Granite State Times

Hi Coastal Research Volunteers!

The longer nights can create such still mornings where the fog settles in the low-lying valleys. As the sun rises, I see the moisture "burn off" right before my eyes, bringing clarity in time. I can almost taste the dew that sits on the grasses and wildflowers, and if the wind is right I can smell the brine.

Previously for me, September has always been the end of my year: off to school, or changing between seasonal jobs. As summer came to a close oftentimes the people I enjoyed spending the season with, would go with it. Still to this day, I tend to reflect on the past year during this bittersweet month.

Remember to take a step back, and a deep breath, before exploring what's beyond the next hill.

-Wells Costello

Is There Ever an End To A Rainbow?

This past spring CRV volunteers helped NH Fish & Game and a team of scientists from UNH & NH Sea Grant collect data on rainbow smelt. These fish are listed as a species of concern by state and federal agencies. Exploring how rainbow smelt use the Great Bay estuary throughout their life cycle is imperative to better understand this native fish.

According to Chloe Pearson, a Department of Biological Science graduate student,

a total of 44 adult rainbow smelt were tagged with acoustic tagging along the banks of the Bellamy, Winnicut, Oyster and Squamscott Rivers in March 2021. Since their release, the movements of these fish have been monitored on 22 acoustic receivers deployed throughout Great Bay and its tributaries, resulting in a total of over 14,000 detections thus far! 

Monitoring of tagged fish is ongoing. . . approximately once a month until October 2021. Preliminary analyses of the detections show that 93% of tagged fish were detected at least once, and 97.5% of detected fish were detected on more than one receiver.

In general, it appears that the smelt relied on these rivers in March and April, used Great Bay in April and May, and then traveled down the Piscataqua River towards the Gulf of Maine by mid-May.

To better understand the life cycle of rainbow smelt at various stages of development, we collected ear bones, or otoliths. Using chemical analysis, this bone can provide insight of an individual's movement patterns over their entire life history! This measurement is much like how arborists read tree rings. Eventually, both otolith and acoustic data will be used to provide a better understanding of how rainbow smelt are using the Great Bay Estuary throughout their life cycle. This will provide valuable information in aiding future management efforts." 

A huge thank you to the UNH Furey Lab, Chloe Pearson, NHF&G, and all the volunteers who contributed!

Notes from the Field

If you come across a cool observation in your exploring that might interest other

CRV volunteers, contact us and we might feature it!

Dragonflies in late summer are one of my favorite creatures to observe. As life is pretty busy, it's a rare occasion I get to sit by the water's edge and watch other creatures go about their industrious way. I can relate!

Did you know there are at least 164 different species of dragonflies in NH? Blue Dashers, Pachydiplax longipennis, pictured here, are one of the most abundant dragonflies in the U.S. Adults have four wings with two noticeable dark streaks in them. Adult males have a chalky, blue color from head to abdomen that ends with a black tip. Adult female abdomens are a slightly different with black and yellow stripes along the sides and top. 

The Blue Dasher is adapted to cooler, damp climates. During hot spells, like the ones we have had this summer, the Blue Dasher has a unique way to control it's internal temperature. It holds its abdomen up in an ‘obelisk’ position, and turns it's body according to the position of the sun to stay cool!

 Like other dragonflies, the Blue Dasher consumes hundreds of smaller insects each day. A great human benefit as pest control!

Using Manure in the Garden

Animal manures and animal manure-based composts are rich in plant nutrients and provide organic matter that conditions the soil. While they can make excellent soil amendments for the home gardener, it is important to use them effectively and safely.

In this workshop on using manures and animal manure-based composts in the garden, participants enjoy hands-on and demonstration learning at Wagon Hill Community Garden in Durham with UNH Extension Food & Agriculture educators.

Oyster Garden

Have you ever wondered what oysters are up to? Where do they live, and what types of animals make their home among them? 

The Nature Conservancy will be hosting oyster workshops for the public, where they will be doing presentations about oysters and the environment. There will be interactive activities, including examining inside the oyster cages and exploring what types of animals and plants occur in an oyster habitat. If they like, volunteers will also be able to help collect data on the oysters in the garden to help in an ongoing conservation study.

Give Back To Our Salt Marshes

It’s that time of year again, to think about fall saltmarsh biomonitoring!  It’s a pretty fun few days out on the marsh, and it is important work that we could not complete without help from people like you. 

In 2010, three salt marshes on Great Bay were selected for long term monitoring to determine possible changes in these valuable habitats from sea level rise as well as increased temperatures and storm activity.  Rising seas have the potential to force salt marshes to migrate inland or even worse, drown. Volunteers are needed to assist GBNERR’s Research Coordinator, Chris Peter, in measuring these effects to groundwater salinity and vegetation on six transect locations per marsh.  Consider helping track annual changes to our marshes, while learning more about these highly adapted plant communities. This opportunity requires a half-day commitment with the potential for muddy feet, warm temperatures and biting insects!  Monitoring occurs throughout September pending weather and turnout.

 If this biological work sounds interesting to you please contact Melissa Brogle at  or call (603) 778-0015 for more information!

Take Out Your Cameras!

Have you taken some great shots of the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary? Send them in and maybe win an award!

In celebration of National Estuaries Week, Seabrook Hampton Esuary Aliance (SHEA) is hosting an annual photo contest. Send us your best photos from our Hamptons/Seabrook estuary. National Estuaries Week is a nationwide celebration of our bays and estuaries and the many benefits they provide to local communities.

Upcoming Partner Events

• September 8 – Lobsters and Climate Change in the Gulf of Maine- Virtual

• September 12 – BioBlitz! - Rye, NH

• September 15– Beach Clean-up with NH Climate Action  - Rye, NH

• September 15– Tracking Maine's Great Blue Herons Beyond State Lines- Wells, ME

• September 25 – Wetland Plants & Wildlife Walk at Norway Pond- Hancock, NH

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