Natural Resource Planning
Regional Environmental Planning Program
North Country Council provides natural resource planning technical assistance to member communities and other nonprofits with funding through New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Regional Environmental Planning Program (REPP). This assistance includes guidance on watershed management, shoreland protection, water supply protection, wildlife habitat protection, viewshed management, land conservation, and other environmental issues of concern to the North Country. REPP funding is also used to pool expertise with other planners around the state to develop and provide training on model ordinances for communities to promote good development and protect high priority resources and community character.
Local Advisory Committees
Several North Country rivers have been designated under the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. North Country Council (NCC) staff provides guidance to the Local Advisory Committees (LACs) charged with developing corridor management plans for these rivers. NCC staff also works with corridor communities to implement LAC policies and recommendations. NCC continues to be an active member of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC) and works with CRJC to ensure that state and federal initiatives affecting the river are planned in harmony with local and regional objectives.
Forest Committee
The Forest Committee was created to enable a broad array of community members to work together constructively and have a collective voice on issues pertaining to the White Mountain National Forest. Examples of the Committee's work include participation in the development of the White Mountain National Forest Plan, and facilitation of community input into federal legislation and funding affecting the Forest. The White Mountain National Forest serves many uses: it provides clean air and water; it is home to fish, wildlife and plants; it offers opportunities for recreation and for solitude; and it supplies vital timber products. The Forest Committee provides a mechanism for North Country communities to have increased input on issues within the White Mountain National Forest that impact the region, both economic and natural resource issues.