Annual

Androscoggin River Watershed

Conference

Thursday, May 3, 2018

(8:15 to 2:45)

Summit Hotel, Sunday River Ski Resort

We have some great sessions that will be of interest to anyone who has an interest in the Androscoggin and the watershed. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts, outfitters, tourism service providers, land trusts, and municipal officials will find sessions of interest.

7:45 – 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 Opening Remarks:

8:45 – 10:00Concurrent Sessions

Session A: History (fluvial geomorphology) and Ecology of our Streams and Rivers. The session will take a look at how our rivers and even small streams have been impacted by people over the past 100+ years and what that means to us now. It will also review the ecology of our cold water streams with emphasis on Brook Trout. Dr. John Field, Field Geology Services and Merry Gallagher, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Session B: Expanding Recreational Uses of the Androscoggin. Speakers will provide an overview of the growth of recreational opportunities on the Androscoggin River from Lake Umbagog to Merrymeeting Bay. Mark Peabody, Mahoosuc Outdoors; Shelley Kruszewski, Androscoggin Land Trust; LLBean representative invited.

10:00 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 11:45 Concurrent Sessions

Session C: Using Technology for Environmental Improvement. The session will look at the “Maine Stream Viewer,” a dynamic program that provides watershed information as well as a developing inventory of fish passage issues. The session will also provide an overview of how citizen scientists can collect meaningful data with Tablets and Smart Phones for use with GIS.

Session D: Exploring Recreational Opportunities in the Watershed. This session will present some of the exciting recreational and environmental education happening in the watershed. Lee Dasler will tell us about the many programs that the Western Foothills Land Trust is presenting at Roberts Farm in Norway. Kirk Siegel will provide an overview of their new effort at Valentine Farm as well as other recreational activities. Gabe Perkins from Mahoosuc Pathways will review efforts to develop a town forest and also review their other pathways and hiking trails.

11: 55 – 12:05 Water Flows and Safety on the River. Brookfield, invited.

12:05 – 1:15 Lunch, Annual Meeting and ARWC highlights

New Hampshire Fish Passage Projects – Exciting projects to that will inventory fish passage barriers in the New Hampshire portion of the watershed

Maine Fish Passage Projects – Dam removal and culvert replacement projects

Androscoggin River Trail Happenings – new sites, new mapping and guide info

Source to Sea – highlights of 2017 and 2018 schedule

Cooperative Project with Northern Forest Canoe Trail

1:15 – 2:30 Climate Change – Impacts, Opportunities, and Responses. Speakers will provide insight on two major impacts of climate change on the region: Wildlife Ecology and Built Infrastructure. Learn how climate is impacting the natural environment including impacts on fish and wildlife and also how climate change is impacting our homes, roads, dams and other structures. Discuss what we can do locally to mitigate the impacts where possible and prepare for them.

On-Line Registration Here

Registration: $50 – Full time students $40

Includes continental breakfast and lunch

REGISTRATION INFORMATION NEEDED

Name: ______

Affiliation if any: ______

Address: ______

______

E-mail: ______

Registration, includes Tadpole level Membership ($50): $______

Student: ($40) Name of School ______$______

Donation to assist the ARWC with programs:$______

Other membership level: $______

Total enclosed:$______

I would like to join the Androscoggin River Watershed Council at a higher level to help support programs including trout habitat restoration, river trail coordination/stewardship, water quality monitoring and the Source to the Sea.

__Eagle- $500.00

__Osprey- $250.00

__Loon- $100.00

__Trout (Voting Member)- $60.00

__Turtle (Individual or family)- $25.00

__Tadpole (associate)- $10.00

Make Checks payable to ARWC.

Mail registration form (one for each person, please) to:

ARWC P.O. Box 1541, Bethel, ME 04217