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Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day by hosting an eco-friendly workshop highlighting steps that local residents can take to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Great Bay Estuary right in their own backyard. Participants will get basic tips on how to install a rain garden at home. They will also learn how to make eco-friendly decisions about lawn fertilization.

The workshop is part of the New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership’s ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Great Bay by reducing nitrogen pollution from two major sources: lawn fertilizers and stormwater run-off. When it rains, stormwater run-off carries nitrogen from lawn fertilizers, pet waste, and leaky septic tanks into the estuary. As a result, the total nitrogen load to Great Bay has increased by more than 42 percent over the past five years. Nitrogen pollution can trigger explosions of algae in an estuary that consume oxygen and block out sunlight aquatic plants and wildlife need to survive, leading to a loss of habitat.

“The week of Earth Day is a great time for the seacoast community to come together and learn how to take action to protect Great Bay,” said David Anderson, Project Coordinator for the New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership. “This critical coastal habitat is home to more than 162 species and plays an important role in the local economy.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, April 20 from 7 to 8 PM in Meeting Room of the Urban Forestry Center Meeting Room, located at 45 Elwyn Rd. in Portsmouth. Free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10. To RSVP, please contact David Anderson at (603) 617-0679, email info@nhcoast.org, or register online at www.nhcoast.org

Event Contact:

David Anderson, Project Coordinator
New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership
162 Thornton St.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 617-0679
dave@nhcoast.org

www.nhcoast.org