ConservationNews People Love Their Rivers By John Magee, Fisheries Habitat Biologist Thirty years ago, there were few opportunities to provide a coordinated and local voice to protect New Hampshire’s rivers. The passage of RSA 483 in 1988 established the Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP), a grass-roots effort to protect certain rivers for their outstanding natural and cultural resources. The program is administered by N.H. Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) staff, with assistance from the Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC). As Fish and Game’s Fish Habitat Biologist, I’ve been a non-voting member of the RMAC since 2004. I offer technical assistance to help the STEPHEN GASS / DREAMSTIME.COM committee formulate © solutions to issues One of New Hampshire’s 18 Designated Rivers, the Pemigewasset affecting Designated (above) flows south through the White Mountains from its headwaters at Rivers and to empower Profile Lake in Franconia Notch State Park. Signs such as the one at left local communities to identify Designated Rivers. help their rivers. For a river to more likely that and Game, NHDES, and the N.H. Department be included as projects to help of Transportation. River restoration and land “Designated,” a formal the river will conservation projects have been completed in public process must be get funded. For the watersheds of several other rivers, in part followed that calls for example, stream because of their Designated River status and extensive engagement crossings in the locally involved communities. N.H. Fish and by the communities in Piscataquog Game staff have assisted with many of these the river’s watershed PHOTO COURTESY River watershed efforts. and approval by were assessed The River Management and Protection the Advisory Committee, the NHDES for their vulnerability to floods and to Program, with its focus on community Commissioner, and the State Legislature. determine which ones impact the movement involvement, supports local action and interest Community involvement is the real strength of aquatic animals throughout the watershed. in protecting our rivers. The federal Wild and of the program. A volunteer Local Advisory This project helps communities reduce flood Scenic Rivers Program, which is coordinated Committee (LAC) is set up to develop and risks, precluding habitat impacts from erosion by the National Park Service, is similar to implement a River Management Plan to caused by flooding. It also helps restore the New Hampshire’s RMPP, but only two rivers, protect the outstanding qualities of the river. connections among riverine habitats, which the Lamprey and Wildcat, are protected under On my personal time, I have served for 16 is essential for healthy populations of aquatic the federal program. Of New Hampshire’s years on the Piscataquog River LAC, so I’ve animals. nearly 11,000 miles of river, 38 miles are seen for myself how the program can help A similar project in the Ammonoosuc designated as Wild and Scenic. protect a community’s special river. River watershed was conducted in 2016 As of March 2018, New Hampshire has Fish and Game has an obvious interest and 2017. (The Ammonoosuc has been a 18 Designated Rivers covering 990 miles, and in this program because it helps provide Designated River since 2007.) After floods a nomination for the Warner River is being greater protection and restoration of riverine devastated the Cold River watershed in 2005, reviewed by the Legislature to add 20 more habitat, water quality, and recreation on substantial restoration work was done in miles of river to the RMPP. As the program rivers. In addition, the inclusion of a river Warren Brook, a major tributary of the Cold passes its 30-year milestone, it’s wonderful to in the program provides recognition of its River, as a collaborative effort between the see more people in New Hampshire working importance to local communities and makes it Town of Alstead, Cold River LAC, N.H. Fish together to protect our riverine resources. May / June 2018 1.