New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Env - Department of Environmental Services
Subtitle Env-Wt - Wetlands Programs
Chapter Env-Wt 500 - PROJECT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Part Env-Wt 511 - CONSTRUCTION OF WATER ACCESS STRUCTURES AND BEACH REPLENISHMENT
Section Env-Wt 511.04 - Water Access Structure Design Requirements
Current through Register No. 13, March 27, 2025
In addition to meeting applicable design requirements established in Env-Wt 307, the following design requirements shall apply to water access structures:
(a) Wherever hardened shorelines exist, whether due to naturally-occurring stones, installed rip-rap, or constructed retaining walls, construction of a water access structure shall be landward and above the hardened shoreline;
(b) Hardened shorelines shall remain intact with the exception of material that must be removed for the installation of steps to access the water;
(c) Where hardened shorelines do not exist, water access surfaces shall be located at an elevation at least 12 inches landward of the normal high water line;
(d) Beaches shall be designed such that the beach surface has zero slope;
(e) All water access structures other than beaches shall be sloped away from the adjacent surface water;
(f) Steps for access to and from a water access structure shall:
(g) Stairs constructed to and from a water access structure shall:
(h) Water access structures shall be located to avoid and minimize removal of vegetation as required by RSA 483-B:9,V(a);
(j) No work shall be conducted in a wetland or PRA, except as provided in Env-Wt 407;
(k) No new water access structures and no combination of existing and proposed structures shall use more than 20 percent of the applicant's contiguous shoreline, up to a maximum of 50 feet; and
(l) Appropriate devices for diversion of stormwater away from beaches shall be installed immediately upslope of the beach.
