L to R: Sally Soule (NHDES), Dana Truslow (Strafford County Conservation District), Mark Kelly (Haley & Aldric Inc) and a Durham resident & property owner discuss suitability of an additional pilot project site as part of the Durham Permeable Reactive Barrier project. (
Kyle Pimental/SRPC Photo)
|
|
On Thursday, December 19, Kyle Pimental, principal regional planner, in partnership with Danna Truslow (Strafford County Conservation District), Mark Kelly (Haley & Aldric Inc.), and Sally Soule (Department of Environmental Services), braved the icy conditions and met with several property owners in Durham to conduct site evaluations for an ongoing water quality project. In an effort to install two permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to address nonpoint source pollution from residential septic systems, SRPC and its partners have been searching for suitable locations and interested landowners to participate in the project. PRB’s are relatively new technologies, which are now being
piloted in the Great Bay watershed, and seek to control nitrogen with a formulation of wood chips, additives, and sand or gravel to transform inorganic nitrogen to nitrogen gas.
Evaluations for each site were based on a variety of criteria, including proximity to surface water, accessibility, depth to groundwater, and potential nitrate loading. Next, the project team will prioritize and rank each location. The most suitable sites will, hopefully, move forward with design and installation next year.
This project is being funded by a watershed assistance grant that was awarded by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and is part of several other ongoing efforts to address nitrogen impairments in the Great Bay estuary. For more information, please reach out to Kyle Pimental at
kpimental@strafford.org or call 994-3500.
Pieces of Interest
|
|
The Dover Community Trail, a great asset for the City, follows a former railroad bed through much of the City. The project is being built in phases with the current support of two Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants. When finished it will provide public access to protected greenways along the Cochecho and Bellamy Rivers, and provide a pedestrian and bicycle friendly connection between downtown, the Dover Middle and High School campuses and Bellamy Park. Rural extensions provide opportunities for bicycling, hiking, bird watching, and fishing where the trail follows the Cochecho and Bellamy Rivers.
The project is now in its third phase. Phase III of the project will allow for completion of the trail segment from Fisher St. to Central Ave. at the south end and the connection between Downeast Energy to Beckwith park in the center portion. Phase IV includes adding further extensions to connect the trail from Rutland St. and Central Avenue to the Knox Marsh Road, through the Middle and High School complex and Bellamy Park.
Most recently there have been inquires as to whether there could be another extension of the trail headed out towards the Little Bay Bridges, creating a connection to Newington. A preliminary site walk took place on Monday, Dec. 16, exploring possible connections parallel to Dover Point Road and via Finch Lane and Spur road heading south. Colin Lentz, senior transportation planner attended this site walk alongside Donna Benton, Dover City Planner, David White, Dover City Engineer, Nancy Spaulding, of NHDOT's Turnpike Bureau and Larry Keniston of NHDOT's Bureau of Highway Design, and Mike Shannon, Dover Resident.
For more information on the Dover Community Trail visit the
City's website.
Pieces of Interest
|
|
During the week of Dec. 16 data collection intern, Stephen Geis, began pulling data for the 2020 update to Strafford Economic Development District (EDD)'s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Strafford EDD's first CEDS was adopted back in 2015, and subsequent yearly updates have been published in the years in between. Now as a fully funded EDD, economic development staffers are drafting a new CEDS which involves an outreach process, analysis of recent data, and updates on projects and goals.
The first outreach event for the 2020 CEDS is a regional workshop scheduled for Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, focusing on transportation, economic development, and housing. It is geared towards town administrators or leaders, planning departments, economic development, and road agents or public works representatives.
Other outreach efforts will target other audiences and are being planned over the course of the next few months.
For more information on the regional workshop contact
Nancy O'Connor, or to learn more about Strafford EDD in general visit
Pieces of Interest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
