Sagamore Creek – Portsmouth’s Hidden Treasure

By Melissa Paly

Portsmouth peeps – are you looking for a woodsy trail to walk with your dog, or a quiet place to paddle on your stand-up board? Sagamore Creek and the land that feeds it is one of the City’s hidden gems, with beautiful places to explore by land and water. At an Open House in late March, more than 50 people came to the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth to learn more about where to play – and how to protect – this special part of the Seacoast.

Sagamore Creek is a sinuous waterway that winds through the southern end of Portsmouth, some of it tucked away out of site and lots of it right out in the open for all to see. The Creek gets its freshwater start in the southwestern corner of Portsmouth and winds its way along Banfield and Peverly Hill Roads before it meets up with the saltwater that flows in and out twice each day. Once tidal, Sagamore Creek forms a broad salt marsh, most noticeable along Lafayette Road on Route 1. It can be mischievous here – it’s not an uncommon site to see cars in the parking lot of the Dinnerhorn and Bratskeller restaurants with tidewater lapping at their hubcaps. The broad marsh narrows as Sagamore Creek flows under the Route 1A bridge, then winds past Creek Farm into the Back Channel where it meets the Piscataqua River.

Though it’s a beautiful place to recreate, Sagamore Creek suffers from water quality problems and is listed as “impaired” by the NH Department of Environmental Services. It isn’t healthy for aquatic life or fish consumption, and shellfish beds are closed for harvest. Sagamore Creek has high levels of fecal coliform bacteria – these sewage-related pathogens come from wildlife as well as from failing septic systems and the Creek’s close proximity to the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility. Pollution also gets into Sagamore Creek from hundreds of catch basins and stormwater outfalls that shuttle rainwater off streets. Along the way, rainwater picks up contaminants from businesses and industries in the watershed, oil and gas leaked from cars, pet waste that hasn’t been properly disposed, fertilizers and pesticides from lawns and landscapes, and more – all contributing to an unhealthy mix in Sagamore Creek.

But the Open House didn’t dwell on problems – speakers celebrated the beauty of Sagamore Creek and focused on ways people can help keep this special part of Portsmouth healthy. Local State Representative, David Meuse, offered a visual feast of photographs shot in all seasons from his back yard on the Creek. From stunning sunsets to snow-covered canoes, Dave has been observing the beauty of Sagamore for many years. Portsmouth Environmental Planner, Peter Britz, gave an overview of natural areas and trails around Sagamore Creek, some little known and used. Lisa Loosigian, who runs NH Department of Environmental Services’ Soak Up the Rain program, showed simple ways that homeowners can get water that runs off roofs and driveways to infiltrate into the ground instead of running into storm drains. By soaking into soil, plant roots can absorb fertilizers and microbes can break down contaminants so they don’t end up polluting Sagamore Creek.

<< BONUS! >>
If you’d like to get out, get wet and muddy, and clean up the shoreline of Sagamore Creek, please join the Great Bay – Piscataqua Waterkeeper on Friday, May 31, 9am-12 noon.
We will meet at Portsmouth Kayak Adventures and head out by kayak up into the marsh and down toward Little Harbor. This event is weather dependent and you will need to bring your own boat. Please RSVP to Melissa Paly, mpaly@clf.org, and join the Facebook Group “Save the Great Bay – Piscataqua Estuary”.

This blog post was provided by the Great Bay – Piscataqua Waterkeeper and the Conservation Law Foundation, proud partners of the Every Drop Alliance.
And thanks to David Meuse for the photography used in this piece. See more of his work over @davidmeuse on Instagram!

#EveryDropMatters