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Divisions > Water Division > Programs/Bureaus/Units > Drinking Water Source Protection Program >

Water Supply Land Protection Grants

The surest way to prevent contamination of drinking water is to control the land by acquisition or obtaining restrictive easements. Restrictive easements are agreements that prevent the landowner from developing or otherwise using the land in a way that might threaten groundwater. Since the 1800s, water suppliers in New Hampshire have purchased land to protect surface water supply reservoirs. The same strategy can work for groundwater. Unfortunately, cost is a major drawback. It is expensive to buy land and keep it undeveloped. Fortunately, funding assistance is available from the Water Supply Land Protection Grant Program. (more…)

Hot Topics

• Status of Current Funding

Publications

• Permanently Protecting Water Supply Lands with Conservation Easements, Society for the Protection of NH Forests
• Water Supply Land Grant Report

Rules/Regulatory

• Env-Ws 394 Water Supply Land Grant Program
• RSA 486-A: Aid To Public Water Systems

Technical Assistance

In addition to DES technical assistance, guidance is also available from the following organizations.

• Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests - Center for Conservation Assistance
• The Trust for Public Land – New England
• UNH Cooperative Extension Land and Water Conservation Program

Forms/Applications

• Water Supply Land Grant Final Application Form
• Water Supply Land Grant Project Eligibility Application Form

Grants/Loans

These are links to other grants and loans, which can be used as part of an applicant's 75% match.

• Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) grants
• Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) grants
• US Dept of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetlands Reserve Program grants
• USDA NRCS Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) grants

FAQs

• Typical Restrictions on Lands Acquired with Land Grant Funds
• Water Supply Land Grant Program Match Information
• Water Supply Land Grant Program Process

Contact Us

• Holly Green
  NHDES Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-3114
  (603) 271-0656 (fax)
  holly.green@des.nh.gov
• Sarah Pillsbury
  NHDES Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-1168
  sarah.pillsbury@des.nh.gov

 

 

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NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm