The Town of North Hampton, NH contains significant portions of two river drainages - the Little River which flows directly into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Winnicut River which flows northward into the Great Bay estuary. Situated as it is in the watersheds of these two rivers, land use in the Town has a significant effect on the quality of the water bodies into which these rivers flow. Preservation of open space, especially in areas in the vicinity of these rivers and their associated wetlands has been identified as a priority by the Town of North Hampton, and by regional studies including the 2006 State of the Estuaries Report by the NH Estuaries Project among others. Acknowledging their strategic location regarding these resources, the Town Conservation Commission has made strides over the past three decades to preserve open space by a variety of means.