HAMPTON, HAMPTON FALLS, & SEABROOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE

In partnership with the Seabrook-Hampton Estuary Alliance (SHEA) and other stakeholders, FBE developed the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Management Plan (EMP) that uses science, data, and policies to formulate effective management strategies that can be implemented by the communities of Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Seabrook over the next 10 years. The Hampton-Seabrook Estuary is a vast ecological system in New Hampshire providing habitat for a variety of marine life and waterfowl, as well as tourism, commercial and recreational fishing, recreational shellfishing, aquaculture, and critical ecosystem services such as flood protection and carbon sequestration for local communities. Over time, the estuary has been significantly altered by human activities, making it less resilient and capable of performing vital ecosystem functions and services. The EMP serves as a roadmap for the collaborative management of the estuary across stakeholder groups, outlining a holistic management approach for the communities to achieve their shared vision. As a collaboration with stakeholders, FBE facilitated the Technical Advisory Committee comprising multiple stakeholder groups to provide review and input throughout the EMP development process. As a continuation of community outreach efforts, FBE also interviewed municipal employees and private sector professionals to provide additional community insight into the estuary’s threats and values. Once finalized, FBE gave presentations summarizing the work of the EMP to the town planning boards of Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Seabrook.