surveying the Lamprey River

The Lamprey River Watershed Association is conducting a quality survey of all 47 miles of the river this summer with a Streamwalk.

The length of the Lamprey River will be divided among roughly 40 volunteers, each walking or boating one-mile sections of the river. Surveys will run until August, taking inventory of the river’s health from the headwaters in Northwood to tidal waters in Newmarket.

Volunteers will help look for areas of significant erosion, patches of invasive species, tree shading, trash, discharge pipes or culverts, and other signs of ill stream health. They will be provided with maps and checklists to identify areas needing further investigation.

Jennifer Rowden, a member of the Association, said the ultimate goal is to return to the problem areas and restore the river’s health. She said the waters are impaired in several sections, where the quality is so poor that people can’t drink or swim there and wildlife is in danger. “This might help identify why,” she said.

There is also concern about times of low flows, she said. Natural low flows in the summer are exacerbated by public demand during warmer times. Flows are also altered by man-made obstacles like dams.

The survey of each section will take an estimated three hours, following three hours of training. Volunteers will work in teams of two, mostly walking in the river. Access by kayak or canoe may be necessary in some sections.

The Lamprey River begins in Northwood and courses through six towns before becoming tidal in Newmarket and emptying into Great Bay. Due to this river’s valued resources and importance as a tributary to the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve, the lower portion is recognized as “wild and scenic” by the National Park Service, making it only the second river in New Hampshire to receive such a designation.

A number of endangered and threatened bird and plant species have been sighted along the Lamprey, a significant wildlife habitat. The picturesque river area also hosts recreational activities like hiking, canoeing, swimming, camping and fishing.
The survey is being funded through a N.H. Department of Environmental Services grant and the results will be used to guide future restoration efforts. The Lamprey is a Protected River by NHDES in the N.H. Rivers Management and Protection Program. For more information, visit www.lrwa-nh.org. No experience is required to volunteer. Contact the Lamprey River Watershed Association in Lee at 603-659-9363 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

SoBo reborn in South Berwick

The new owner of SoBo Book & Bean in South Berwick, Maine, has big plans for the independent bookstore and coffee shop. Located at 241 Main St., the small store has become a familiar feature of downtown South Berwick, offering a variety of beverages, bagels and used books. New owner Marie MacDonald, who took over this month, plans to add a selection of new books and special order capabilities. She will also gradually expand the menu, with focus on natural foods and vegetarian options.

MacDonald also plans to host a number of special events and community gatherings at the location, including food workshops, art exhibits, author appearances and a knitting circle. On Saturday, June 14, biologist/author Bill Sargent will be at the store, along with naturalist/writer/illustrator Kristina Lindborg. For more information, visit www.sobobooks.com or call 207-384-8300. 

Portsmouth captain wins excellence award

Portsmouth Police Capt. Janet Champlin has received the 2008 Women in Law Enforcement Excellence in Performance Award. Each year, the award is given to a female police officer who is deemed to have made significant contributions to her profession, her agency and the success of other women officers.

Champlin began her career in 1983 with the Cheshire Police Department in Connecticut, where she won two Congressional Awards from the state for enforcement of drunk driving. She joined the force in Portsmouth as a patrol officer in 1988 and became a detective with the N.H. Attorney General’s Drug Task Force in 1992. At the time, she was one of only two female undercover narcotics officers in the state.

Late in 2002, Champlin was promoted to the rank of captain in Portsmouth. She graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2005, earning a Master’s Certificate in criminal justice education. She has received several state awards, and has has helped initiate and expand several programs at the Portsmouth Police Department and has overseen many initiatives in the investigative field.

The Women in Law Enforcement awards are distributed by the Roger Williams University Justice System Training and Research Institute in Bristol, R.I., with candidate submissions coming from all five New England states. Police Chief Michael Magnant was with Champlin when she accepted the award during a luncheon at Roger Williams on May 28.

“Janet is a trailblazer,” Magnant said in a release. “Early on she set out to establish her own brand of police work. In doing so, she has raised the bar for all of us.”