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New Hampshire Celebrates World Water Monitoring Day - EPA announces Grant to assist efforts in N.H.

Release Date: 10/18/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Oct. 18, 2006) - Several New Hampshire groups were recognized by EPA for their efforts to provide volunteer water quality monitoring, which is helping Granite State residents to have a cleaner environment.

EPA, joined by state officials and local environmental groups celebrating World Water Monitoring Day today at Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester, awarded a $39,000 Education Grant to the New Hampshire Audubon Society for their Merrimack River Watershed Stewardship Program. This program educates 300-450 elementary and middle school students on non-point source pollution, water quality, hydrology, habitats, wetlands, aquatic ecology, cultural uses of rivers, and study of migratory fish as a healthy watershed. Teachers and partner staff are trained through teaching workshops to deliver the watershed curriculum.

In addition, EPA awarded equipment to three volunteer water quality monitoring groups. EPA will loan the equipment to the Israel River Volunteer Advisory Group, the Hodgson Brook Watershed Restoration Project and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) Volunteer Lake Assessment Program for up to five years. Using this equipment, volunteers will assess the water quality conditions of New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers and estuaries with the data collected. Over the years, volunteers have been successful in raising awareness of failing septic systems, illicit discharges of sanitary sewerage, and nonpoint source runoff.

“At least 200 New England groups are helping to protect our environment by doing volunteer water quality monitoring,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “These volunteers are an incredible resource helping all of us to know the condition of our streams, rivers and ponds, and I’m pleased that we can provide equipment to these groups to help them expand their sampling programs. EPA commends all the volunteers doing their part to monitor New Hampshire waters.”

World Water Monitoring Day is an initiative co-sponsored by EPA and the Water Environment Federation to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters. This international outreach program builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually, it encourages communities to monitor the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. Since its inception, more than 80,000 people have participated in 50 countries.

More information on World Water Monitoring Day (epa.gov/owow/monitoring/)

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