What's Caw up to?
Photo Credit: Brian Yurasits, NH Sea Grant
Reflections from the 2026 NH Coastal Climate Summit
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, CAW hosted the largest in-person NH Coastal Climate Summit yet! This year’s Summit featured nonfiction author and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Elizabeth Rush, local art from across the Seacoast, a live podcast recording, and presentations about infrastructure projects, mapping, beach dune monitoring, living shorelines, equitable relationship building, and more.
We want to extend our appreciation and thanks to speakers, artists, organizers, sponsors and most of all, attendees! We greatly enjoyed learning from you and connecting with you all about your work and efforts in New Hampshire.
The Half-Written Play
Thursday, July 23: 9:30am-11:30am at the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center
Join CAW to participate in and enjoy The Half-Written Play, presented by UNH PowerPlay! This theatrical exploration of community decision-making in the face of climate change will focus on a divisive issue related to climate change and neighborhood coastal flooding. With the play performed to the midpoint, and the actors frustrated by the dead end at which their characters have arrived, the audience will take charge in charting how the play will conclude.
Please register so we can plan for seating and note any accommodations needed. Bring your lunch and join us after the play from 11:30-12:30 to eat in the covered gazebo picnic area (weather permitting)!
Evolve Our Practice - Project Portal
Evolve Our Practice was a collaborative project designed to help the NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) build shared competencies, skills, and resources to support and advance equitable climate adaptation. Supported by the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, Rockingham Planning Commission, and Catalyst Collaboratives, this effort began with indicators of vulnerability in the NH coastal watershed for populations that are disproportionately impacted by climate change due to social, economic, or environmental conditions that heighten exposure or reduce capacity to respond. The data and maps produced are tools to help us see where vulnerabilities and resilience assets intersect—one piece of a larger picture that will continue to evolve as CAW learns, grows, and strengthens our relationships with the communities we serve. Use the resources as a jumping off point for deeper engagement!
What are CAW Members working on?
The Science of Flooding in New Hampshire
A Time and Tide Podcast
The Coastal Flood Risk Summary Part 1: Science highlights the latest science around flooding in New Hampshire. Hear from the experts as they explain key finding concerning rainfall, groundwater, coastal storms, and sea level rise on this episode of Time and Tide. The future may look wetter, but it’s not all doom and gloom on the horizon. As you’ll hear, better science can help us adapt together.
This episode will be released on July 1, available wherever you get your podcasts (Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music).
Working Together to Address Flooding Along Two Key Roadways in Kittery
Flooding in Kittery is not just a shoreline issue, it affects how people move through town every day. In January of 2026, PREP joined the Town of Kittery and regional partners to kick off a conversation about flooding challenges at two key roadway crossings: Whipple Road near Gate 2 of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Route 1 at Spruce Creek.
This work is part of Climate Ready Kittery, a two-year effort bringing together local, state, and federal partners to better understand flood risk and plan for infrastructure that supports public safety, transportation access, environmental health, national defense operations, and the local economy.
Before solutions can be designed, shared understanding comes first, especially with so many partners involved. That’s exactly where this work begins. Town of Kittery Residents had an opportunity to join the discussion and weigh in on conceptual site designs in June of 2026. Read more about this collaboration below.
NH Dept. of Environmental Services: Webinars and Events
NH Coastal Program Making Waves Webinar Series: Preparing for Flooding and Reducing Flood Risk (Thursday, June 25, 2026 – 10-11am)
The NHDES Coastal Program’s next webinar, Preparing for Flooding and Reducing Flood Risk, is part of its new webinar series, Making Waves, and will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 10-11 a.m. Attendees will learn about the PREPARE project, which assisted coastal communities with preparing for flood events. In addition, attendees will learn how to reduce flood risk by using data and mapping sources, flood insurance, and flood mitigation resources and funding. A recording of the webinar will be added to the NHDES YouTube Making Waves Webinar playlist and to the Office of Planning and Development Floodplain Management Webinar playlist.
Interpreting FEMA Coastal A Zone Boundaries and Applying State Building Code Requirements (Thursday, June 30, 2026 at 10am-12pm)
In partnership with the NH Department Business and Economic Affairs: Office of Planning and Development’s Floodplain Management Program, the NHDES Coastal Program will be holding a webinar, Interpreting Coastal A Zone Boundaries and Applying State Building Code Requirements on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 from 10 am to 12 pm. Attendees will learn about what are Coastal A zones, how they are developed on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, how to interpret them on the map using examples from the New Hampshire communities along the Atlantic Ocean, what the State Building Code’s construction requirements are in these zones, and the Coastal A zone higher construction standards that communities can adopt in their floodplain regulations. A recording of the webinar will be added to the NH Department Business and Economic Affairs: Office of Planning and Development Floodplain Management Webinar playlist.
NH Coastal Program News and Events
Do you want to hear the latest news from the NH Coastal Program including about upcoming Making Waves webinars? Sign up to receive periodic emails about Coastal Program news and events. Please contact Jennifer Gilbert (jennifer.r.gilbert@des.nh.gov) with any questions.
Welcome New CAW Members!
- Nicole Berry – Rockingham Planning Commission
- Olivia Deleault – Seacoast Science Center
- Peter Howd – UNH Marine Docents
- Zoe Kuntze – National Wildlife Federation
- Julia Maine – FB Environmental
- Maggie Mills – FB Environmental
What are CAW Members reading and watching?
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- The Quickening: Antarctica, Motherhood, and Cultivating Hope in a Warming World – Elizabeth Rush
- The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker
- Dungeon Crawler Carl – Matt Dinniman
- Our Planet
- The Berry Pickers – Amanda Peters
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Funding and Assistance Opportunities
- PREP – Project Builder (due July 1, 2026)
- This free assistance program helps communities turn their climate resilience ideas into strong, fundable proposals that address extreme heat and/or flooding. This year, eligibility has expanded to include 52 communities in the Piscataqua Watershed* in New Hampshire and Maine. Applications are due July 1, 2026.
- Apply here!
- Seabrook-Hampton Estuary Alliance – Estuary Management Plan Small Grants Program (due June 26, 2026)
- The Seabrook-Hamptons Estuary Alliance (SHEA) is excited to invite applicants to submit proposals for projects that advance the goals and actions identified in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary Management Plan (EMP) Action Plan. This program aims to provide guidance, support, and funding to the surrounding Hampton-Seabrook Estuary (HSE) communities and other local and regional partners to investigate, scope, and implement planning and outreach efforts that address emerging issues or challenges related to maintaining and improving the health of the HSE.
- Apply here!
- Wells Reserve – Teachers on the Estuary Workshop
- The workshop will train up to twelve educators in water quality and weather monitoring, nature journaling, and marine debris investigations. It is geared towards middle and high school science teachers, though other educators are welcome to apply.
- Apply here!
Upcoming Events
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- June 6 – September 12 (multiple dates): Wildlife Kayak Tours [get tickets]
- June 17 – Aug 12 (multiple dates): Great Bay Changemaker Watershed Walks [register here]
- June 25: Making Waves Webinar Series: Preparing for Flooding and Reducing Flood Risk [register here]
- June 25 – July 30 (multiple dates): Great Bay EcoCruise [get tickets]
- June 30: Interpreting FEMA Coastal A Zone Boundaries and Applying State Building Code Requirements [register here]
- July 9 – August 14 (multiple dates): Appledore Walking Tour [get tickets]
- July 15: Soak Up Your Rain: Rain Barrel Painting [register here]
- July 16: Changemaker Book Club: Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer [register here]
- July 23: The Half-Written Play by PowerPlay [register here]
This newsletter is brought to you by the NH Coastal Adaptation Workgroup, a collaboration of organizations working to assist communities in NH’s coastal watershed to prepare for the impacts of extreme weather and long-term climate change by providing resources, facilitation, and guidance that enhances readiness and resilience.