Gundalow: Marine Environmental History Informing Ocean Conservation and Stewardship

In this episode of Moir’s Environmental Advocates we advocate for the estuaries of New Hampshire.  Pull up a speaker or put on an ear jack to learn about what is wrong with a particular estuary and watershed. Hear what can individuals, families and groups can do to help solve environmental problems. 
Molly Bolster, Executive Director of the nonprofit Gundalow Company in Portsmouth New Hampshire is my guest.  She may be reached at, and for more information: http://www.gundalow.org
Molly describes the ecological condition of the rivers and estuary of Portsmouth NH.  Of twelve environmental trends, only one, conservation of land, has improved over the years.  Too much nitrogen flowing into waterways is the first problem Molly tells about.  Other environmental problems are too much impervious surfaces, sedimentation and erosion, fish passage up the rivers, clear-cutting to the water’s edge instead of leaving a buffer of vegetation, and fecal material from animals.  Eel grass is shrinking and it is vital as a nursery for commercially valuable fish.  Oysters once wiped out, now struggle with algal growth and sediment loading.  There is much one can do to make a difference for this ecosystem. Addressing any one of the south-heading trends will help to restore natural systems.  
Since 2002, the Gundalow Company has used the Captain Edward H. Adams - a replica modeled after the last gundalow to carry cargo on the Bay – to provide "dockside" programs. Our new US Coast Guard certified vessel will carry up to 49 passengers. While sailing this historic and regionally significant vessel on our tidal rivers and bays, tourists, children, and local citizens will engage in a full schedule of activities - combining maritime heritage, marine ecology, history, science, mathematics, literature, social studies, and stewardship.

For centuries, gundalows connected up-river seacoast towns to Portsmouth, the region's seaport and primary market town. Harnessing the wind and riding the tide, gundalows moved bricks, hay, firewood, and goods crucial to the economy and everyday life. By linking our region's past with the need to protect it for the future, the Gundalow Company is uniquely positioned to inspire individuals to take responsibility and become better stewards of our maritime region. Our message is to appreciate the river systems, and to understand the need for protection and action.

During the summer the gundalow provides a unique field trip experience filled with hands-on activities for day camps and youth groups. Come on board the Captain Adams at Prescott Park in Portsmouth and then visit a working shipyard at Strawbery Banke - where a new gundalow is now being built.  We'll work with you to arrange a fun program filled with setting the sail, hauling lines, singing sea chanteys, testing water quality, tying knots, and working with old tools. Your group will be among the first to have a special look at the construction of a traditional wooden vessel. Please contact us to schedule a customized visit: 603.433.9505 or write to Barbara at bmaurer@gundalow.org