Watershed Management Bureau

  Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP)

    Rivers Management Advisory Committee

To assist the Department of Environmental Services in administering the Rivers Management and Protection Program, the Legislature established the statewide Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC). The members of the RMAC are appointed by the Governor and Executive Council for three-year terms. At least three members must represent the North Country and all must be New Hampshire residents. There are sixteen committee members, eleven voting and five non-voting. The voting members represent public water suppliers, municipal officials, fish and game, business and industry, hydropower, conservation commissions, conservation interests, recreation interests, historic/archaeological interests, local river management advisory committees and agriculture. The non-voting members represent the Office of Energy and Planning, Fish and Game Department, Department of Resources and Economic Development, Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.

The principle duty of the Rivers Management Advisory Committee is to advise the Department of Environmental Services (DES) in implementing the Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP). Among its advisory duties, the RMAC is responsible for reviewing nominations to designate additional rivers into the RMPP and for preparing a recommendation to the DES Commissioner on the merits of the nomination. Another important responsibility of the RMAC is to advise the Department on the adoption of rules for the protection of instream flow. The RMAC is also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on plans to dispose of State-owned property along or providing access to a river.