About the LACs

Local Advisory Committees (LACs) and Connecticut River Local River Subcommittees (LRSs) provide local input into the protection of state designated rivers. Each LAC/LRS is key to protecting the river and its shoreland. Members are volunteers nominated by their town or interest group. LAC members are appointed by the statewide New Hampshire Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) while LRS members are appointed by the Connecticut River Joint Commissions (CRJC). All LACs and LRSs provide comments on wetland, shoreland and other types of permit applications for projects that may impact the river. Committees also protect their rivers and educate their communities by organizing river cleanups or outreach events, monitoring water quality, and advocating for protective policies. LACs are quasi-governmental organizations authorized under RSA 483.

Only rivers included in the statewide Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP) have an LAC or LRS. Rivers are designated into the RMPP in response to local, grassroots efforts to protect their unique resources and values.

A designated river is managed and protected for its outstanding natural and cultural resources in accordance with RSA 483, the Rivers Management and Protection Act. At the request of the local communities through which they run, 19 of New Hampshire’s rivers have been recognized by the state legislature and the governor for their important natural resources, historical significance and their contribution to our quality of life. Each designated river or river segment has a local river management advisory committee to facilitate communication among the municipalities along the river in the management of their shared resource, and also provide local input into state management of their river. 

For more information, contact the LAC chair whose information is on the page for that river (see the sidebar at right, or at the bottom if you are on your phone). The river-specific information page also includes links to an LAC's or LRS's website (if applicable) as well as a list of upcoming meetings for your river's LAC.

LAC and LRS members are nominated by municipalities in the river corridor or local interest groups to represent them on the committee. Members are therefore usually year-round residents and may represent local governments, conservation interests, recreation interests, river-front landowners, agricultural interests or local businesses. We have also found that people who serve on conservation commissions or other local governing bodies are often effective members of LACs and LRSs. 

For anyone interested in joining an LAC, fill out an LAC Member Nomination Form and get it signed by members of your municipal governing body (e.g. board of selectmen or city council) or the head of your special interest group (e.g. Trout Unlimited or watershed association). Submit the completed form to riversprogram@des.nh.gov or by mail to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Rivers Program, PO Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095.

For those interested in joining one of the five Connecticut River LRSs, fill out the LRS Nomination Form and have it signed by your municipal governing body. Submit the completed form to info@crjc.org or by mail to Connecticut River Joint Commissions, 10 Water Street, Suite 225, Lebanon, NH 03766.