Windham Drinking Water to be Protected?

Submitted by the New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services:

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announced today that just over $2.2 million is available this fall for grants to protect drinking water supply lands in the southern I-93 corridor communities of Salem, Windham, Derry, Londonderry and Manchester and in the Lake Massabesic Watershed, which includes portions of Auburn, Hooksett, Candia and Chester.

The money comes from a fund established to offset impacts to wetlands and streams associated with the widening of Interstate 93 between the Massachusetts border in Salem and the I-93/I-293 interchange in Manchester. Through an agreement with the NH Department of Transportation, this grant money is administered by NHDES's Water Supply Land Protection Grant Program.

In this program, municipalities and non-profit land trusts may apply for grants to cover up to 25 percent of the value of land or conservation easements critical to the quality of public drinking water supplies.
Eligibility applications are due December 13, 2013. NHDES will notify eligible applicants by January 13, 2014 and final applications will be due March 14, 2014. Grants will be awarded based on priority ranking and availability of funding.

More information on these grants, including a map of the eligible land, and copies of application forms are available on-line at des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/dwgb/dwspp/land_acqui/ or by contacting Holly Green at (603) 271-3114 or holly.green@des.nh.gov.