Recreation

The Executive Board of American Rivers canoeing the Lamprey River just below Wadleigh Falls during the increased flows of fall. Photo by Richard H. Lord.

Background

People are always drawn to a river. The Lamprey River is clean, beautiful and relatively undeveloped, and people fish, swim, boat, and walk along its banks. When people are able to access and enjoy the river, they come to love and appreciate it, and are inspired to protect it. It is with this in mind that LRAC seeks to improve non-motorized recreational access to the river, in a way that respects all other valued aspects of the river, such as water quality and wildlife habitat.

Accomplishments:

In collaboration with the Public Works Department of Durham, created a public historic park at Wiswall Dam, including a parking lot and fenced picnic area.
In cooperation with a NH Department of Transportation bridge project, created a park and riverside trail at the Route 87 bridge in Epping. The site provides parking near the river and a ramp for hand-carried boats. LRAC and the Epping Conservation Commission created an informational kiosk. Pamphlets guide visitors along marked points of interest on the trail, providing information on the important characteristics of floodplains.
In cooperation with the Town of Newmarket, initiated marine patrol on the river near the Newmarket boat launch to control speeding power boats that can conflict with non-motorized uses on the river and can cause bank erosion due to large wakes.

Goal

Improve and increase non-motorized recreational opportunities on and along the Lamprey River in the four LRAC towns.

Key Future Actions:

Develop a plan and recreation tour along the river.
- Inventory and map existing recreational facilities/use (consult recreation survey conducted by UNH students).
- With partners in each town (e.g., conservation commissions, recreation commissions, land trusts, landowners, state agencies), identify recreational opportunities and ideas, as well as sensitive or non-accessible areas.
- Consider the compatibility of different recreational uses on and along the river (motorized, non-motorized, hunting, bikes, etc.).
- Consider walking trails, water trails, and hand-carry boat access, canoe campsites, wildlife viewing areas, informational kiosks and brochures, maps, self-guided tours, and bike routes.
- Create a draft recreation plan in the form of a map.
- The recreation plan may include improvement of existing river recreation facilities, with LRAC assisting partners in improving/managing existing facilities.
- Establish any necessary guidelines for the plan, such as minimizing signs to avoid visual pollution and protecting ecological values.
Begin implementing the recreation plan and tour.
- Implement the highest priority and most ready-to-go recreation improvements.
- Establish any necessary site specific management guidelines such as seasonal closure to protect sensitive areas.
- Acquire any necessary permits or permissions.
- Work with partners to build recreational facilities.
- Produce any information which may be part of new facilities, such as maps, brochures, and signs.
- With partners, agree upon and undertake maintenance responsibilities.
- Create a guidebook for the recreation tour.
Sponsor recreational events.
- Consider events such as fishing demonstrations, plant identification walks, bird walks, canoe trips and demonstrations, clean-ups, etc.
- Plan one event per season.
- Invite partners to co-sponsor events.
- Publicize the events to attract participation.
- Consider using all events to educate participants about the river and “tread lightly” principles.
Post the recreation plan and tour to the website, including maps, directions, use guidelines, etc.