CLF, Waterkeeper Alliance launch water conservation programme

The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and the Waterkeeper Alliance have launched a new water conservation programme for the protection of the Great Bay estuary in New Hampshire, US.

The new Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper programme aims to protect the estuary, a New England water resource facing mounting threats.

The Great Bay estuary spans the New Hampshire and Maine border.CLF New Hampshire director and VP Tom Irwin said the foundation is pleased to be launching this programme considering all the challenges facing Great Bay, the Piscataqua River and the estuary.

The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper project will build local voice for the Great Bay estuary and advance needed policies and innovative solutions to solve the problems at the Great Bay estuary.

Led by Peter Wellenberger, who is associated with the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the programme will also ensure the estuary benefits from the full protection of the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.

The new initiative is a follow-up of work CLF has done over the past several years to tackle threats to the Great Bay estuary, having earlier worked on addressing problems including nitrogen and storm water pollution which has threatening water quality and habitat health.

The work led to EPA issuing a call for upgrading Peirce Island sewage treatment plant in Portsmouth to reduce pollution and securing greater safeguards for the Great Bay estuary under the Clean Water Act.

CLF also advocated new permitting processes to reduce nitrogen pollution from sewage treatment plants and worked to stop illegal, toxic storm water discharges from the scrap metal operation located at the Market Street Terminal in Portsmouth.

Image: The new water conservation programme will implement measures for protection of the Great Bay estuary. Photo: Decumanus.