Celebrate Sagamore Creek: Learn about Portsmouth’s hidden treasure at an open house on March 21st

March 21, 2019

Are you looking for places in Portsmouth for a quiet walk in the woods, a calm kayak or serene stand-up paddle? Want to know how to help keep a special part of Portsmouth cleaner and healthier? Come to the Urban Forestry Center on Thursday, March 21st, 6 to 8 p.m.; join the City of Portsmouth, the Conservation Law Foundation Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), and a host of other outdoor and environmental groups to learn about Portsmouth’s hidden treasure – the woods, marshes and estuary waterways of Sagamore Creek between Route 1 and Little Harbour. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

One of the largest watersheds in Portsmouth, the Sagamore Creek Watershed spans parts of Portsmouth from Route 33 to Route 1 and Route 1A, Elwyn Road to Middle Road; from the Bratskeller to the Golden Egg, and Portsmouth High School to Creek Farm. The City of Portsmouth is focusing special attention on this waterway and working to improve its water quality. After completing a watershed assessment last year, the City is doing intensive water quality monitoring to identify sources of pollution. The City’s Department of Public Works is extending sewer lines in certain neighborhoods to reduce the number of septic systems and is planning enhanced stormwater treatment behind their facility as part of its solid waste facility expansion.

The open house on March 21st will highlight both the ways to enjoy Sagamore Creek, and ways to help protect it. Exhibitors will include NHDES, UNH Cooperative Extension, Great Bay Stewards, Gundalow Company, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership and others, all of whom have information about programs and practices for residents and businesses that want to help keep Sagamore Creek clean. Learn about rain gardens, better buffers along the shore, managing invasive species as well as beautiful places to play around Sagamore Creek. Weather permitting, there will be a Spring Equinox walk along the trails at the Urban Forestry Center after the open house starting at approximately 8 p.m.

To learn more about this free event please visit https://clf.org/sagamorecreek, or contact Melissa Paly, Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper, at mpaly@clf.org.

Event Schedule:

  • 6:00 p.m.: Welcome from Melissa Paly, Great Bay – Piscataqua Waterkeeper                                                      
  • 6:05 p.m.: Sagamore Creek, a special place – David Meuse, State Rep from Ward 4
  • 6:15 p.m.: Sagamore Creek, a City perspective – Peter Britz, City of Portsmouth Environmental Planner / Sustainability Coordinator
  • 6:30 p.m.: Taking care of Sagamore Creek – Lisa Loosigian & Barbara MacMillan (NHDES) and Julia Peterson (UNH Cooperative Extension)
  • 6:45 p.m.: Discussion, Q&A
  • 7:00 p.m.: Open house with displays and material from Portsmouth Conservation Commission, NHDES, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, UNH Cooperative Extension, Great Bay Stewards, Gundalow Company, and others.
  • 8:10 to 8:45 p.m.: Optional Equinox Moonwalk (weather permitting)
Urban Forestry Center