FURNACE BROOK (NH) WATERSHED RESTORATION PLAN

For NH DES and EPA Region 1, FB Environmental is preparing a detailed watershed plan for the restoration of the Furnace Brook watershed in New Ipswich, NH. FBE’s Furnace Brook Watershed Restoration Plan is a pilot project designed to provide a guidance template for other watershed restoration plans throughout the state. The plan will address bacteria and other forms of impairment and will include the nine elements of watershed-based plans needed to obtain Section 319 funding. We are currently conducting an inventory of bacteria sources through site visits, “hot spot” field surveys, and analysis of other available information. In coordination with local stakeholders, we are identifying, prioritizing, and providing conceptual designs for a suite of BMPs to mitigate adverse water quality impacts to the watershed. FB Environmental’s approach to this high priority pilot project is to coordinate closely with local stakeholders and to combine on-the-ground surveys with state-of-the-science evaluations techniques to support watershed restoration.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATEWIDE BACTERIA TMDL’s

FB Environmental is currently conducting a major bacteria TMDL project for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) and EPA Region 1. The project features completing bacteria TMDLs for 16 watersheds (including 290 impaired segments) covering the entire State of New Hampshire. We are compiling and analyzing available bacteria data and suspected source information in coordination with NH DES personnel. FB Environmental will also compile a set of watershed restoration actions (e.g., BMPs) for stakeholders to use in mitigating each type of bacteria source identified. This project demonstrates FB Environmental’s ability to provide high-quality technical communication and guidance that leads to innovative watershed solutions.

LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

FB Environmental is providing assistance to EPA Region 1 for the planning and coordination of four technical workshops in 2008 that will target municipal officials and focus on Low Impact Development (LID) techniques in treating stormwater. These workshops, titled Weathering the Storm: Managing Stormwater with Low Impact Development (LID) in Northern New England, will draw upon the expertise of stormwater managers throughout the region. FB Environmental is very well versed in LID practices and has extensive experience in technical event design and production. Tasks for this project include workshop planning support, organizational and logistical assistance at workshops, and development of educational outreach materials.

LONG CREEK WATERSHED BASED PLANNING AND STORMWATER BMP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

The Long Creek watershed in southern Maine has been studied extensively over the past several years and is listed by the Maine DEP as an urban impaired stream. This impairment is due to urban nonpoint source pollution and in-stream habitat degradation. FB Environmental was hired as part of a consultant team in the fall of 2007 to develop a detailed strategy to mitigate the potential for non-point source pollution from impervious surfaces and other sources in the Long Creek watershed. In addition to developing a comprehensive list of practical approaches to stormwater management, the project team is summarizing existing data; developing a technical advisory committee to provide guidance on prioritizing watershed improvements; and working with watershed stakeholders through a project facilitator to promote involvement and a sense of local ownership. The end product of all these efforts will be the development of a watershed management plan that incorporates a technical but community-driven, pragmatic approach to watershed restoration.

LITTLE OSSIPPEE LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Over this multi-year project, FB Environmental, under a 319 Grant from Maine DEP, was contracted by York County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Town of Waterboro to complete a comprehensive lake improvement project. This project involved working closely with the Little Ossipee Lake Association as well as lake homeowners. To complete this project, FB Environmental organized and executed a comprehensive watershed survey in order to pinpoint critical areas of phosphorus and sediment loading into the lake. FB Environmental also provided technical assistance to homeowners, created education and outreach materials, participated in Steering Committee meetings, and managed the installation of 15 Best Management Practices (BMPS) at high priority sites around the lake.

GOODALL BROOK HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT AND NORTHERN GREAT WORKS RIVER IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT

Goodall Brook is a polluted urban stream that flows into the Great Works River and Bauneg Beg Lake and is a designated impaired waterway by the Maine DEP. A riparian habitat restoration project was planned, designed and implemented by FB Environmental in summer of 2007, with assistance from Maine DEP, the Town of Sanford and a volunteer AmeriCorps crew. Restoration of the creek was initiated in order to reduce bank erosion, decrease water temperature, reduce invasive weeds and restore native plants to the streambank. FB Environmental drew on their knowledge of riparian restoration utilizing native plants to complete this project.

MAINE DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND BACTERIA TMDLS

FB Environmental is currently contracted to conduct assessments for numerous impaired streams throughout Maine under the State’s non-point source and bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) programs. Under this contract, FB Environmental is working with US EPA and ME DEP to establish assessment criteria to better define the natural variability of dissolved oxygen in small Maine streams. Additionally, FB Environmental provides quality assured monitoring data and observations to be used in Bacterial TMDL reports. Project tasks include scientific research and technical report writing, Bacterial TMDL development, GIS mapping, water quality data collection and analysis.

MAINE LAKE TMDL MONITORING & ASSESSMENT

FB Environmental has been managing the TMDL Lake Assessment Program for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection since 2000. Under this contract, we have completed well over 30 lake TMDL’s in Maine. Project tasks have included detailed GIS mapping, analysis and ground truthing; land-based and internal lake nutrient load modeling; lake and tributary water quality monitoring; and perhaps most importantly facilitating a formal public participation process to solicit crucial input from lake watershed stakeholders. FB Environmental has consistently earned praise from these groups for our thorough and inclusive public process and for effectively integrating public comments into the final TMDL report documents.

KENNEBUNKPORT WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND BACTERIAL SOURCE ASSESSMENT

FB Environmental worked for the Town of Kennebunkport to conduct bacterial water quality monitoring and mapping through the summer and fall of 2005. This project was part of an ongoing effort to identify the sources of bacterial contamination resulting in swimming advisories along Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport. In 2006, FB Environmental teamed with Hillier & Associates and the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory to employ a suite of investigative analytical tools in order to determine the potential sources of bacterial contamination affecting Goose Rocks Beach. Project tasks included "hotspots" GIS modeling, intensive estuarine and riverine sampling, data analysis and report writing.

MAINE STREAM TMDL MONITORING & ASSESSMENT

FB Environmental has been contracted since 2005 to conduct a variety of annual assessments for dozens of small impaired streams in Maine for the State’s nonpoint source Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program. Project tasks include watershed mapping, water quality monitoring, rapid geomorphic and habitat assessments, impervious cover and land use analysis, hydrologic modeling, TMDL technical report writing, and facilitation of stakeholder outreach.

LAKE SAMPLING AND ASSESSMENT

FB Environmental offers a full suite of lake water quality sampling including parameters such as secchi disk transparency, total phosphorus, pH, color, chlorophyll-a, E. coli and alkalinity. Sampling is conducted in accordance with standard methods and procedures for lake monitoring established by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the US EPA and the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program. FB Environmental provides clients with yearly monitoring reports for each lake which include maps, data summaries, and analysis of sampling results.

WATERSHED BASED MANAGEMENT PLANNING

FB Environmental has been providing watershed management planning assistance to a variety of organizations for the past several years. We have worked with the Great Works River Watershed Coalition, the town of Kittery, Maine and the Acton Wakefield Watershed Alliance, among others. Our watershed management plan development activities have included conducting watershed surveys; summarizing and analyzing water quality data; identifying and mapping natural resources in relation to features of the built environment; identifying and analyzing potential pollution “hot spots”; reviewing local land use ordinances for consistency with watershed protection goals; and recommending implementation strategies for nonpoint source pollution prevention efforts throughout impaired watersheds.

PRESUMPSCOT RIVER PLANNING AND RESTORATION

As the contracted Executive Director of Presumpscot River Watch, Forrest Bell assisted in the development of the open space and cumulative impact sections of the Presumpscot River Management Plan. In 2005, Forrest co-authored a successful $750,000 grant proposal to implement measures of this plan. Forrest and his associate, Fred Dillon, are currently leading several tasks for this multi-year project including extensive data collection and analysis and working cooperatively with watershed golf courses to improve environmental conditions on their properties.

WOOD EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER FUELS FOR SCHOOLS INITIATIVE

FB Environmental is part of a consortium helping to promote the use of New England-based biofuels in a wide range of applications. The goal of the “Fuels for Schools” Initiative is to increase awareness and use of wood pellet fuel as a heating option for a variety of consumers in municipal, commercial, and residential markets. Effective outcome will enhance the integrated bulk fuel delivery system, support environmentally sensitive energy solutions and sustainable forestry practices, while lowering heating costs and stimulating economic growth in New England.