Watershed Management Bureau

  Coastal Program

    Restoration Projects in New Hampshire

Since 1990, NHCP has been heavily involved in salt marsh restoration by funding numerous projects through the Section 306A program. Among these have been projects in Rye, Hampton, and Seabrook that have restored over 100 acres of marsh. These projects include replacing inadequate culverts, removing fill, and Phragmites mitigation.

In 1994, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) identified 31 tidal restrictions on the coast. Of these, 15 have been eliminated, restoring approximately 720 acres of marsh. Of the remaining 16 restrictions, 4 are in the planning stages and 6 more are doable but difficult. The remaining 6 restrictions are probably permanent due to flooding, political, or historical issues.

Pre-1998: 200 Acres of Restored Marsh

• Awcomin Marsh – Rye (12 acres/ditching and fill removal)
• Drakeside Road – Hampton (22 acres)
• Locke Road – Rye (37acres/tidal restriction)
• Meadow Pond – Hampton (117 acres)
• New Castle Marsh - Wentworth (1 acre/creation)
• Sandy Point – Stratham (5 acres/ditching)
• Stuart Farm – Stratham (12 acres)
1998: 60 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Fairhill Marsh- Rye (12 acres/panne work)
• Hampton Landing Road/Site 1 – Hampton (23 acres/tidal restriction removal)
• Hampton Landing Road/Site 2 – Hampton (5 acres/panne work)
• Herods Cove – GBNWR (16 acres/panne work)
• North Mill Pond – Portsmouth (1 acre/creation project)
• Parson's Creek – Rye (150 acres/tidal restriction removal) Stubbs Pond – GBNWR (3 acres/panne work)
• Welsh Cove – GBNWR (2 acres/panne work)
• Woodman Point – GBNWR (20 acres/panne work)
1999: 66 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Cains Brook – Seabrook (17 acres/tidal restriction removal) Fairhill Marsh– Rye (6.2 acres/panne work)
• Hampton Landing Road – Hampton (7.9 acres/panne work)
• Rye Harbor – Rye (15 acres/tidal restriction removal)
• South Main Street– Seabrook (5.2 acres/panne work)
• Wallis Sands – Rye (5 acres/tidal restriction removal) Wininicut Rd- Greenland/Phase II – (9.7 acres/panne work)
2000: 172 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Little River – N. Hampton (172 acres/tidal restriction removal)  
2002: 35 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Awcomin Marsh, Rye (35 Acres)
2003: 20 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Pickering Brook, Greenland (Phase I) (20 Acres)
2004: 10 Acres of Restored Marsh
• Pickering Brook, Greenland (Phase II) (10 Acres)
Restoration Projects in Planning
• Bass Beach Marsh, N. Hampton (5.6 Acres)
• Brown's River Marsh, Seabrook (42 Acres)
• Odiorne State Park, Rye (0.4 Acre)