www.wellsreserve.org/news/2005-05-09_mblr.htm

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN'S WATER, 2005-2025

WELLS - Residents of Sanford, Kennebunk, and Wells are invited to participate in a series of free workshops focused on improving and protecting water resources in the Merriland River, Branch Brook, and Little River (MBLR) watershed. The workshops will be held May 17, June 22, and September 28, and are presented by the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.

In recent years, Wells Reserve staff and volunteers have documented pollution sources and prepared a management plan for the MBLR watershed. The management plan recommends actions to improve and protect the watershed's water for years to come. The "Protecting Our Children's Water" workshops are meant to encourage towns, communities, and stakeholders to collaborate on implementing these actions.

The May 17 workshop will review the MBLR management plan recommendations, create a plan for addressing and accomplishing specific actions this summer, and provide an update on Maine regulations, aquifer protection, and low impact development. This workshop will run from 8:30 to 3:30 pm at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm.

The June 22 workshop features a visit to the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Research Center in Durham. Participants will spend the day with engineers and scientists at this state-of-the-art facility. This will be an opportunity to learn about new techniques, method effectiveness, and costs associated with stormwater management.

The September 28 workshop will review progress, evaluate collaborative efforts, and identify projects requiring significant funding. Participants will also prepare a report for affected towns and participating organizations.

Lunch will be provided to participants, so please register in advance. For more information or to register, contact Chris Feurt at (207) 646-1555 ext 111.

About Coastal Training at Wells NERR
The Coastal Training and Information Program at the Wells Reserve is an education initiative within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Our local vision is for people managing coastal resources along the Gulf of Maine to value those resources and understand the long term environmental, social, and economic consequences of their management decisions and actions.

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, with facilities at historic Laudholm Farm, is committed to investigating coastal environments and increasing understanding of their ecology. The reserve receives core funding from the nonprofit Laudholm Trust and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Wells Reserve is located at 342 Laudholm Farm Road, just off Routes 1 and 9 near the Wells-Kennebunk line. For more information, visit www.wellsreserve.org. # # #

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