The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP), a joint program of local, state and federal agencies housed in UNH’s marine department will host its “State of Our Estuaries” conference Friday Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center.  

Highlighting the release of PREP’s 2013 State of Our Estuaries report, the conference will feature up-to-date information on 22 environmental indicators that contribute to the overall health of the Seacoast New Hampshire and Southern Maine region’s coastal waters.

Themed “Coming Together for Clean Water Solutions” the all-day program will include success stories and case studies from individuals and businesses currently working together to conserve natural areas, reduce pollution, and restore bays and rivers.  

“Every three years we develop a State of Our Estuaries report and conference which helps us all better understand the health of our local waters and Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook estuaries. We look forward to presenting the 2013 report to such a broad range of stakeholders, partners and sponsors with a focus on solutions to the challenges we face”, said Rachel Rouillard, PREP’s director. 

In addition to featured presentations and a much-anticipated keynote address by Ben Grumbles, president of the US Water Alliance and the former assistant administrator for water at the EPA, the event will include a panel discussion on the future of water monitoring, public infrastructure upgrades and investments in clean water.  

To learn more about PREP and the State of Our Estuaries report, or to register for the conference, visit www.StateOfOurEstuaries.org or contact Jill Farrell, PREP’s community impact program manager at Jill.Farrell@unh.edu.  

Every three years, PREP publishes a State of the Estuaries report in an ongoing effort to communicate the status and trends of key environmental indicators for the Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook estuaries and the Piscataqua Region watersheds.