Gulf of Maine Council Recognizes New Hampshire Award Winners for 2023

Concord, NH - Three New Hampshire award winners, including a NHDES employee, were among the individuals and organizations honored by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment at an international ceremony hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management in Boston, MA, on the evening of June 7, 2023. The Gulf of Maine Council presented international awards to honor individuals and organizations that have made a significant difference in protecting the health and sustainability of the Gulf of Maine watershed. Recipients from New Hampshire include Ted Diers of NHDES, Donald Clement, and Jay Diener.

NHDES Assistant Director of the Water Division Ted Diers was recognized with the Susan Snow-Cotter Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership. Over the past 25 years, Ted Diers has focused his work on state and federal ocean policy, salt marsh, and river restoration projects; assisting in revisions of state regulations; managing controversial and diverse issues; and facilitating numerous planning efforts. He is a past chair of the Gulf of Maine Council Working Group, Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) and Coastal States Organization. He also helped form and served on the initial board of directors of the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal and Ocean Observing Systems. He was the vice-chair of the National Ocean Council’s Governance Coordinating Committee and is currently serving as state co-chair for the Ocean Planning Committee of NROC.

The Gulf of Maine Council recognized Don Clement of New Hampshire with the 2023 Longard Award for his outstanding volunteer contributions toward protecting coastal resources in New Hampshire and the Gulf of Maine. Don has been an exceptional volunteer within the Gulf of Maine watershed for over two decades, volunteering thousands of hours to advocate for the protection of water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities in the Exeter-Squamscott River watershed.

The Gulf of Maine Council also recognized Jay Diener of New Hampshire for his outstanding contributions toward protecting and restoring natural resources in the Gulf of Maine. Jay is a local champion passionate about increasing awareness of environmental issues and advancing the protection of our natural resources.

Additional information about the Gulf of Maine Council 2023 awards, including recipient highlights, is available on the Gulf of Maine Council's website.

About the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment was established in 1989 by the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to foster cooperative actions within the Gulf watershed. The Council’s mission is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations. For more information, please go to: http://www.gulfofmaine.org.