Town Of Durham

THE TOWN OF DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WILL BE AWARDED UP TO $3,537,201 OVER THREE YEARS TO IMPROVE FISH PASSAGE ON THE OYSTER RIVER, A TRIBUTARY TO THE GREAT BAY ESTUARY, BY REMOVING THE MILL POND DAM AND INSTALLING A FISH LADDER ON THE OYSTER RESERVOIR DAM. REMOVAL OF THE MILL POND DAM, THE LOWEST ON THE RIVER, WILL RESTORE A FREE-FLOWING RIVER AND INCREASE TIDAL INFLUENCE, IMPROVING WATER QUALITY AND FISH HABITAT UPSTREAM. DAM REMOVAL WILL ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, AS THE DAM DOES NOT CURRENTLY MEET REGULATIONS TO SAFELY WITHSTAND A 50-YEAR STORM EVENT. THE OYSTER RESERVOIR DAM, THE NEXT BARRIER ON THE OYSTER RIVER SYSTEM, IS A WATER- SUPPLY IMPOUNDMENT. CURRENTLY, THIS DAM HAS NO UPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE. DAM REMOVAL IS NOT AN OPTION, AS IT SERVES AS A WATER SUPPLY FOR THE TOWN OF DURHAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE FY 2022 COPS OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT PROGRAM (TEP) INVITATIONAL SOLICITATION IS AN INVITATION-ONLY GRANT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEVELOP AND ACQUIRE EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO AND PREVENTING CRIME. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS WHICH IMPROVE POLICE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. FUNDING SHALL BE USED FOR THE PROJECTS, AND IN THE AMOUNTS, SPECIFIED UNDER THE HEADING “COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS/ COPS LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT” IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT – DIVISION B, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO PUBLIC LAW 117-103.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE TOWN OF DURHAM, NH, TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT TO FOR THE BENNETT ROAD STORMWATER AND FLOOD RESILIENCY PROJECT AS DIRECTED IN THE 2023 CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT.ACTIVITIES:THE BENNETT ROAD CULVERTS RESILIENCY PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF 3 PHASES TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND ELIMINATE FLOODING ON BENNETT ROAD. PHASE 1 WILL BE INITIAL DESIGN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT TO INFORM EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. PHASE 2, AFTER THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, WILL BE FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING. PHASE 3 WILL BE CONSTRUCTION OF CULVERT REPLACEMENTS ON BENNETT ROAD. THIS ACTION FUNDS ONLY PHASE 1.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES ARE: -A COMPLETE BID PACKAGE INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. -COMPLETION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT (EID) FOR EPA. -APPROVED WETLAND PERMIT. -CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES CONTRACT WILL BE EXECUTED WITH A QUALIFIED ENGINEERING CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OVERSIGHT AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATION. WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD TO REPLACEMENT OF DETERIORATED CULVERTS, REDUCED FLOODING, AND IMPROVED WATER QUALITY FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF DURHAM.

THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE TOWN OF DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE TO CLEANUP A BROWNFIELDS SITE ON DEPOT ROAD IN DURHAM, NEW HAMPS

CONSTRUCTED IN 1913, THE DAM IS A 140FOOTLONG CONCRETE STRUCTURE CONSISTING OF A SPILLWAY, A SET OFGATED OUTLETS AT THE RIGHT ABUTMENT, AND A FISH LADDER AT THE LEFT ABUTMENT. AFTER YEARS OF DISCUSSION ANDEVALUATING ALTERNATIVES, THE TOWN NOW PLANS TO REMOVE THE DAM AS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE FISH HABITAT,REMEDIATE WATER QUALITY ISSUES, AND ADDRESS FLOODING AND SAFETY CONCERNS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULDINVOLVE ELIMINATING THE ENTIRE EXISTING DAM STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE FISH LADDER, WHILE LEAVING THEABUTMENTS IN PLACE. IT WOULD ALSO ENTAIL RESHAPING THE RIVER CHANNEL BY REMOVING ACCUMULATED SEDIMENTTO ENSURE A STABLE STREAMBED AND CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO UPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE. THE PROPOSED PROJECTWOULD ALSO INCLUDE DESIGN, PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF UPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE AT THE OYSTER RESERVOIRDAM.PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:GOAL 1: ADVANCE RESTORATION EFFORTS FOR DIADROMOUS FISH POPULATIONS BY ELIMINATING A BARRIER TOUPSTREAM FISH PASSAGE. THE OYSTER RIVER PROVIDES HABITAT FOR NINE FISH SPECIES OF CONCERN LISTED IN NEWHAMPSHIRES WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN, INCLUDING ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT NATIVE DIADROMOUS FISH SPECIES: THEANADROMOUS BLUEBACK HERRING (ALOSA AESTIVALIS), RAINBOW SMELT (OSMERUS MORDAX), AND ALEWIFE (A.PSEUDOHARENGUS), AND THE CATADROMOUS AMERICAN EEL (ANGUILLA ROSTRATA). DAM REMOVAL WOULD CREATEAPPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILES OF FREEFLOWING HABITAT ALONG THE OYSTER RIVER MAINSTEM FROM HEAD OF TIDE TOTHE OYSTER RESERVOIR DAM, AND RESTORE AS MUCH AS 3.4 RIVER MILES OF TRIBUTARIES TO A FREEFLOWINGCONDITION. AS A RESULT, DIADROMOUS FISH SPECIES WOULD BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ASCEND THE EXPOSEDRESTORATION REACH, SUPPORTING A SELFSUSTAINING FISH RUN. IMPROVING FISH PASSAGE AT THE UPSTREAM OYSTERRESERVOIR DAM WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSTALLING A NEW FISHWAY (NO UPSTREAM PASSAGE IS CURRENTLYPRESENT) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NH FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS. A FISHWAY AT THIS DAMWOULD OPEN ANOTHER 12.6 RIVER MILES ON THE OYSTER RIVER MAINSTEM, AND ALMOST 22 RIVER MILES OFPERENNIAL TRIBUTARIES, INCLUDING CALDWELL, CHELSEY, AND DUBE BROOKS.GOAL 2: IMPROVE THE OYSTER RIVERS DECLINING WATER QUALITY AND STRENGTHEN THE OYSTER RIVERS NATURALECOSYSTEM. LISTED AS IMPAIRED FOR LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND PH FOR AQUATIC LIFE RELATED IN PART TOSTAGNANT WATER CONDITIONS IN MILL POND, THE OYSTER RIVER IS INCLUDED ON NEW HAMPSHIRES SECTION 303(D)PRIORITY LIST OF IMPAIRED WATER BODIES. RETURNING THE MILL POND DAM IMPOUNDMENT TO A FREEFLOWING STATEWOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE RIVERS AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT. THERE WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL NET BENEFITON FISHERY RESOURCES IN THIS REACH OF THE OYSTER RIVER AND HAMEL BROOK ANDBY EXTENSIONTHE GREATBAY ESTUARY AND THE GULF OF MAINE.GOAL 3: INCREASE THE OYSTER RIVERS FLOOD RESILIENCE AND REDUCE DURHAMS VULNERABILITY TO THE GROWINGRISK OF COASTAL STORMS. MODELING CONDUCTED IN A 2020 FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOWED THAT REMOVAL OF THE MILLPOND DAM WOULD INCREASE THE OYSTER RIVERS FLOOD RESILIENCE IN ALL OF THE FLOW CONDITIONS ANALYZED. DAMREMOVAL WOULD ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE FLOODING OF ADJACENT PROPERTIES.

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT