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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8a390002"A national treasure in our backyard"It spans more than 13,000 acres. Nearly a quarter of the state’s population lives within its watershed. In a 2010 series, Amy Quinton looked at the trouble pollution poses to the health of this critical estuary, and some proposed solutions for returning the Seacoast’s Great Bay to health.Now, NHPR's Environment Reporter Sam Evans-Brown brings you continuing coverage of the efforts being made in the Great Bay.Coverage supported by Penn State Public Media.Great Bay Watershed Map | More Great Bay Images

The Future of Great Bay

Conservation Law Foundation

Often called New Hampshire’s “hidden coast, the Great Bay is considered an estuary of national significance. Yet, its future seems in question both because pollution has taken a toll on its ecosystem and because nearby communities, activists, and officials can’t agree on how best to eradicate it, even as all realize something must be done. We'll look at the Great Bay debate and see if some sort of compromise can be made?

Guests

  • Peter Wellenberger - the Conservation Law Foundation’s Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper. CLF supports strict nitrogen requirements in the Great Bay.
  • Dean Peschel - Environmental consultant for the Great Bay Municipal Coalition, which is seeking a more gradual approach to lowering nitrogen levels in the Great Bay. The Coalition includes Exeter, Dover, Rochester, Portsmouth, and Newmarket.
  • Jonathan Pennock - Associate Professor of Natural Resources & the Environment at UNH and director of the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory.

We'll also hear from

  • Peter Rice - Deputy Director of Public Works for Portsmouth.
  • Ted Diers, Watershed Bureau Administrator for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

Laura is well known in New Hampshire for her in-depth coverage of important issues and is widely regarded for her interviews with presidential hopefuls. Laura is a graduate of Keene High School in New Hampshire. Prior to hosting The Exchange, Laura worked in public radio in Washington, D.C. as a local reporter and announcer for WAMU and as a newscaster for NPR. Before her radio career, she was a researcher for USA Today's "Money" section, and a research assistant at the Institute for International Economics. Laura occasionally guest hosts national programs such as The Diane Rehm Show and Here and Now. In 2007 Laura was named New Hampshire Broadcaster of the Year by the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters.
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