Watershed Management Bureau

  Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP)

    Local River Management Advisory Committees

A distinctive characteristic of the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program is the partnership created between state government and local citizens through the formation of a local river management advisory committee for each designated river. Each committee plays a vital role in protecting not only the river, but its shorelands as well. A minimum of one resident from each riverfront community along the length of designation is appointed to the committee by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (DES). Committee members represent a broad range of interests and backgrounds. The main responsibilities of the advisory committee are to develop and implement a local river corridor management plan and advise local, state, and federal governing bodies and agencies of activities which may affect the water quality or flow of the protected river or segment. The DES offers the committee technical assistance in developing and implementing the management plan.

Several of the local river management advisory committees (LACs) have extended their efforts for river protection by undertaking projects outlined in the river management plans or those which the committee felt would further benefit the river and river communities. Two notable examples are projects organized by these committees on the Upper Merrimack and Swift Rivers. In 1995, the Upper Merrimack River LAC created a water quality monitoring program which has brought together volunteers representing high schools, colleges, and members of the riverfront communities. These volunteers collect and identify aquatic insects from rock baskets which are placed at eleven sites along the Upper Merrimack. Since 1995, the Swift River LAC has organized a river cleanup in conjunction with "National River Cleanup Week". Numerous volunteers from the community worked each year to collect trash and recyclables from the Swift River's banks. Both projects promote community participation, and provide an opportunity for the committees to further serve the rivers for which they are stewards.