New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program

Souhegan River Nomination

II. SUMMARY:  RESOURCES OF STATEWIDE OR LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE

III. COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SUPPORT

IV. OTHER SUPPORTING INFORMATION

V. RIVER CLASSIFICATIONS

Explanation: Each river or river segment that is designated by the state legislature will be placed into a river classification system. This classification system consists of four categories: Natural, Rural, Rural-Community and Community Rivers. Refer to Appendices A and B in the Guide to River Nominations, for a complete description and explanation of the river classification system and the instream protection measures which have been adopted by the state legislature for each classification. In this part of the nomination form, DES and the State Rivers Management Advisory Committee are interested in learning which river classification(s) you believe is most appropriate for your river.

Instructions:

1. For each classification criteria listed below (a-d), check the one box which most accurately describes the nominated river or segment.

1. General Description

• The river or segment is free-flowing and characterized by high quality natural and scenic resources. The river shoreline is in primarily natural vegetation and the river corridor is generally undeveloped and development, if any, is limited to forest management and scattered housing. (Natural Rivers)
• The river or segment is adjacent to lands which are partially or predominantly used for agriculture, forest management, and dispersed or clustered residential development. Some instream structures may exist, including low dams, diversion works and other minor modifications. (Rural Rivers)
• The river or segment flows through developed or populated areas of the state and possesses existing or potential community resource values such as those defined in official municipal plans or land use controls. Such a river has mixed land uses in the corridor reflecting some combination of open space, agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial land uses. It is readily accessible by road or railroad and may include impoundments or diversions. (Rural-Community Rivers)
• The river or segment flows through populated areas of the state and possesses actual or potential resource values, with some residential or other building development near the shoreline. The river or river segment is readily accessible by road or railroad, and may include some impoundments or diversions. (Community Rivers)

2. Length

• The river or segment is at least 5 miles long. (Natural Rivers)
• The river or segment is at least 3 miles long. (Rural and Rural-Community Rivers)
• The river or segment is at least 1 mile long. (Community Rivers)

3. Water Quality

• The actual water quality of the river or segment meet Class A standards under the state's water quality standards. (Natural Rivers)
• The actual water quality of the river or segment meets Class B standards under the state's water quality standards. (Rural, Rural-Community and Community Rivers)

4. Distance to Roads

• The minimum distance from the river shoreline to a paved road open to the public for motor vehicle use is at least 250 feet, except where a vegetative or other natural barrier exists which effectively screens the sight and sound of motor vehicles for a majority of the length of the river. (Natural Rivers)
• There is no minimum distance from the river shoreline to an existing road. Roads may parallel the river shoreline with regular bridge crossings and public access sites. (Rural, Rural-Community and Community Rivers)

2. Based on the boxes checked above, and your knowledge of the river or segment, identify those segments of the river which you believe should be classified as either a Natural, Rural, Rural-Community, or Community River. Be sure to include the start and end point of each segment and the length of the segment in miles (for example: Natural River: headwaters, Z miles, to the Town of ABC town line; Rural River: Town of ABC town line, Y miles, to the state border). Although a river or segment may be given more than one classification, the number of differently classified segments should be kept to a minimum. If your recommendation is incompatible with any of the above-listed criteria for a particular river classification, and you believe the classification is nevertheless appropriate and justified, explain why.
   
   The Souhegan Watershed Association recommends that the Souhegan River be classified as a Community River.

VI. MAPS

VII. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT