The federal BEACH Act requires states that receive funding to develop a risk-based beach evaluation and classification plan and apply it to coastal recreation waters. This plan must address the frequency and location of monitoring and assessment of coastal recreation waters based on the periods of recreational use of the waters, the nature and extent of use during certain periods, the proximity of the waters to known point sources and non-point sources of pollution, and any effect of storm events on the waters. New Hampshire is required to describe the factors used in its evaluation and classification process and explain how its coastal recreation waters are ranked as a result of the process. The federal BEACH Act also requires that the public be provided an opportunity to review the beach ranking program. During the public comment period from February 1 through April 1, 2013, DES accepted comments about the coastal beaches, including why the beach is or is not used (e.g., for sunning, running, swimming, or surfing), perceptions of water quality and health problems, and whether beach users desire a monitoring and notification program for locations not monitored or how satisfied they are with the program as it is implemented. The final coastal beach evaluation and monitoring plan is below. The coastal beach sampling for 2013 will begin the day after Memorial Day. Results will be available at http://www2.des.state.nh.us/DESOnestop/BasicSearch.aspx. Advisories will be posted at: http://www2.des.state.nh.us/Advisories/Beaches/
- Tiered Monitoring Assessment of Coastal New Hampshire Beaches
- Standard Operating Procedure For Risk-Based Beach Evaluations
- Map of Coastal Beaches
- NHDES Beach Program: Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan
Comments may be directed to:
- Sonya Carlson, Public Beach Program Coordinator
NH Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-0698
(603) 271-7894 (fax)
beaches@des.nh.gov
sonya.carlson@des.nh.gov
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