Parson's Creek Watershed - Environment

Parsons Creek Watershed

Parsons Creek is a freshwater stream and tidal estuary that flows to Wallis Beach and Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye, New Hampshire. Parsons Creek has two branches. The west branch is located between Washington Road and Wallis Road, and crosses under Long John Road and Brackett Road. The north branch starts at Marsh Road Pond near the Brackett Road-Parsons Road intersection, flows south on the landward side of Ocean Boulevard, and crosses under Wallis Road. Parsons Creek outlets to the ocean and beaches at Ocean Boulevard by Concord Point.

The Parsons Creek watershed is all the land area that drains to the stream, including the Parsons Creek salt marsh. The watershed is 2.28 square miles, reaching inland to the Washington-Wallis and Sagamore-Wallis intersections. The watershed has a history of water quality impairment due to malfunctioning septic systems, stormwater runoff, and animal waste.

Parsons Creek Watershed Map

Impaired Surface Water Quality Zone Map

Since Parsons Creek drains to popular and heavily used beaches, the Town of Rye is tracking trends in water quality and taking steps to protect our wonderful beaches. These steps include regular water quality monitoring, pollution source tracking, and ensuring that wastewater disposal systems (septic systems) are working properly.

As an important step in environmental protection, the Town of Rye enacted a Health Regulation regarding Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Pump-out and Inspection in the Parsons Creek Watershed, which took effect on June 1, 2016.

Town of Rye Ordinances / Regulations for Parsons Creek Watershed

Pump Out Health Regulation

#1 Beach Ordinance - Dog Waste (Section 11)

#28 Litter Ordinance - Dog Waste (Section B)

Town of Rye Water Quality Monitoring, Pollution Source Tracking, Environmental Planning

The Town of Rye collaborates with NHDES to monitor, track, and fix pollution in the Parsons Creek watershed. Rye also hires environmental consultants to monitor water quality, identify pollution sources, and recommend pollution reduction actions. This work is guided by a watershed based plan, a key document which makes Rye eligible for state and federal grants.

Parsons Creek Watershed Based Plan 2011

Rye’s dedication to addressing pollution in Parsons Creek has helped Rye repeatedly obtain state and federal funds to study and improve Parsons Creek water quality. Malfunctioning septic systems have been identified and fixed through this work. Past work has been funded by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act by USEPA and NHDES. Additional work in 2022-23 is funded through NHDES with federal ARPA funding. Find the latest update of the Parsons Creek Watershed Clean Water Project HERE.

Parsons Creek Water Quality Reports

2023 Water Quality Report

2022 Water Quality Report

2021 Water Quality Report

2019 Water Quality Report

2018 Water Quality Report

2017 Water Quality Report 

2017 Individual Sewage Disposal Systems Report

2016 Water Quality Report

2015 Water Quality Report

2014 Water Quality Report

2013 Water Quality Report

2008 Preliminary Bacteria Source Identification