 |  |
|
DES and NH Rivers Council Sign Partnership Agreement
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the New Hampshire Rivers Council (NHRC) recently signed a partnership agreement at the annual Watershed Conference held in November to further their commons goals of environmental education and the protection of the state’s natural resources. This partnership agreement is the second to be signed as part of a new Partners Program that DES has initiated with a wide range of organizations across New Hampshire. “Our new Partners Program will strengthen the informal partnership DES currently has with more than 100 different groups by bringing greater recognition and structure to these relationships and enabling us to better align our joint efforts in support of the Department’s goals and the goals of our partner organization,” stated DES Commissioner, Tom Burack. In the past, DES and NHRC have worked cooperatively and in partnership on a wide range of matters, including hosting the annual Watershed Conference, instream flow protection, economic value studies, designated river designation and shoreland protection. Based upon the successes of prior cooperative efforts and to bring greater recognition to future partnership efforts, DES and NHRC have entered into a more formal Partnership Agreement. The specific areas of cooperation are detailed in a work plan covering the period from November 17, 2007 to December 31, 2009. The work plan may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement. It is anticipated that this Partnership Agreement will result in enhanced communication between DES and NHRC and improved environmental protection. “This Partnership Agreement will help improve the quality of the state’s rivers by increasing communication and programs between NHRC and DES,” said Joshua Cline, NHRC Executive Director. “We expect to see improvements in education, outreach, research, responsible growth and rules and policy changes by implementing this partnership.” DES has initiated the DES Partners Program as a means of further accomplishing the agency’s mission of sustaining a high quality of life for all by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire. It is anticipated that the Partners Program will help to raise environmental awareness through a strengthening of the Department’s current relationships with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), trade associations, industry, business and other organizations in New Hampshire, as well as the development of new collaborative relationships. A copy of the agreement will be posted with this press release at www.des.nh.gov/press.asp or is available upon request. For more information about the agreement or the DES Partners Program, please call Sharon Yergeau at (603) 271-2918. |
