Androscoggin Watershed Conference 

May 13th: 8:30 AM

Auburn Senior Community Center

48 Pettengill Park Road, Auburn, ME

Program Highlights

Dana Osgood, NewsCenter Maine Meteorologist: Maine’s Changing Climate

Hands-on Stream Table from Maine Audubon

Maine Won’t Wait; Maine’s plan to address Climate Change

8:30 – 8:45 – Registration

8:50 – 9:00 – Welcome and Introductions 

9:00 – 10:05 Concurrent Sessions (A)

 Track 1A – Hazard Mitigation and Building Resiliency.  Allyson Hill from Oxford County Emergency Management Agency will 2:30provide a perspective on the extensive flooding that Oxford County has experienced in recent years and provide some opportunities to mitigate the flooding hazard.  Catherine Mardosa, from AVCOG, will update us on state and regional resiliency efforts, and Jeff Stern and Ferg Lea from ARWC will provide examples of fish passage projects that are also providing for resilient infrastructure.   

 Track 2A – The following series of discussions. 

·       9:05 – 9:25 – PFAS in fresh water environment: Tom Danielson, Maine DEP

·       9:25- 9:45 – Fly Fishing on the Androscoggin and Tributaries: Jeffrey Ireland, Maine Guide

·       9:45 – 10:05 – Introduction to Stream Smart and the Stream Table: Sarah Haggerty, Maine Audubon

 10:05 – 10:20 – Break

 10:20 – 11:20 - Concurrent Sessions (B)

 Track 1B – Brook Trout, Economical and Environmental Importance.  The northern areas of Maine and New Hampshire are considered some of the last intact habitat for wild brook trout.  Merry Gallagher and Tyler Grant, both from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will provide an overview of Maine’s brook trout population with emphasis on Western Maine.  Sarah Haggerty, a Conservation Biologist with Maine Audubon, works with Stream Smart.  The program provides workshops and assistance on the development of resilient road-stream crossings.  One of the major impacts of climate change in our inland areas is the washout of undersized culverts and other crossings.  Stream Smart provides guidance on the design of crossings that will withstand future flooding events and improve habitat connectivity.  Sarah will be bringing a “Stream Table” to demonstrate some of the issues we face on our watersheds.

 Track 2B.  The following series of discussions 

 ·       10:20 – 10:40 - What we know about water quality on the Androscoggin and tributaries:  Ferg Lea, ARWC

·       10:40 – 11:00 –The 78,000 acre Magalloway conservation project in the headwaters to the Androscoggin and an overview of Upper Androscoggin watershed restoration work:  David Miller, Executive Director, and Jason Latham, biologist, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust

·       11:00 - 11:20 - Fish passage on the Lower Androscoggin: Maine Department of Marine Resources and Maranda Nemeth, NOAA. 

 11:20 – 11:30 – Break

 11:30 – 11:50  – Concurrent sessions (C)

 Track 1C – Stream Table Demonstration

 Track 2C – Open Discussion of Watershed Issues and Priorities

 11:50 – 1:00 – Lunch Break, Brief Presentations, Annual Meeting

 ·       Fish Resources on the Upper Androscoggin: Mark Tyrell, Maine Guide and ARWC volunteer

·       Water Quality Monitoring Program

·       Paddling Guide overview

·       ARWC Annual Meeting, Election of Board Members and Officers of ARWC

 1:00 – 2:30 – Climate Change Presentations and Discussion

 Maine’s Changing Climate is a series of short presentations developed by the News Center Maine Meterologist Team.  Dana Osgood from News Center will discuss the difference between climate and weather and how climate impacts weather.  

Maine Won’t Wait is Maine’s plan to address Climate Change.  Maggie KellyBoyd, the Natural Resources Climate Policy Advisor from the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future will provide highlights from the updated plan with emphasis on Maine’s Natural Resources.

Registration is $45, including morning snack and lunch and networking with others interested in the value of the Androscoggin Watershed. Pay here or by cash, check or credit card at the door. Prepayment is greatly appreciated.  

For more information contact Ferg Lea at flea.arwc@gmail.com