Wetlands

New Hampshire’s diverse natural resources support many of the activities that drive New Hampshire’s economy. Residents, businesses and visitors enjoy New Hampshire’s wetlands, streams, lakes and the seacoast for their natural beauty and recreational opportunities.

In addition to their economic value, New Hampshire’s wetland resources are of great importance for flood control, water quality, water storage and recharge for both groundwater and surface waters. These functions are more valuable with the expected increase in frequency and severity of storm events associated with climate change. Wetlands also support the food chain, providing food and habitat for a variety of aquatic and upland plants and wildlife.

Although New Hampshire has lost fewer wetlands to filling and dredging than many neighboring coastal states, landscape change poses a significant challenge to the protection of New Hampshire’s wetlands and natural resources. It is found to be for the public good and welfare of the State of New Hampshire to protect and preserve both tidal and fresh waters and its wetlands (including lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, marshes, forested wetlands and peatlands) from unregulated despoliation because of the important functions and values that these aquatic resources provide, such as:

• Absorbing flood waters.
• Treating stormwater.
• Recharging groundwater supplies.
• Providing habitat for fish and wildlife.
• Providing economic and recreational value.

Activities located in wetlands and surface waters, such as excavation, removal, filling, dredging and/or construction of structures in or on any bank, flat, marsh, forested wetland or adjacent to waterbodies, generally requires review and approval from the Wetlands Bureau in accordance with the Fill and Dredge in Wetlands Act (RSA 482-A), unless otherwise specified by rule or law.

Emergency Authorizations

During emergency situations caused by natural disasters, private property owners and public agencies can perform work in wetlands jurisdiction without receiving a permit or prior authorization when there’s a threat to public safety, public health, or if significant damage to public infrastructure or private property is imminent. Requests for Emergency Authorizations are handled by the regional permit inspector. For further information and instructions, see Fact Sheet WB-9 “Wetlands Emergency Authorizations.”