| Natural Resources Protection |
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| Black Brook in Autumn |
As Manchester pushes forth in a growing, thriving and changing New England, it is important to identify those things that make living here unique, enjoyable and rewarding. Our environment is one of those features that pervade everyday life in New England. It is one of the most compelling reasons for people to relocate here.
Due to a number of factors, environmental issues have received more attention recently in Manchester. Where possible, conservation of Manchester's natural resources should be a key consideration in development and land use decisions. It is by recognizing the influences that the natural environment have over land uses that we understand the meaning of wise use.
Based on input from the Manchester Conservation Commission, the Natural Resources Coordinator created a broad list that outlines some environmental issues that warrant attention to preserve quality of life for those that live and work here. Most of these issues are requiring some background work to determine current status. Once this background information is gathered or generated, a more specific, comprehensive conservation plan can be developed.
Now more than ever, our natural resources play an important role in the way we lead our lives. Over-exploitation of resources, alternative technologies, world politics and a myriad of other factors play into the complicated web that results in our relationship with nature and its essential products.
Industrial and commercial development are at all-time highs in the City, thus it stands poised for future greatness as a destination city. A balanced approach is the key to success and high quality of life.
Ongoing Projects
- Wildlife Corridor Identification
- Completed first phase of monitoring to document wildlife species occurrence in the Hackett Hill area (View Report)
- Information on presence/absence of predators
- Collaborative effort with Amoskeag Fishways
- Illegal Dumping
- Completed preliminary inventory of dump sites city-wide
- Researching other communities' dumping reduction programs
- Compiling report that identifies and describes sites on the ground, in terms of material, amount, location characteristics
- Developing parts of reduction plan (current ordinances & enforcement, identify ongoing efforts, identify needs, etc.) for inclusion in report
- Hosted volunteer cleanups at four sites around Manchester during October (collected 34 bags of litter, removed approximately 350 pounds of trash from environment, logged 30 volunteer hours)
- Invasive Species
- Working to reduce amount of invasive plant colonization to promote increased biodiversity
- Treated phragmites stands with herbicide at the City Beach and around Crystal Lake during the past two years, working toward phragmites eradication
- Land Conservation
- Consulting with Hillsborough County Forester, and other land conservation experts about issues associated with town forest designation and conservation easement establishment for key natural areas in Manchester
- Researching other towns approaches to town forest designation
- Identified 23 city owned parcels of prime bald eagle habitat for conservation easement establishment, with assistance from the NH Fish & Game Department
- Shoreland Protection Zone
- Conducting analysis on protection status of the City’s water resources to analyze the need for new municipal regulations relative to shoreland protection
- Researching other towns municipal shoreland ordinances and protection zones
- Creating new maps to show current protection status of City waterways based on current ordinances and the NH Comprehensive Shoreline Protection Act
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| Spring vegetation emerging from a frozen wetland. |
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