Hampton Harbor is a tidally dominated, shallow estuary at the extreme southeastern corner of New Hampshire. Hampton Harbor, and its nearby tributaries, are one of the most productive shellfish habitats in the State. Concentrations of fecal coliform in the harbor generally increase following rainfall events, presumably as a result of contaminated storm-water runoff, which results in the closure of shellfish harvesting beds. Better predictions of fecal coliform concentrations in the harbor are sought so that the shellfish beds can be closed only when necessary.

A fecal coliform monitoring program was implemented by the USGS, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), to supplement the ongoing ambient State monitoring program of shellfish waters. The USGS monitoring program involves collecting water-quality data for the Harbor during and after storms. Also, the major tributaries draining into the Harbor are being sampled in order to gather information on fecal coliform levels entering the Harbor during storms. This study will provide data to better understand how fecal coliform levels change in the Harbor during normal, wet, and dry weather conditions. This information will be used by the NHDES to improve bacterial-level forecasting and to establish criteria for safe shellfish harvesting.

--Jeff Deacon (603) 226-7812 or jrdeacon@usgs.gov

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