State of the Beach/State Reports/NH/Surfing Areas

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New Hampshire Ratings
Indicator Type Information Status
Beach Access86
Water Quality89
Beach Erosion3-
Erosion Response-5
Beach Fill2-
Shoreline Structures8 3
Beach Ecology3-
Surfing Areas35
Website5-
Coastal Development{{{19}}}{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise{{{21}}}{{{22}}}


Inventory and Perception of Status

The state has a public access map that includes beach access points, but it is not specific to surfing.

New Hampshire has at least twenty-six well known surf spots.[1] The breaks are a mix of reefs, point breaks and beach breaks.

The areas are generally in good condition, but there are localized threats due to water quality, structures, and erosion. Dirty marsh water infiltrates the break at Septics. Lack of parking or very limited parking is a problem at several locations, including The Point, Indicators, Ahoo, Foxhill Point, Linky's and Rye Beach (summer). "The Wall" is perhaps NH's most popular surf spot. Surfing is restricted or prohibited in the summer at Main Beach (Hampton Beach).

Recognition by State

Surfing is becoming more recognized by the state and local municipalities due to positive exposure and public education. The state coastal zone management program recognizes surfing and surfing areas as a recreational, economic, and/or cultural resource.

The Maine and New Hampshire Surfrider Chapters have received public exposure during beach cleanups that brought television stations and local papers to report on the events.

Surfrider Foundation Chapters

 LocationWebsite
New Hampshire Chapter43° 4' 18.32" N, 70° 45' 45.19" Whttp://newhampshire.surfrider.org/


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The New Hampshire Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is a volunteer-run group; dedicated to the protection and stewardship of our inland and coastal waterways, waves, and beaches in view of a global ocean context.

Check out the New Hampshire Chapter blog at http://newhampshire.surfrider.org/

You can contact the New Hampshire Chapter via email at nh@surfrider.org

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Surfrider Staff Contact

Melissa Gates
Northeast Regional Coordinator
mgates@surfrider.org

Information Sources

The summary of surfing areas comes from Surfer Magazine's The Surf Report issues for the state. The Surfrider Foundation Northern New England chapter was also surveyed to establish surfing conditions in the state.

Other information sources for surfing in New Hampshire include:


Footnotes

  1. The Surf Report, Volume 9, #4, April 1998. Surfer Publishing Group.



State of the Beach Report: New Hampshire
New Hampshire Home Beach Description Beach Access Water Quality Beach Erosion Erosion Response Beach Fill Shoreline Structures Beach Ecology Surfing Areas Website
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