UMRLAC Annual Report

 

The Upper Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee, (known locally and affectionately as UMRLAC; pronounced Uhm’-re-lack) has had a year of transitions and is holding steady to its statutory roles reviewing state permits as a voice for its municipalities and to draft, publish and manage its river corridor plan.

 

The UMRLAC was created as a one of the first local river management advisory committees in 1990, enabled in RSA 483, as part of the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. It was a grassroots effort by the communities of Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Concord, Franklin, and Northfield, which the UMRLAC represents and for whom it conducts its statutory duties including permit review and management plan coordination. The UMRLAC provides a voice for the upper Merrimack River towns and cities through the river’s designation in the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program.

 

The UMRLAC updates the Merrimack River Management and Implementation Plan (http://www.merrimackriver.org/managementplan) and coordinates the activities in it. Claire Lund and Wayne Ives have led the effort to revise the plan a chapter at a time, beginning with Agricultural and Forestry.

 

The UMRLAC reviewed and provided local comment on several project state permit applications in the upper Merrimack including alteration of terrain in Concord and Franklin (an additional one from several years ago in Franklin was withdrawn), alteration of terrain in Boscawen/Franklin, above-ground storage tank in Franklin, permits by notification in Franklin and Concord, shoreland in Canterbury and Bow, and state surplus land disposal in Concord. The UMRLAC was notified by the US Environmental Protection Agency of a spill into the Contoocook River in Boscawen. The UMRLAC responded to the NH Department of Transportation’s initial project exploration enquiries for roadway construction in Boscawen.

 

Wayne Ives acted as lead in monitoring and commenting on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission applications for Eastman Falls, Kelley’s Falls, Mad River, Lakeport, Contoocook, and Lowell projects.

All of the state’s local river advisory committees have been represented by New Hampshire Senator Ruth Ward on the State of New Hampshire Rivers Management Advisory Committee. The Senator stepped down this year. A new representative will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Executive Council.

 

Expert presentations are essential so that UMRLACers are well informed and can improve constantly their knowledge and skills. David Cedarholm, City of Concord, provided an overview of stormwater utilities, which municipalities can employ to manage their runoff and the associated costs.

 

Non-statutory or discretionary programs include a variety of studies, planning activities, and programs related to the upper Merrimack River and its watershed. Those programs are now managed by the Upper Merrimack Watershed Association.

 

The UMRLAC bid farewell to retiring representatives Anne Dowling, Canterbury; Arthur Fletcher, Bow; Tom Gilmore, Boscawen; Mary Lee, Northfield; and Donna Liolis, Franklin. Welcomed as new representatives were David Day, Canterbury; Mark Kaplan, Boscawen; and Claire Lund, Concord.

Annual meeting was convened in November. The slate of officers: Michele Tremblay, Chair; Steve Landry, Vice-chair; and Adrienne Hutchinson, Secretary, was elected.

Please visit the UMRLAC at its new home on the web at https://www.merrimackriver.org/upper-merrimack-river-local-advisory-comm.... The Upper Merrimack Watershed Association now hosts the UMRLAC’s information on the newly designed website.

 

The UMRLAC meets on a rotating basis in its six represented communities on the second Monday of each month (except for holidays and unforeseen conflicts) at 7:00 pm. Thank you to the Towns, Cities, and other organizations in Boscawen, Bow, Canterbury, Concord, Franklin, and Northfield for graciously hosting Upper Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee meetings and for their financial support during the past year. All are welcome to attend the meetings, which are now held virtually due to the state of emergency. For further information on the UMRLAC and how to access meetings, please contact Michele Tremblay, Chair via telephone at 603.796.2615, email at UMRLAC@MerrimackRiver.org or through your representatives listed below, or visit https://www.merrimackriver.org/upper-merrimack-river-local-advisory-committee.

 

Boscawen

Thomas Gilmore (resigned)

Mark Kaplan                  

 

 

Canterbury

Adrienne Hutchinson

David Day

Anne Dowling (retired)

Franklin

Wayne Ives

Donna Liolis (resigned)

 

Bow

Krista Crowell

Gary Lynn (retired)

 

Concord

Claire Lund

 

Northfield

Joyce Fulweiler

Mary Lee (retired)

 

 

At-large

Stephen C. Landry

Michele L. Tremblay