The New Hampshire Rivers Council has been awarded a 2022 Watershed Assistance Grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to implement stormwater improvements and educational programs at the Greenland Central School (GCS) in Greenland, NH.
The GCS has a large parking lot that serves the school and administrative offices. Stormwater drainage from the parking lot ultimately discharges to the Winnicut River. Through this project, a rain garden will be installed to infiltrate stormwater runoff from the parking lot thereby reducing pollutant loading to the river. The rain garden will use proven rain garden design techniques and will incorporate native plantings to enhance its beauty and provide habitat.
Students and teachers from the GCS will be engaged in each step of the rain garden installation process through targeted outreach about water quality and stormwater management. An educational kiosk will be designed and placed nearby in a highly visible area to provide information about the rain garden. Local residents will be engaged to assist with ongoing operation and maintenance of the rain garden in cooperation with GCS.
“We are grateful to the NHDES and all of the partners,” said Michele Tremblay, President, Board of Directors, “This project is highly visible and will involve the school’s administration, faculty, and students. It’s so exciting to start our work in the watershed in such a meaningful way.”
It is anticipated that implementation of this beneficial project will result in modest reductions of the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus reaching the river. The project also aligns with ongoing regional efforts to reduce nitrogen loading to Great Bay.
“The NHDES Watershed Assistance Section looks forward to working with the New Hampshire Rivers Council and its partners on this exciting, meaningful water quality project,” said Sally Soule, Coastal Watershed Supervisor, NHDES. You can learn more about the plan and project by clicking here.