The Lamprey Rivers

Six rivers, fourteen towns, one shared water resource

Prepared by the Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee www.lampreyriver.org Welcome to the Lamprey Rivers

The Lamprey rivers are comprised of six to cultural significance. Vestiges of a rivers: the main stem Lamprey, Little, seasonal camp that dates back 8,000 years North, North Branch, Pawtuckaway, and represent one of the earliest and most Piscassic. From Northwood to Newmarket, important archaeological sites in New these rivers connect fourteen towns. Hampshire. Over 100 mills once dotted These rivers have flowed through the landscape and remains of several can thousands of years of human history yet still be found. Mill foundations and other still remain largely undeveloped. structures at and near Wiswall Falls in The rivers and Durham and the huge textile mill district in the land that Newmarket are both listed on the National drains to them Register of Historic Places. offer remarkably Recreation on the rivers offers beautiful diverse habitats, scenery, excellent fishing, miles of paddling from forests to opportunities, and quiet trails for walking. open fields, The rivers offer many resources and we dawn genes and from large are among those resources. The future of wetlands to rushing rapids. More than the rivers largely depends on how we use 160 species of birds, more than two dozen them today and plan for growth tomorrow. species of fish, threatened reptiles, and rare We will become part of history. Read on to mussels live in or along the rivers. learn more about the rivers and enjoy this Historical and archaeological sites attest beautiful setting.

Mills of various sizes were built at almost every set of falls along the main stem and its tributaries. Several became centers of local commerce and supported relatively large settlements. Shown here: Newmarket Mills

Jerry Monkman, Eco-photography Special Rivers

Fall Along the Lamprey Original oil painting by John Hatch Recreation on the River Healthy river corridors offer many kinds of recreation for all seasons: swimming, fishing, and boating in summer; cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and skating in winter; and enjoyment of wildlife and natural beauty all year long. When you come to the rivers, please “tread lightly” and BARRINGTON leave no trace of your presence. Quiet visitors are often NORTHWOOD rewarded with glimpses of otters sliding down river banks 4 or Norgreatthwood blue herons Meado stalkingws fish or frogs in the sedges. State PaParrkk Lampr BARRINGTON Little River NORTHWOOD ey 4 River 152 BARRINGTON DEERFIELD NORTHWOOD NOTTINGHAM Nor Lamprey River 4 LEE th River

Nor Lampr 156 Watershed 152 th Branch River 43 107 DURHAM The Lamprey water that flows Little River 108 DEERFIELD ey River P 125 into Great Bay in Newmarket CANDIA awtuckaw 152 comes from six riversNO andTTINGHAM the River NEWMARKET DEERFIELD RAYMOND EPPING Great Bay land of fourteen communities. ay 27 Lamprey River 101 LEE NOTTINGHAM NEWFIELDS Nor 43 Piscassic River LEE th River 107 DURHAM EXETER Nor FREMONT108 156 BRENTWOOD th Branch River 43 125 107 DURHAM CANDIA 156 108 NEWMARKET RAYMOND 40P 48 awtuckaw Great Bay 125 BOAT LAUNCH SITES: CANDIA EPPING 27 TRAILER ACCESS River NEWMARKET CAR TOP ACCESS NEWFIELDSRAYMOND EPPING Great Bay ay 101 27 TOWN BOUNDARY Lamprey River MAJOR HIGHWAY 101 NEWFIELDS LAMPREY RIVER WATERSHED STREAM OR SHORELINEFREMONT Piscassic River BRENTWOOD LAKE OR POND EXETER RIVERS FREMONT WILD & SCENIC DESIGNATION BRENTWOOD

4 048 BOAT LAUNCH SITES: TRAILER ACCESS 40 48 BOAT LAUNCH SITES: CAR TOP ACCESS TRAILER ACCESS

TOWN BOUNDARY CAR TOP ACCESS MAJOR HIGHWAY LAMPREY RIVER WATERSHED TOWN BOUNDARY STREAM OR SHORELINE MAJOR HIGHWAY LAKE, POND, OR RIVER LAMPREY RIVER WATERSHED WILD & SCENIC DESIGNATION STREAM OR SHORELINE LAKE OR POND RIVERS WILD & SCENIC DESIGNATION The diverse habitats along the rivers provide exceptional birding in scenic surroundings.

photo by Dick Lord, lrac

Visitors please: ■ Carry out whatever you carry in.

■ Respect private property and seek permission to visit posted land.

■ Keep livestock gates closed.

BARRINGTON ■ Respect wildlife by keeping your distance. NORTHWOOD ■ Obey state law by traveling not more 4 than 5 MPH when in a motor boat. Although some public access points occur Lampr along the rivers, most access is through Little River private land. The continued generosity of ey

River 152 landowners depends on your sensitive use.

DEERFIELD

NOTTINGHAM Nor LEE th River

Nor 156 th Branch River 43 107 DURHAM 108

P 125 CANDIA awtuckaw

River NEWMARKET RAYMOND EPPING Great Bay ay 27 Lamprey River 101 NEWFIELDS Piscassic River EXETER FREMONT BRENTWOOD

40 48 lrac D ick L ord, BOAT LAUNCH SITES: TRAILER ACCESS CAR TOP ACCESS

TOWN BOUNDARY MAJOR HIGHWAY LAMPREY RIVER WATERSHED STREAM OR SHORELINE LAKE OR POND RIVERS WILD & SCENIC DESIGNATION State Protected The entire Lamprey River and five of its major tributaries (Little, North, North Branch, Pawtuckaway, and Piscassic rivers) are included in the Rivers Management and Protection Program. This program recognizes the state’s outstanding rivers and affords some extra protections. Designation required the support and approval of each of the fourteen towns that drain to the Lamprey. Federally Protected The lower 24 miles of the main stem Lamprey River in the towns of Epping, Lee, Durham, and Newmarket are also designated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This section supports “outstandingly remarkable” resources in ecological integrity, anadromous fishery (fish that migrate between fresh and salt water), and historical significance. Reflected in the Wild and Scenic designation is an appreciation that this river remains an unspoiled natural resource despite its proximity to the Boston A ribbon cutting ceremony metropolis and a growing human population in celebrates Wild & Scenic southern New Hampshire. designation for the river. Dick Lord, lrac Local Action Both the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program and the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Program ask each town to nominate up to four citizens to serve as volunteers on the Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee. Members represent the various ways that the rivers are used locally: municipal government, agriculture, landowners, conservation, recreationists, and business. The main duties of this committee are to create an advisory rivers management plan (available at www.lampreyriver.org) and to comment on proposed projects that are within a quarter mile of the rivers.

The Lamprey provides a study site for educators and students alike.

BARBARA McMILLAN, NHDES What the Committee Does for the Rivers ■ Educates and informs residents. ■ Permanently protects natural land. ■ Advocates for clean, abundant water. ■ Promotes wildlife research and habitat protection. ■ Helps protect historical sites. ■ Reviews development projects. ■ Improves low-impact public access to the rivers.

What We All Can Do for the Rivers Protect the water. We all need to find ways to use less water for ourselves and our lawns. Reduce or eliminate lawn fertilizer. Plant native vegetation rather than exotics. Pump out your septic system every 2-3 years. Pick up your pet’s waste. Protect the soil. Keep a wide area of natural vegetation next to streams and wetlands. Respecting set-back distances will reduce erosion, The owners of this 112-acre property keep the water cool in summer, and help wildlife. recognized the value of their land as open space and have permanently pro- Keep the water on site. tected it with a conservation easement. Storm water is dirty. Roofs and pavement do not let rainwater Jerry Monkman, Eco-photography soak into the soil, forcing it into storm drains or straight to a waterway. When more water filters through deep soil (lawns don’t count) the result is more ground water and less pollution in streams. Focus on prevention of problems, not clean up. Strong preventive regulations benefit everyone. Trees and shrubs clean water much more effectively, longer, and at a lower cost than mechanical means. Support local efforts for low-impact development and reducing the amount of pavement.

rachel stevens dawn genes Further Information Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee National Park Service Lamprey River Wild and Scenic Rivers Program c/o 203 Wadleigh Falls Road 15 State Street Lee, NH 03861 Boston, MA 02109 (603) 659-5441 (617) 223-5191 Sharon Meeker, outreach chair www.rivers.gov [email protected] NH Dept. of Environmental Services www.lampreyriver.org 29 Hazen Drive Lamprey River Watershed Association Concord, NH 03302-0095 c/o 43 North River Road (603) 271-3503 Lee, NH 03861 www.des.nh.gov www.lrwa-nh.org Septic System Tips Bear-Paw Regional Greenways NH DES produced a video that describes Land Conservation what a septic system is, how it works, and 63 Nottingham Road how homeowners can make it last. Deerfield, NH 03037 http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/ (603) 463-9400 water/wweb/homeowner_video.htm www.bear-paw.org Rockingham Planning Commission Southeast Land Trust Land Use Planning, Community Assistance Land Conservation 156 Water Street 12 Center Street Exeter, NH 03833 Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 778-0885 (603) 778-6088 www.rpc-nh.org www.seltnh.org Southern New Hampshire Strafford Rivers Conservancy Planning Commission Land Protection 438 Dubuque Street P.O. Box 623 Manchester, NH 03102 Dover, NH 03821-0623 (603) 669-4664 (603) 516-0772 www.snhpc.org www.straffordriversconservancy.org Strafford Regional Planning Commission Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership Land Use Planning, Community Assistance Protection and Enhancement of Great Bay 150 Wakefield Street UNH, Nesmith Hall Rochester, NH 03867 131 Main Street (603) 994-3500 Durham, NH 03824 www.strafford.org www.prep.unh.edu This brochure was produced by the Wild and Scenic Subcommittee of the Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee with funding from Landscaping at the Water’s Edge: the National Park Service. An Ecological Approach The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of A Manual for NH Landowners and the authors and do not represent the opinions or policies of the U.S. government. Mention of trade names or commercial products Landscapers, available from does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. government. http://extension.unh.edu/resources/ Cover photograph: “Winter in the Lamprey Estuary, Newmarket” by Rachel Stevens - LRAC. Other photographs as noted. UNH Stormwater Center ©2013 Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee www.unh.edu/unhsc/ www.lampreyriver.org