Stories from Our Estuaries

Every five years, PREP reports on the environmental condition of the Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook estuaries. Our goal is to provide an assessment that resource managers, residents, community leaders, scientists, policy makers, and others can use in their efforts to understand, manage, and protect our local estuaries of national significance.

The videos below share the story of our estuaries, piece-by-piece, indicator-by-indicator. They are each designed to briefly tell you about one of the many indicators of estuarine health that PREP monitors. They are to be watched however you choose - individually, together, or jump around to the ones that interest you the most. We just hope that once you learn a little more about our estuaries you'll join us in helping to protect them.

Special thank you to the UNH Jackson Estuarine Laboratory and the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for providing locations and assistance in filming this video series.


THE BIG PICTURE - STRESS AND RESILIENCE

Introduction

This module of 4 videos focuses in on the Stress & Resilience section of the State of Our Estuaries Report - or as we like to call it, The Big Picture. 

The Big Picture and Stress on Our Estuary

Stresses are both episodic like storms and chronic like warming waters. Learn more about the stresses our estuaries are facing.

The Resilience Concept

Learn more about the vitally important concept of resilience and how it relates to our estuaries. 

Oysters & Resilience

Learn more about how we can save our oyster population in Great Bay by building in more resilience features. #EveryDropMatters

Eelgrass & Resilience

The best way to restore and help eelgrass to thrive is to build its resilience to episodic stresses like storms and more chronic stresses like warming waters. Find out more about how you can help! #EveryDropMatters


PRESSURE INDICATORS

Pressure indicators measure some of the key human stresses on our estuaries.

Impervious Surfaces

When precipitation falls, it runs off impervious surfaces (i.e. roads, parking lots) carrying pollutants and sediments into nearby waterways. 

Total Suspended Solids 

Increasing total suspended solids (TSS) reduce water clarity and impact primary producers such as eelgrass, seaweed, and phytoplankton.  

Nutrient Loading

Nutrient loading measures how much nitrogen is being added to the estuary from the land and air. Nitrogen in a critical nutrient for estuarine ecosystems, but too much can lead to problems.  


CONDITION INDICATORS

Condition indicators measure the current state of the conditions in our estuaries.

Condition Indicators Intro

Learn about the important conditions that PREP monitors and how they're looking.

Clams

Clams are recreationally harvested in New Hampshire and consume phytoplankton, which improves water clarity in our estuaries.  

Shellfish Harvest Opportunities

Shellfish beds are closed – temporarily or indefinitely – to harvesting when there are high amounts of bacteria or other pollutants in the water.

Migratory Fish

Migratory fish – such as river herring and American shad – are an important source of food for wildlife and bait for commercial and recreational fisheries.  

Nutrient Concentration

Nutrient concentration measures the amount of nitrogen already present in the water. Nitrogen in a critical nutrient for estuarine ecosystems, but too much can lead to problems. 

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton can impact water clarity and compete with eelgrass and seaweed for available light.

Seaweeds

Seaweeds can outcompete eelgrass for light and since they can “bloom” – that is, grow and die quickly – they can negatively impact sediment quality by decomposing on the estuary floor.

Eelgrass

Eelgrass provides habitat for fish and shellfish, slows the flow of water, encourages suspended materials to settle, and promotes water clarity.  

Oysters

Oysters provide both a fisheries resource and key ecosystem services and functions like filtering phytoplankton and other suspended particles that reduce water clarity.  


SOCIAL INDICATORS

Social indicators measure the social landscape that could impact environmental indicators.


Social Indicators Intro

Our estuaries provide social value, economic benefits, and many other quality of life assets. They are where rivers meet the sea and where people meet the water.  

Housing Permits

Housing permit approvals provide an indicator of increases in population, demand for development, and conversion of land to housing. 

Stormwater Management Effort

Stormwater is a main driver of declining water quality. Communities can reduce pollution and alleviate flooding by adopting up-to-date stormwater management standards.

Stewardship Behavior

The health of our region depends on a growing culture of stewardship.

Special Projects

See what else we're up to.

Ask Our Scientist YouTube Series

Helpful Tool

PREP gets lots of questions about our estuaries- what we know, what we still need to learn more about, and how to help. Check out the FAQ's and let us know if we missed a question you have!