UPDATE! October 5, 2000

Greetings Conservation Partners, Collaborators, and Friends

1) Conservation Planning

Work on the Watershed Conservation Strategies project began over the summer with CMP staff participating in, or facilitating, 21 meetings within nine of the 14 identified watersheds.

Preliminary work showed widely varying conservation efforts within the watersheds. It is clear each will require a custom approach that takes into account the interests and priorities identified by the existing groups coordinating ongoing work for a given river.

Following are some examples of how CMP is supporting or facilitating watershed conservation efforts:

• Bringing concerned organizations/groups/officials together across town lines;
• Providing technical information;
• Offering GIS mapping services;
• Providing resource materials;
• Assisting with securing funding.

CMP is also participating in the Greater Mt. Agamenticus Conservation Initiative focusing on a 33,200 acre area. Efforts that began this spring and summer have resulted in a $1 million request proposal submitted to the Land for Maine's Future Program to be matched by another $1,066,800 in cash and land. Currently the project plans to start negotiating sale options with 16 willing sellers representing 2,269 acres.

2) GIS Mapping

We are very excited to finally have our own large format printer (HP DesignJet 450C), thanks to the perseverance of the Great Works Regional Land Trust (GWRLT). Great Works successfully secured a grant from the Conservation Technology Support Program to buy the printer, which resides at the Wells Reserve. The printer can produce maps with a maximum width of 48 inches (4ft). At present, we have 24x36 inch paper and will be getting 36x48 inch paper soon. Because of printing costs, we may charge a nominal fee for requested maps. 13x19 inch maps would cost $1.50, 24x36 inches would cost $5 and 36x48 inches would cost $7.50. Previously, we were getting our large maps printed with the help of Sheepscott Valley Conservation Association and we greatly appreciated their help.

Conservation parcel mapping continued at a good clip this summer with the added help of our intern, Jess English. We now have at least partial conservation data on 25 towns in York County. We are also reviewing the ArcView program upgrade version, 3.2a. This upgrade has the ability to use more kinds of data files and comes with many advanced tools. Most importantly, it has a data conversion program that should help us resolve some existing data compatibility problems.

3) Training and Support

Plans are underway to conduct our first hands-on GIS training event in the Spring of 2001.

4) Resource Information

EVENT! Please join us on Thursday evening on October 19, 2000 in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve for Barbara Charry's presentation: "Wildlife in Maine's Developing Landscape."

Sprawl and development are two topics that have received national press coverage over the last few years. Barbara Charry from the Maine Audubon Society will speak on the consequences of both to wildlife. What will happen to Maine's wildlife if development continues at present rates? What species are in the most danger and why? What land conservation efforts are going on in southern Maine? These question and more will be answered.

5) Communication and Outreach

With the addition of communications specialist Scott Richardson to the staff of the Reserve and Laudholm Trust, work is once again underway on the Coastal Mosaic and Land Owner Options brochures.

Look for the Coastal Mosaic Project's new column in our organizational newsletter, Watermark.

Efforts are underway to host a regional workshop on sustainable community growth.

Hope you found this information and new format helpful to you in your conservation work. If you have any questions, please contact project coordinator, Tin Smith by phone at 646-1555 ext. 119 or via email: tsmith@wellnerrcec.lib.me.us.

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