Committee Summary for Senate Energy and Natural Resources (10/07/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:04:22.880 - 8:03:03 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Matt Lehey, Public Policy Director, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Information Only00:04:22.880 - 8:03:03 AM; Matt introduced himself and Barbara Richter, explaining the purpose of their presentation to inform the committee about a recent report on the value of open space in New Hampshire, produced by a coalition including the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, conservation commissions, The Nature Conservancy, New Hampshire Timberland Owners, New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition, and New Hampshire Audubon Society. He provided a summary PowerPoint and promised to send the full report with references. The report highlights benefits of open space, including the forest products industry, agriculture, farmland jobs, economic output, and outdoor recreation. He noted the committee's role in land, water, and air issues and deferred to Barbara for more on natural services like water resource protection.
Unclear: Barbara Richter, New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions Information Only00:06:41.919 - 8:05:22 AM; Barbara thanked the committee and highlighted key points from the report. She emphasized the outdoor recreation economy's 3.9 billion annual value added to the state. She discussed ecosystem services from natural areas, including flood storage, drinking water protection, temperature moderation, and air quality improvement. Flooding caused 200 million in losses from 2000-2019, with undeveloped land and wetlands (valued at 150-200,000 per acre for groundwater recharge and flood storage) mitigating impacts. Land conservation in the Piscataqua-Salmon Falls watershed saved 40 million in treatment costs over 10 years. Natural areas reduce extreme heat effects (20-45 degrees cooler shaded areas, 10% less energy demand for nearby buildings) and remove pollutants (NH trees removed 115,000 tons in 2010, valued at 44.1 million in health benefits). She encouraged reviewing the full report for more details on protecting natural resources.
Unclear: Matt Lehey (Q&A continuation) Information Only00:11:10.800 - 8:09:51 AM; In response to questions, Matt addressed forest ownership, noting 84% of NH is forested with about 70-72% privately owned, including large and small family landowners. He explained the importance of private forest recognition, tying it to the New Hampshire Timberland Owners' involvement. On water management, he discussed the role of forested areas around water supplies like those in Concord and Manchester, where trees and root systems filter runoff. He emphasized vegetative buffers over post-treatment purification and the value of diverse open spaces, including trees, for community resilience and ecosystem health.
Unclear: Andrea Lamro, President, New Hampshire Lakes Association Information Only00:15:03.360 - 8:13:44 AM; Andrea provided an update on lake and river trends, distributing packets with articles and a DES water quality report. She highlighted ongoing cyanobacteria threats, with prolonged warnings at Province Lake and outbreaks at Winnipesaukee. Upcoming bills include one by Senator Waters for municipal collaboration on surface water quality and efforts to fund the depleted cyanobacteria mitigation loan/grant program. She noted increasing salinity in fresh waters, potentially favoring cyanobacteria and invasives like the spiny water flea (now in Newfound Lake). Proposed bills aim to reduce salt use via regulations or incentives. She prioritized sustainable funding for proactive measures by lake associations and communities, as state/federal funds are insufficient, and deferred to Michelle Tremblay for more.
Unclear: Michelle Tremblay, President, Board of Directors, New Hampshire Rivers Council Information Only00:19:15.840 - 8:17:56 AM; Michelle shared her personal connection to water bodies and supported the Lakes Association. She discussed dam safety, noting 5,300 dams (2,600 active, 814 high-risk), 75% privately owned, and the need for funding to assist removals by willing owners to reduce burdens. She invited the committee to an October 16 meeting on successful dam removals and flood storage benefits, linking to wetlands' role (e.g., McQuesten removal reduced flooding). She addressed cyanobacteria in rivers (e.g., Blackwater River) and invasives, emphasizing collaboration. On threatened/endangered species, she stressed habitat preservation on private lands for survival and safe passage, noting it's an emerging rules issue. She appreciated the conversational format and offered follow-up emails with links.

Avard, Kevin(Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Pearl, Howard (V Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[CT]2024	McConkey, Mark(R)