III. Local Support
Local support for the designation of the Exeter River into the Rivers Management and Protection Program is strong. Beginning in September of 1993, the Exeter River Watershed Association and the Rockingham Land Trust held a series of informational meetings and public workshops about the proposed nomination. Letters were written to the riparian landowners, local planning boards, conservation commissions and selectmen in each of the towns along the Exeter River notifying them of the plan for its nomination into the program and inviting them to the meetings. Notices were placed in local newspapers and posted throughout the watershed. The response was excellent. The first informational meeting, held on September 9, 1993, was attended by 51 people. Twenty-seven people attended a second informational meeting held on June 1, 1994. Support for the nomination at both meetings was very positive. Many of those who attended actively participated in development of the nomination at one or more of five public workshops held between September and June.
On behalf of the sponsors, a senior planner from the Rockingham Planning Commission met with planning boards and conservation commissions in each of the towns along the Exeter River to discuss the nomination. Meetings were also held with local selectmen to determine the level of local support for the nomination. A total of ten letters of support were received from all but two of the towns along the river. There were no letters of opposition. Seven additional endorsements came from area individuals and organizations, including a petition with the signatures of 30 landowners who abut the river in Fremont. At the public hearing on the nomination, which was held in Brentwood on September 21, 1994, the comments were overwhelmingly supportive and all who testified spoke in favor of the nomination.