Purpose Statement

The New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership (NH Coast) is a 501c3 tax exempt non-profit organization that is “dedicated to combining sound science with education, collaboration and advocacy to protect the natural resources of the coastal watershed and effect long-term visible change.” By creating partnerships with local watershed organizations, NH Coast seeks to improve the management, understanding and health of New Hampshire’s coastal waters to ensure thriving ecosystems and their continued capacity to serve vital ecological, economic, recreational and human needs.

What is a Watershed?

Watershed is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. A watershed carries water “shed” from the land after rain falls and snow melts. Drop by drop, water is channeled into soils, groundwater, creeks, and streams, making its way to larger rivers and eventually the sea. Water is a universal solvent, affected by all that it comes in contact with: the land it traverses, and the soils through which it travels. The important thing about watersheds is: what we do on the land affects water quality for all communities living downstream.

What Encompasses the NH Coastal Watershed?

We have the biggest little coast! New Hampshire’s coastline along the Atlantic Shore is 18 miles long, the smallest in New England. Little known fact: New Hampshire has over 220 miles of shoreline comprised of bays, harbors, and tidal rivers - including Great Bay, an “inland sea.”
New Hampshire’s offshore waters are home to the endangered fin whale - at an average of 70 feet in length - is the second largest animal on earth!

New Hampshire’s coastal land area drains 990 square miles, including the land area in all or part of 46 New Hampshire towns. Forests, wetlands and other natural areas give us water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation, and scenic views.

Sources: NH Coastal Program Ask Me About the Coast Talking Points; State of the Estuaries 2006, New Hampshire Estuaries Project; The Land Conservation Plan for New Hampshire’s Coastal Watersheds, 2006

Declining Water Quality in our Coastal Waters

NH Coast’s initial program focus is to work with its watershed partners to develop a multi-faceted and phased approach to address the problem of excessive nitrogen loading in the coastal watershed’s Great Bay Estuary. As a result of excessive nitrogen loading, the water quality of the Great Bay Estuary is in decline. During the past 25 years, nitrogen concentrations in Great Bay have increased by 59%. Dramatic increases in Nitrogen have negative impacts on drinking water, fish, animals and plant life. For example, the Great Bay has already seen a 49% loss of total eelgrass coverage area, which serves as a natural filter that cleans pollutants from our coastal waters and helps to sustain our fisheries. Help offset your own nitrogen input to our coastal waters by clicking here.