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Watershed Management Bureau
Public Beach Inspection Program
Adopt-a-Beach Program
The DES Beach Program has developed a concept for a statewide Adopt-a-Beach Program. The program builds upon the need to protect public health at New Hampshire's public beaches. The nature and extent of the program is to promote public education, interest, and involvement in protecting public beaches statewide. DES hopes to provide volunteers with a rewarding experience as well as accomplish several key goals such as:
- Develop a comprehensive monitoring program
- Protect public health
- Identify problematic beaches
- Remediate pollution sources
- Track beach water quality trends
Monitoring beach water quality for indicator organisms. is essential in protecting public health. Through regular monitoring, pollution sources that negatively affect water quality may be identified. To eliminate or remediate these pollution sources, a community effort is needed. By identifying pollution sources and conducting beach clean-up activities and improvement projects, we are working towards promoting a healthy beach experience.
The Beach Program hopes to make Adopt-a-Beach a fun, exciting, rewarding and educational experience! If this sounds like something that interests you, contact the Beach Program at (603) 271-0698 or watershed@des.state.nh.us.
For more information, view the Adopt-a-Beach Program Proposal.
The basic organization will consist of a group of volunteers called an Adoption Team. An Adoption Team can be a local family, organization, girl/boy scout troop, school group, or a local business. DES will organize and recruit the Adoption Team, provide field training, design a monitoring plan, and provide public education and outreach. The Adoption Team may participate in one or all of the following: perform beach inspections, collect water quality data, participate in beach clean-ups, initiate beach improvement projects, and assist in education and outreach activities.
Hampton Beach Adopt-a-Beach Program
The Beach Program has teamed up with the Blue Ocean Society, a non-profit organization based out of Portsmouth, N.H. The Blue Ocean Society coordinates the Adopt-a-Beach Program for coastal New Hampshire, focusing on beach clean-ups to reduce the amount of litter and marine debris on the beaches.
We have joined forces to recruit volunteers to adopt our coastal beaches. Hampton Beach State Park was adopted in 2005. Hampton Beach is coastal New Hampshire's premier attraction during the summer months. Unfortunately, prior to the park officially opening for the season (Memorial Day) and after the season ends (Labor Day), a large amount of litter and marine debris cover the beach area. While aesthetically un-pleasing, the trash also presents a hazard to marine wildlife (rope, cigarette butts) and humans (broken glass, medical supplies). We believe that preserving and protecting a valuable natural resource, such as Hampton Beach, are common goals for everyone.
If you are interested in adopting a beach along the coast, please contact Jen Kennedy, Director, Blue Ocean Society at (603)431-0260 or jen@blueoceansociety.org; or the DES Beach Program at (603)271-0698 or sonya.carlson@des.nh.gov.
To view the results of the Hampton Beach Clean-Ups please visit the Blue Ocean Society.
Links for state Adopt-a-Beach Programs
Arizona Adopt-a-Beach Grand Canyon
Adopt-a-Beach Program
Lake Michigan Adopt-a-Beach Program
Lake Michigan
Hawaii Adopt-a-Beach Program
Adopt A Beach HAWAII
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