[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                             Squamscott River
                 Harbor Management Plan

                                                 June 1991











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                                                Prepared for:
                                       New Hampshire Port Authority
                                              555 Market Street
                                     Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801

                                                Prepared by:
                      IEP, Inc.                      and                Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
                   39 Bow Street                                        American Twine Office Park
                   P.O. Box 1136                                              222 Third Street
      Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03802-1136                            Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
                   (603) 433-5800                                              (617) 354-0167


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                                                                    CONTENTS








        Section I        Introduction



        Section II       Issues/Goals Statement



        Section III      Harbor Management and Water Use Plan


        Section IV       Situation Analysis



                         References








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                                                  SECTION I


                                              INTRODUCTION





              The Squamscott River, flowing through the towns of Exeter, Newfields, and
              Stratham, New Hampshire, is one of the Seacoast's most significant natural and
              recreational resources. The River originates in downtown Exeter, New Hampshire
              and is fed primarily by the Exeter River. It flows north to Great Bay where the
              Squamscott, Bellamy, Cochecho, Oyster, Lamprey,        Salmon Falls, and Winnicut
              Rivers converge. The Squamscott River, to its tidal limits, is part of this estuarine
              system. The Bay is a prime recreational resource and one of the east coast's largest
              and most important estuaries. Pursuant to the federal Coastal Zone Management
              Act of 1972, Great Bay was recently designated a national estuarine sanctuary -- the
              Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)..


              In the past, the Squamscott River and its Great Bay access spawned textile and
              shipping industries along Exeter's riverfront and the Town emerged as a regional
              center of commerce and trade. The Squamscott River supported the development
              of the ship building and lumber industries and was consequently responsible for
              Exeter's growth during the 17th and 18th centuries. The channel was much deeper
              then and the Exeter landing became a major trading post, with trade conducted as far
              away as the West Indies. Downtown Exeter's existing historic mills, homes, and
              commercial buildings are part of this legacy. In the Town of Newfields, a ship
              building industry and foundries were built along the River, while agriculturally-
              based industries developed along Stratham's riverfronts.


              Today, the Squamscott River presents somewhat different opportunities for the
              three communities through which it travels. The River's variety of waterfront land
              uses and resources create a wealth of recrea    tional, open space, and waterfront
              opportunities.










                                                   SQUAMSCOTr RrVER HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN
            Section I                                                                      Introduction




            Downtown Exeter, located at the tidal     head of the Squamscott River is revitalizing
            its waterfront -- the mill buildings on the River's eastern bank have been renovated
            for residential use and the Town has just completed a new waterfront park on the
            west bank. In   addition, the potential exists for Exeter to redevelop its waterfront and
            reorient its existing downtown businesses towards the river.


            With the exception of downtown Exeter, much of the Squamscott River study area
            remains undeveloped. Exeter and Stratham have both taken steps to preserve key
            riverfront parcels in order to protect the River's diverse range of wildlife, wetland,
            fish, historic, scenic, and other critical resources. These resources provide Seacoast
            residents with recreational opportunities ranging from hiking and fishing (year-
            round), to boating, birdwatching, and skating. Further, they create the potential for
            the Squamscott River to meet, in part, the recreational demands of the region's
            growing population.


            A need exists to plan for the wise use of this resource by identifying key Squamscott
            River issues, opportunities, and priorities, and planning for future needs. In order
            to accomplish this, the N.H. Port Authority and the N.H. Office of State Planning
            contracted with IEP, Inc. and Cambridge Systematics, Inc. to prepare a Harbor
            Management Plan for the Squamscott River.


            The Squamscott River Harbor Management Plan is designed to address expanding
            recreational use'of the Squamscott River, to provide for its potential waterfront
            development and, at the same time, protect the natural and marine environment
            within the river   corridor. The Squamscott River study area includes the tidal
            portion of the River from the dam in downtown Exeter to the River's mouth on
            Great Bay (approximately 6.2 miles) as well as adjacent land areas in the towns of
            Exeter, Newfields, and Stratham (see Map 1).







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                                             SQUAMSCOTr RVVM HARBOR MANAGMENT PLAN
       Section I                                                                    Introduction




       Section II of the Squamscott River Harbor Management Plan, Issues/Goals
       Statement, discusses key issues raised during the planning process as well as goals
       and objectives developed to guide future activities along the tidal Squamscott. The
       Harbor Management and Water Use Plan, Section 111, includes detailed
       recommendations and implementation strategies. Section IV, Situations Analysis,
       provides a detailed inventory and analysis of existing and future land and water
       uses and natural resources along the tidal Squamscott. In addition, it describes local
       grow-th and development trends and existing and potential public infrastructure.































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