Greenspaces/Watershed
Green Spaces Action Circle Report – March 2010
Vision Statement: Our desire is to protect current green spaces, both wet and dry, and acquire additional key parcels of land. Particularly valuable is the opportunity to create links between the parcels.
Baseline: Create an overlay of maps of current green spaces color coded by category, such as: recreation spaces, parks, city owned land, conservation land. New parcels would be given a specific color giving us a visual to chart our progress. An increase in that color on the map illustrates newly designated lands.
Green Spaces: are protected lands. They balance the inevitable development of our city. They are needed for the protection of wildlife, and for many recreational purposes.
This Portsmouth Listens sustainability series comes at a good time as far as green spaces are concerned. Two studies on different aspects of this subject will soon be completed. One is the Open Space Study carried out by Mark West and guided by the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board. The second one is the Recreation Study being carried out for the Recreation Board. New zoning regulations have just been approved, and included in them is greater protection for wetlands.
We would like to create a master map by compiling all existing maps of green spaces that could be updated as additional green spaces are acquired.
(a) existing conservation lands in the Portsmouth area, prepared by the Nature Conservancy and others
(b) Prime Wetlands Study, carried out by Mark West,
(c) Parks and Playgrounds prepared by the Department of Public Works.
(d) a complete map of school playgrounds and ball fields, (we have a list of them)
Vision – five years
(a) In order for the public to be made aware of these lands we aim to create a hand out of the master map to distribute to the public. The map and an explanation of the lands, access, existing trails, and permitted uses could also be made available on line.
(b) We visualize a coalition of green space stakeholders, who would in time take some responsibility for various parcels of land. This coalition could include the Conservation Commission, the Recreation Department, the Southeast Land Trust, neighborhood associations, Scout troops, schools, athletic teams, and church youth groups, for example.
(c) Some ideas for future activities: The goal of these activities is to encourage the knowledge and use of the green spaces. We believe the considerate and careful use of green spaces will encourage the public to find methods to ensure the protection and increase of green spaces in our community.
Other Activity Suggestions:
- Focused walks on various lands, similar to the walks on the Sagamore land on Jones Avenue at the time when the vernal pools are visible.
- Work with watershed groups to create rain gardens
- Easter egg hunts, treasure hunts
- Letter boxing.org for ideas on hide and go seek games for all ages
- Geo-caching treasure hunts
- Rails to Trails
- Bike and walking paths
- Create exercise stations/trails with a downloadable chart for recording visits and progress
- Booth at annual Sustainability Fair with handout of first draft of master map and land use information
Watershed Action Circle Report – March 2010
Vision: Our desire for the water shed is to minimize storm water volume and minimize the pollutants collected in the run off water which would best be achieved through public awareness and behavior changes.
Baseline: We need to create a simple pre and post survey to determine current public awareness of watersheds and their purpose. We need a means of periodically assessing the quality of water ways within the watershed so we can measure our progress at reducing pollutants. There are a number of organizations that we can acquire indicators of water quality for our baseline.
Leverage point. The city of Portsmouth sent letters warning of the possibility of a future fee to home owners and businesses on their non-pervious surfaces. We would like to work with the city to grant reductions in this fee and other incentives for those who use rain barrels, and/or rain gardens, and/or pervious materials in their paved surfaces.
Watershed definition: A watershed is the land area that drains to a specific point. The land drains into tributaries which flow into rivers and larger bodies of water. As the water flows downhill, it moves over the land or drains through the soil. Along the way, water picks up woody debris, leaves, and needles that provide the foundation of food and shelter for aquatic life in streams. Water can also carry motor oil, fertilizer, pesticides, and eroded soil. Small actions like driving a car, fertilizing a lawn or even walking a dog can inadvertently pollute the watershed you live in. As the tributaries flow into the river, so do the pollutants.
Action Steps:
1. Create an interesting and colorful booth at the annual Sustainability Fair to instruct and encourage the public to protect the watershed. Provide a similar information booth at the local Farmer’s Markets and similar venues.
2. Work with established groups to collect data on the quality of water ways. Solicit surveys to determine public awareness of where the watersheds are, what their functions are, and how we can protect them.
3. Work with city to provide and distribute low cost rain barrels and create incentives to minimize non-pervious surfaces.
4. Work with local nurseries to give classes on creating rain gardens.
5. Create lesson plans for grades K-12 to get students on board with sustainable practices concerning the watershed.
6. Work with upper grade science classes to create 3D models of our local watersheds to display at information booths.
7. Work with the green spaces group to create rain gardens on green space areas.
8. Periodically collect data on water quality and survey public to compare against baseline.
9. Create a report to share with other communities on best practices learned in protecting watersheds.
10. Promote community awareness and interest by conducting a rain garden competition. Solicit local businesses for prizes.
11. Hold rain barrel making work shops.
12. Create a city-wide panel to oversee activities that includes a representative from each neighborhood group.