 2008 Strafford Regional Planning Commission 1 - revision March 2018 Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee Reviewed by Tracie Sale, Rivers and Lakes Programs Manager, NH Rivers & Lakes Management and Protection Programs ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN Funding Source for Original Plan Development: This project was funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Isinglass Local Advisory Committee (IRLAC) prepared the River Management Plan with assistance from the Strafford Regional Planning Commission and the NH Department of Environmental Services Rivers Management and Protection Program. The Plan was initially completed in June 2008. Members of the Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee have included: Allison Briggaman Strafford Wayne Donle Strafford Chair - Elizabeth Evans Strafford Maryalice Fischer Strafford Jim McCarty Strafford Bruce Smith Strafford Anne Melvin Barrington Ann Schulz Barrington Pam Skeffington Barrington Ted Walsh Barrington Alan Davis Rochester John Johnstone Rochester Elaine Lauterborn Rochester Jim McGranaghan Rochester Alan Davis Rochester Mike Zarenski Rochester Dean Peschel Dover The Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee recognizes the professional contributions to this plan of Steven Couture, NH Rivers Coordinator 2002 – 2011 (NHDES, Rivers Management and Protection Program), and the stakeholders and partners that provided technical and editorial assistance in development of this document. i ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN MISSION STATEMENT The Isinglass River, the river corridor and the greater Isinglass watershed have experienced and continue to experience effects of increased development and population growth in the coastal watershed of southeast New Hampshire. Although development immediately adjacent to the river has been minimal, there remain a large number of undeveloped parcels within the river corridor. In addition, development adjacent to the river’s tributaries has resulted in construction of numerous road crossings, and loss of forested lands and open space within the watershed. The Isinglass River Management Plan (the Plan) proposes a management approach focused on protecting and conserving the rivers many resources, protecting riparian and aquatic habitat, advocating for water quality and quantity to sustain aquatic and recreational uses, and balancing the development of land and water uses for recreation with other public needs within the river corridor and watershed. The Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee (IRLAC) advocates for implementation of the Plan and supports integration of its goals and strategies by the corridor communities in their planning initiatives and land use decisions. The mission of the Isinglass River Local Advisory Committee is to carry out its duties and responsibilities established by the New Hampshire River Management and Protection Program (NH RSA Chapter 483) to protect and maintain the resources, values and characteristics of the Isinglass River. ii ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 A. Background, History and Accomplishments ................................................................................ 1 B. The River Management Plan ........................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER II. THE ISINGLASS RIVER DESIGNATION .................................................................. 7 A. Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 7 B. River Corridor and Watershed Characteristics ............................................................................. 9 CHAPTER III. RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION ................................................................................ 11 A. Natural Resources ....................................................................................................................... 11 B. Managed Resources .................................................................................................................... 22 C. Cultural and Historic Resources ................................................................................................. 23 D. Recreational Resources ............................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER IV. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT ....................................................................................... 29 A. Water Quality and Biological Monitoring .................................................................................. 29 B. Watershed Stream Assessments ................................................................................................. 30 D. Instream Flows ............................................................................................................................ 33 E. Water Quality .............................................................................................................................. 34 CHAPTER V. LAND USE ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................ 35 A. Assessment of Land Use in the River Corridor and Watershed ................................................. 35 B. Local Zoning Districts and Use Regulations .............................................................................. 36 C. State and Local Setback and Buffer Requirements .................................................................... 42 D. Effectiveness of Local Land Use Requirements ......................................................................... 44 CHAPTER VI. PRIORITY MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN .............. 49 A. Original Plan Priorities ............................................................................................................... 49 B. Current Plan Priorities ................................................................................................................ 50 C. Evaluation of Progress ................................................................................................................ 61 D. Partners ....................................................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER VII: SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 62 APPENDIX A. Survey Results of 2005 and 2007 .................................................................................. 63 APPENDIX B. Key Person Interview Results 2008 .............................................................................. 67 APPENDIX C. Summary of Discussion from June 2, 2008 Community Meeting ................................ 69 APPENDIX D. Map Set ......................................................................................................................... 71 iii ISINGLASS RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Watershed and Designated Segments Map ...............................................................................8 Figure 2. Geologic Formations of the Isinglass River Watershed ..........................................................11 Figure 3. Estimated Transmissivity of the Stratified Drift Aquifers of the Isinglass River Watershed .13 Figure 4. Designated Prime Wetlands Adjacent to the Isinglass River in Barrington ...........................18 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Location and Length of Designated River Segments ................................................................7 Table 2. River Corridor and Watershed Acreage by Community ...........................................................9 Table 3. Acreage of Stratified Drift Aquifers by Community ..............................................................12 Table 4. Habitat Types as Identified in the NH Wildlife Action Plan [2015] ......................................14 Table 5. Core Focus Area Habitat Types Identified in the NH Wildlife Action Plan [2015] ...............16 Table 6. Forest Cover by Acreage and Type [NLCD, 2011] ................................................................16 Table 7. Wetlands by Type and Acreage in the River Corridor and Watershed ...................................17 Table 8. Wetland Acreage in the River Corridor and Watershed by Community ................................18 Table 9. Miles of Tributary Streams and Rivers in the River Corridor and Watershed .......................19 Table 10. Permanently Protected Lands within the Isinglass River Corridor and Watershed ................22 Table 11. Recreational Areas in the Isinglass River Watershed .............................................................25 Table 12. Public and Privately Owned Access to the

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