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Case Studies: Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Coastal Communities

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Rivers and streams flow across the boundaries of 52 communities before reaching New Hampshire ’s Great Bay. As they travel through each community, they collect pollution from stormwater runoff and deliver it to the bay, where its impact is already evident in declining fisheries and the increase of invasive algae. With development on the rise, the regional climate in flux, and regulatory pressure to address water quality mounting, more effective stormwater management has become a top priority for decision makers. In response, the Great Bay Reserve worked with the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center and other partners to help New Hampshire communities adopt “green infrastructure ” techniques.

These case studies were compiled by the 2012 Collaborative Research project team and highlight towns in coastal New Hampshire that used low impact development and green infrastructure strategies to reduce stormwater runoff and adapt to climate change.