NEW CASTLE — The continued degradation of the Great Bay Estuary
has prompted the creation of a new 10-year plan aimed at serving
as a "blueprint" for preserving a marine habitat closely tied to
the health of the entire Seacoast region. Lawmakers, scientists
and advocates supporting the Piscataqua Region Estuaries
Partnership (PREP) gathered at Great Island Commons on Monday to
officially launch an aggressive conservation plan that calls on
all residents and municipalities to take action. The "2010
Piscataqua Region Comprehensive Conservation and Management
Plan" was officially signed during a ceremony that supporters
hope signifies the beginning of a new era for a troubled estuary
system. PREP — a federally funded conservation partnership — has
been working for years to draft and implement initiatives aimed
at cleaning up Great Bay with the past 18-months having been
used to draft a plan focused on addressing the latest pressing
problems. PREP Coastal Scientist Phil Trowbridge said among the
major concerns ar