I. Introduction
The Exeter River is located in southeastern New Hampshire. The river begins in Chester, New Hampshire and flows east and north to the town of Exeter where it becomes tidal and changes name to the Squamscott River before emptying into the Great Bay. The Exeter River flows for a total of approximately 32 river miles before becoming the Squamscott River. The Exeter River has been nominated by the Rockingham Land Trust and the Exeter River Watershed Association for designation into the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. The Exeter River has been evaluated by the Department of Environmental Services and is being recommended for designation.
The Rivers Management and Protection Act was passed by the General Court in 1988. The Act states in part: "It is the policy of the state to ensure the continued viability of New Hampshire rivers as valued economic and social assets for the benefit of present and future generations. The state shall encourage and assist in the development of river corridor management plans and regulate the quantity and quality of instream flow along certain protected rivers or segments of rivers to conserve and protect outstanding characteristics including recreational, fisheries, wildlife, environmental, cultural, historical, archeological, scientific, ecological, aesthetic, community significance, agricultural, and public water supply so that these valued characteristics shall endure as part of the river uses to be enjoyed by New Hampshire people."
The Act directs the Department of Environmental Services to receive and evaluate nominations for the designation of rivers or river segments to protect outstanding values and characteristics under the Rivers Management and Protection Program. Nominations approved by the Commissioner must be forwarded to the next session of the General Court for review and approval.
In fulfillment of this statutory directive, the nomination of the Exeter River is hereby forwarded to the General Court. The Department of Environmental Services recommends that the Exeter River be designated into the Rivers Management and Protection Program and be classified as a "rural river" under the provisions of the protection measures in RSA Chapter 483. The outstanding statewide and local resource values and characteristics which qualify the Exeter River for designation are described in this report.