Hodgson Brook
Hodgson Brook drains over 20% of the total land area in Portsmouth and provides the largest source of fresh water to the North Mill Pond. When Portsmouth was a rural outpost, the Brook flowed freely through woods and fields. Today, residential and commercial development and streets and highways cover the watershed. The Brook has become a receiving point for wastes and stormwater. The resulting flooding, erosion, and pollution pose a significant threat to the health of North Mill Pond.
The Hodgson Brook Restoration Project was designed by a group of community stakeholders to educate residents and return Hodgson Brook to a more natural state by eliminating pollution sources, improving the quality of incoming runoff, and restoring instream and shoreline habitats to encourage native plant and animal populations.
The Advocates for the North Mill Pond
The Advocates for the North Mill Pond (ANMP) is a neighborhood association formed in 1997 with the purpose of protecting, restoring and enhancing the North Mill Pond. Its mission is to foster an appreciation of the historical and cultural resources of the Pond and the surrounding area, and to encourage stewardship of the pond through activities such as community cleanups, water quality monitoring and restoration projects. ANMP also provides a forum to keep neighbors informed of issues that may impact the North Mill Pond.
New Franklin School
New Franklin School students first became involved in restoration efforts at the North Mill Pond in 1998. As part of a project being conducted by Dr. David Burdick of the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory at UNH, these students have reseeded ribbed mussel beds in the pond each spring. Using the North Mill Pond as an outdoor classroom, they have studied estuarine plants and animals, researched the effects of pollution and erosion on the pond, performed water quality tests, replanted salt marsh grasses, stenciled storm drains, produced public service announcements and distributed brochures informing citizens about the North Mill Pond.
For more information and to find out how you can help, go to Visit Link
The cache can be accessed from the sidewalk. There is no need to climb on the stone wall (unless you're really short). Be sure to use Stealth when retrieving and returning the cache.