Potential Dovetail

[s2ary]

Hey Guys,

I was reading about some big grant funds that were awarded to three NH sea coast rivers. The isenglas was of particular intrest. The grant info is here; http://www.des.nh.gov/Coastal/Resources/documents/TheRipTideSeptember2007.pdf

Now what realy got me going is the potential to dovetail our future efforts with these grants. The isenglas is a tributary of the Cocheeco which is already on a few radar screens for anadromous fish restorations. If we were to support/ propose a restoration project focused on improving sea run brookie breeding/ habitat on the isenglas or one of the other rivers mentioned in the article, than we are more likely to get federal and state support.

Grant funding agencies like to concentrate money in resources. So the first grant protects undeveloped portions of the watershed. Then we (FFNH&GBTU) come in afterwards to improve the river habitats within the protected areas. By building off prior efforts we improve upon and or ensure that the past efforts are successful. That makes for a very compelling and fundable project.

Just somthing to think about as we move forward.

[lowwall]

Glad you are on board with getting somethings done. And thanks for the updates.

Great to get a fishable sea run population close to home.

Mike

[Steve H.]

If we were to support/ propose a restoration project focused on improving sea run brookie breeding/ habitat on the isenglas or one of the other rivers mentioned in the article, than we are more likely to get federal and state support.

How are you going to possibly restore sea-run brook trout in the Isinglass with the dam on the Cocheco in downtown Dover? I know there's a fish ladder there, but will brookies use this to get to the upstream tribs such as the Isinglass?

Don't get me wrong, I love the Isinglass (although it pains me to see it raped and pillaged each spring by the yahoos) but it's hard to picture that river as a nursery for sea-run brookies.

[s2ary]

That's what we need to look into, and someone like yourself is going to be invalueable on something like this.

It may seem silly, but as a forester I like to think in geological time. If you stop and think about it that way nothing is impossible. You can grow a forest up around a resource, or lobby to improve fish access based on both projects. If there is a large supporting group and work being done in a resource, anything can get funding. The Isenglas ranked as the top stream for preservation in the nation. Whatever we can do in the watershed that can improve on that is a desirable project.

Nothing is out of the relm, 15 years ago people laughed at us for proposing to attract endangered species to an active landfill. I just got a call today that 22 college level classes want to come check the project out this year. :roll: Where were they 15 years ago when they were throwing cabbage and rotten fruit at me. :lol: