Wells Reserve Blog

Albino porcupine and friend spotted along trails

katereichert@wellsnerr.org (Kate Reichert) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

A quick lunch-time trail hike turned into an exciting wildlife tracking adventure this afternoon for two members of the Education Staff! After turning onto the Pilger Trail from the Laudholm Connector, we noticed the very distinct tracks below. See if you can spot them!

Hoping simply to find out where the elongate porcupine tracks led, we followed the footprints slowly. These tracks were mixed in with a few others, including deer, raccoon, and perhaps a handful of other small mammals. Luckily, we took our eyes off of the ground just in time to catch a fantastic sight in a nearby apple tree: a small, white, prickly ball, edging itself toward the end of a branch. An albino porcupine!

Thrilled to see such an unexpected wild friend, we rushed back to the farmhouse to grab a camera and a couple pairs of binoculars. The porcupine stayed put, soaking in the warm rays of sunshine, moving only ever-so-slowly to reach up with a leg and scratch its belly! Content with a few good snapshots and binocular views, we continued along the Pilger Trail, still delighted with our find, until we met up with the Barrier Beach Trail to bring us back to the office.

But wait! Along the Barrier Beach, high up in a maple tree, was yet another bundle of quills and fur, this time all brown! Another porcupine friend, whom I had spotted just last weekend in the same tree, was resting peacefully on this beautiful winter day.

What a wonderful walk, with such adorable and unexpected friends!

This is the second time an all-white porcupine has been spotted on the trails at the Wells Reserve, and it is one of a handful of albino porcupines that have been seen in the Southern Maine region. Many of our visitors are familiar with Edna the albino porcupine, a lovable wildlife ambassador from the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick, who has visited the Reserve on many occasions including summer camps and Winter Wildlife Day. We are glad to know Edna has a few wild friends in the area, and encourage you to get out and see what wildlife and tracks you can find! For a tracking experience with a professional Maine guide or an opportunity to see animal ambassadors from the Center for Wildlife, we invite you to join us for Winter Wildlife Day this month, on February 23 from 10am-2pm. Hope to see you there!

Joyner Stepping Down as President of Laudholm Trust

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST

WELLS, Maine, February 3, 2012 — Diana Joyner, president of the Laudholm Trust, the fundraising partner of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, is stepping down from her position in June, according to an announcement from Bruce Read, chair of the Trust board.

A board committee has begun the search process for a successor.

“Four years ago, Diana stepped off of our board and into the interim president position at a critical time in the history of the Trust,” notes Read. “The economy had softened and we needed someone with distinct leadership skills at the helm. Diana did such an outstanding job, we asked her to stay aboard for a few more years. Under her leadership, the organization has not only grown, it’s thrived.”

According to Read, Joyner was instrumental in leading the organization through the economic downturn without staff or program reductions by trimming operational and event expenses, increasing event profits, increasing site rentals for weddings and corporate events, and developing and implementing a three-year strategic plan.

“One of our goals was to increase the visibility of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm by rebranding the organization,” adds Read. “Diana led the charge on this. We’ve reintroduced the Wells Reserve at Laudholm through new logo designs, revamped publications, an all-new website, new historical building signage and trail signs, a new trailside education program, and increased visibility in the media.”

According to Read, Joyner also created new opportunities for community involvement. “Diana developed new partnerships with local school districts, helped create some events to attract young adults and families, and recruited almost fifty new business partners and sponsors for the Trust’s signature events at the Wells Reserve – the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, Punkinfiddle, and Wells Reserve EcoDay.”

Joyner’s impact on the historic Laudholm campus included co-managing a renovation of the Visitor Center and the installation of new exhibits there, as well as the construction of a new entryway information kiosk.

“I’ve especially enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Laudholm Trust board and staff, the team at the Wells Reserve, and our many generous donors and volunteers,” remarks Joyner. “Like all non-profit organizations, we faced many challenges during the economic downturn. But with the extensive support we’ve received at all levels, there have been many successes that place the organization in excellent condition, financially and programmatically.

“I’ve established many new relationships that will continue to enrich my life,” adds Joyner. “At this point, it’s time to pass the helm over to an individual who will broaden the impact of Laudholm Trust while I spend more time with my family. I fully intend to be a very active supporter in the years ahead.”

Read says that the board’s search committee is now accepting online applications. Interested individuals can learn more about the position and the application process by visiting the Wells Reserve at Laudholm website at www.wellsreserve.org. Joyner will be assisting throughout the transition.

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About Laudholm Trust

Laudholm Trust, a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to advancing the coastal research, education, and stewardship programs of the Wells Reserve and to preserving its historic buildings by providing monetary and in-kind support for programs, operations, and capital improvements. The Trust strives to extend its unique legacy by galvanizing community support and inspiring actions that protect Maine's coastal environments. For more information visit www.wellsreserve.org.

Mechanized Haying

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Just added to the historic photo archive is this old photograph with the brief note "at Wells–Laudholm" written on the back. Any tractor experts care to speculate on the year and make of that antique? Thanks to Charles for passing along the 2x3" image from which this was cropped.

Keystone Property Protected along Merriland River in Wells

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

WELLS, Maine, January 26, 2012 — A 105-acre property that connects 540 acres of existing conservation land has been permanently protected by the Town of Wells in partnership with the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm.

The Tilton parcel, as it is known, contains 5,250 feet of frontage along the Merriland River, ecologically significant wetlands, and forested uplands. It protects habitat for a variety of wildlife, scenic views, and historic stone walls, and will provide for recreational and educational opportunities for the public.

The 105-acre Tilton parcel serves as a conservation bridge between two already conserved tracts of land: 410 acres of town-owned land called the Great Haith, and a 130-acre conservation easement held by the Great Works Regional Land Trust. With the protection of the Tilton Parcel, a 645-acre conservation node has been created in the center of this community.

Keith Fletcher, a member of the Wells Conservation Commission who was the Tilton Project Leader, says that "We are very lucky that the most important parcel in the Great Haith area was owned by a family with deep Wells roots. They love the land and wanted to see it conserved. They waited patiently for many years for the funding to fall into place for this purchase. I am very grateful to the Tilton family, and I am sure future generations of Wells residents will also be grateful that this land was placed into conservation."

The property was purchased from the Tilton Family, who had owned and managed the land for many years. The property includes extensive road frontage on both sides of Route 109, and along the Bragdon Road. Five acres around an existing house were excluded from the purchase.

The conservation purchase was funded by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, and the residents of Wells, who each year vote to place town funds in a “Land Bank” for conservation acquisitions.

“Once again the people of Wells have voted to invest in their future: clean trout streams, pure well water, healthy beaches downstream, beautiful woods, and water for recreation,” says Owen Grumbling, chair of the Wells Conservation Commission. “Investing in the Land Bank fund year by year allowed us to acquire this beautiful parcel without incurring debt.”

The Merriland River is the major freshwater source for one of the three estuaries encompassed by the Wells Reserve and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The river originates in sandy outwash plains in western region of the Town of Wells, meandering for six miles before meeting Branch Brook to form the Little River, the largely pristine estuary of the Reserve and the Refuge.

The Merriland River and its associated uplands are a high priority for conservation for the Town of Wells Conservation Commission and Wells Reserve.

“Protection of land along the rivers that flow into our estuaries and those properties that contribute to landscape-scale conservation in coastal York County communities are priorities for us,” says Paul Dest, director of the Wells Reserve. “The Tilton Parcel helps accomplish both of these objectives.”

Remembering "Sandy" Brook

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

In this week's York County Coast Star, Shelley Wigglesworth reports on the passing of Alexander Bacon Brook — "Sandy" — who owned and edited the paper from 1957 to 1977. The remembrances collected there reflect Brook's life as a newspaperman, but readers of the era also knew he loved York County's unspoiled environment. Here's a passage from an editorial he wrote in the paper — as Joyce Butler says in her history of Laudholm — "when preserving Laudholm Farm was still a dream"…

...untouched, unrelieved panorama of sea and sun and sky and trees and marsh grasses… observing a stationary bittern, or the ducks where the river widens, or a red-winged blackbird on the far bank… to dream alone and furtive there like an early settler… drinking the clean scents of sweet grass and saltwater, feeling the hot sun shine on, shine on, hearing the wind playing the marsh grasses like a million oboes and the swishing of the outgoing tide at the river lip.

Yes, this is why we are here, stewarding such timeless wonders to honor the vision of our predecessors and to inspire future generations.

Winter-Spring Program Calendar

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Our program calendar covering February through May is now available to download. Highlights include:

Day camps for February and April school vacations
Winter Wildlife Day
Monthly Lunch 'n' Learns
Docent Training
Two Night Hikes
Wells Reserve EcoDay

Download the 2012 winter-spring calendar (700kb)

Another Step Forward for National Ocean Policy

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

The White House has released a draft implementation plan for National Ocean Policy, demonstrating ongoing progress on a massive task. The draft implementation plan is guided by four themes:

Adopt ecosystem-based management
Obtain, use, and share the best science and data
Promote efficiency and collaboration
Strengthen regional efforts

The plan lays out a series of more than 50 actions — with accompanying outcomes and milestones — guided by these National Priority Objectives:

Ecosystem-Based Management: Adopt ecosystem-based management as a foundational principle for the comprehensive management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding: Increase knowledge to continually inform and improve management and policy decisions and the capacity to respond to change and challenges. Better educate the public through formal and informal programs about the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data management, and mapping capabilities into a national system, and integrate that system into international observation efforts.
Coordinate and Support: Better coordinate and support Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Improve coordination and integration across the Federal Government and, as appropriate, engage with the international community.
Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Establish and implement an integrated ecosystem protection and restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation and restoration goals at the Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional levels.
Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification.
Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: Enhance water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable practices on land.
Changing Conditions in the Arctic: Address environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.
Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States.

The Wells Reserve is already deeply involved in 8 of the 9 priorities and will surely continue its role in pursuing actions that improve ocean health.

Comments on the implementation plan are due toward the end of February. The government is looking for general input as well as responses to these questions:

Does the draft implementation plan reflect actions you see are needed to address the nine priorities for the ocean, coasts, and the Great Lakes?
What is the most effective way to measure outcomes and to detect whether a particular action in the implementation plan has achieved its intended outcome? Would a report card format be useful?

Kelp Farming Fascinates Crowd

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Paul Dobbins, President of Ocean Approved, shared his vast knowledge of kelp farming with a group of over 35 people yesterday during a Lunch 'n' Learn in Mather Auditorium. He came fully equipped not only with a very informative lecture, but also a huge bowl of delicious homemade kelp cole slaw for everyone to sample!

Among the many intriguing pieces of information that were shared:

Of the 7,700 million metric tons of food on earth, only 1.5 percent is seafood. This is despite the fact that 70 percent of the earth is covered with water. There is a huge opportunity to grow more of our food at sea through kelp farming. Ocean Approved does not use any chemicals or toxins through its process of growing kelp.
Ocean Approved, based in Maine, is the only commercial kelp farm in the United States. Its kelp is 100 percent natural and highly nutritious.
Kelp, referred to as a "sea vegetable," grows from spores. The spores are tiny--950 million kelp spores would fit on a postage stamp.
When kelp begins its life in this spore stage, it behaves much like an animal, moving around on its own power!
The ideal temperature for farming kelp in the ocean is 52 degrees. The perfect depth is 7 feet. Maine's cold waters are an ideal kelp farming environment.
When water temperatures hit 62 degrees, kelp stops growing and goes into its reproductive phase.
As kelp grows, it absorbs excess nutrients from the water and provides shade and shelter for marine organisms (such as lobsters and winter pollock), while also producing oxygen through photosynthesis.
Three months after putting "baby kelp" into Casco Bay, Paul and his team harvest Sugar Kelp that has grown to lengths of 8 feet. During the fastest growing month of February, it grows 2.5-3 inches per day.
Mature kelp puts out UV inhibitors in the summer months, which protects younger kelp underneath from the sun.
Kelp is a bioaccumulator of heavy metals. In England, kelp farms have been shut down due to high arsenic levels. Ocean Approved kelp from Casco Bay, however, does not have any detectable traces of heavy metals.
One of the challenges of kelp farming in Maine is finding an area that is ideal for kelp farming, but isn't already being used for lobstering.

Thank you to Paul for such an informative and engaging program!

Seafood Watch on Your Smartphone

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

For years now, we've been handing out Seafood Watch pocket guides so people can make more careful decisions about what fish and shellfish to buy or avoid. The Monterey Bay Aquarium publishes regional guides, so the information is tailored to residents of the northeast, for example.

Now the aquarium has made ocean-friendly seafood recommendations even more convenient for smartphone users with its Seafood Watch app for iPhone or Android. At our house, the printed "pocket guide" often lived under a magnet on the refrigerator or got pierced by a thumbtack on the bulletin board, rarely making the trip to market. Now we will have the critical data in hand, as our mobile devices don't get left behind.

Thanks Mission-Aransas NERR and Groovy Green Livin for bringing the Seafood Watch apps to our attention via Twitter.

Winged Wednesday XXI: 2011 Attempt at the 99 Common Birds

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

I noted 132 species during 2011, but only 92 of the ones on our "99 common birds" checklist. These are the ones I missed:

Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

It's just silly to miss woodcock, but most of the others are understandable. In fact, a look through my personal records going back more than a decade reveals not a single Red-breasted Nuthatch on Wells Reserve property. I'm sure they're around — back when my office was down at the Alheim house I noted them a few times in the pines along Laudholm Farm Road — but I have only crossed paths with white-breasteds since moving up to the farm.

I've just five grosbeak records in 11 years, too, calling that species into question as "common." Maybe it's time to review that list of 99.

Photo by Wolfgang Wander

Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative

acox@wellsnerr.org (Annie Cox) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Building Capacity and Collaborating to Protect Source Water

The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership convened the Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative to improve watershed planning and management — and to protect water supply sources — in the Salmon Falls River watershed. The Salmon Falls River flows from an ecologically diverse land area shared by the states of Maine and New Hampshire, and drains into the Great Bay estuary, a coastal ecosystem of national importance. Approximately 28,000 people rely on public water systems in the Salmon Falls watershed to provide clean drinking water. Many other households rely on private groundwater wells within this region to provide clean drinking water. While the watershed is a critical drinking water source it is also threatened by future increases in polluted runoff resulting from population growth and the associated conversion of forested land to developed areas. The U.S Forest Service 2009 report Private Forests, Public Benefits identified the rivers in the Piscataqua Region as the most threatened in the nation with regard to a potential decline in water quality due to conversion of private forested lands to housing.

The collaborative coordinates long-term source water protection efforts among planning commissions, land trusts, watershed associations, water systems, and town, state, and federal agencies in New Hampshire and Maine. The collaborative's goal is to protect and sustain high quality drinking water in the Salmon Falls River watershed.

Project Details view map here

The Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative hosted the one-day Working Beyond Borders to Protect Drinking Water in the Salmon Falls Watershed workshop on October 27, 2010. The workshop built a sense of shared purpose among participants in the Salmon Falls Watershed. Organizations included more than 80 participants from Maine and New Hampshire state agencies, water systems, local governments (select boards, planning boards, conservation commissions, and town staff), watershed groups, lake associations, land trusts, regional planning commissions, and other conservation organizations. The workshop led to an action plan that reflects the priorities and ideas generated from the workshop and complements existing water protection work being done by water districts, municipalities, and many different organizations in the watershed. As part of the overall project, several low-cost, high-priority actions will be implemented.

Project Partners

In addition to PREP and the Wells Reserve, the following groups are currently active participants in the Collaborative’s Steering Committee:

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
New Hampshire DES Drinking Water Source Protection Program
New Hampshire DES Watershed Assistance Section
Maine Rural Water Association
Granite State Rural Water Association
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
City of Berwick Water District
South Berwick Water District
Maine Non-point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO)
Strafford Regional Planning Commission
U.S. Forest Service
Salter-Mitchell
Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance
USDA Farm Service Agency

For more information contact the project management team:

Christine Feurt, Ph.D., 207-646-1555 ext 111
Annie Cox, 207-646-1555 ext 157

2012 School Vacation Camps

katereichert@wellsnerr.org (Kate Reichert) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

We have just finalized a schedule for our February and April School Vacation camps! This year we will be offering two full-day Just for Kids camps (for ages 6-9) and two full-day Junior Researchers camps (for ages 9-12) during winter and spring school vacation weeks. I am so excited for these camps, which will get campers outside during two awesome seasons here at the Reserve!

Just for Kids Camps (Ages 6-9, 9am-3pm)

Thursday, February 23 Winter Wildlife Detectives

Friday, February 24 Winter Feathered Friends

Monday, April 16 Vernal Pool Party

Tuesday, April 17 Endangered Neighbors Art Day

Junior Researcher Camps (Ages 9-12, 9am-3pm)

Tuesday, February 21 Winter Trekkers

Wednesday, February 22 Snow Survivors

Wednesday, April 18 Migration Exploration

Thursday, April 19 Beach Keepers

Full descriptions of each camp can be found on our calendar, and the registration form and scholarship applications can be found in the links below. Each day of camp is $40 for members and $50 for non-members, although we are offering $10 off your total cost for every 2 camps you sign up for! The registration deadline for February camps is February 16, and the deadline for April camps is April 12.

I look forward to seeing returning camp families as well as a bunch of new faces!

Registration Form

Just for Kids Scholarship Application

Junior Researchers Scholarship Application

Restore Americas Estuaries call for proposals

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Restore Americas Estuaries, the "cohesive force and guiding beacon for coastal and estuarine habitat restoration across the country," will hold its sixth national conference next October in Tampa, Florida, with the theme "Restoring Ecosystems, Strengthening Communities." The deadline for proposals is February 1.

From the conference website:

We are particularly interested in proposals for sessions, presentations, and posters dealing with the interface of the environment and the economy, but all proposals relevant to coastal habitat restoration will not only be considered, but are highly encouraged.

Watermark Newsletter for Fall 2011

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Contents of the Fall 2011 issue of Watermark include…

Restoring Habitat for Migratory Fish in Shoreys Brook
Up Front — Entry Drive Enhanced with New Trees, New Interpretive Signs Focus on Habitat, "Changing Landscapes" Exhibits Open, KEEP Assessments Complete, Forest Ecology Management Plan, Scholarships for Wild Friends in Wild Places, Reserve Director Earns National Honor, AmeriCorps Team Pitches In, Facility Improvements, TOTE Succeeds in Second Season
President's Notebook
Forest Notebook – The Straight Story
New Signs for Historic Site
York River "Wild and Scenic" Update
Team Completes Assessment of Maine Wetlands
Merriland River Grant Moves Parcel Toward Protection
Lists of Supporters
Outstanding Service Award for Endangered Species Protection
Events Coming in December and next year

Download the Fall 2011 Watermark (5 MB)

Providing Bat Habitat

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

Charles, Mark, and Frank installed seven bat houses within four of the Reserve's fields today, in an effort to provide habitat for the local population of these insectivorous flying mammals who eat up to 1,000 insects per hour. Below are pictures taken during one of the installations. We are hoping that bats will move in to this new real estate in the spring!

TOTE Teachers Reconvene

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

In July, fifteen middle and high school teachers from seven different states participated in the Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) four-day field-based workshop at the Reserve. Since then, they have been teaching their students about estuaries and watersheds, while also implementing student-driven stewardship projects. On Saturday, the more local contingency of this TOTE group (and one teacher skyping from Kentucky!) met at the Reserve for a follow-up session. The teachers shared information about their stewardship projects, which are very impressive!

Brian White, a teacher at Danvers High School in Massachusetts, has cleaned up ten beaches with his 68 juniors and seniors this fall. He will repeat this project in the spring with a new group of students.
Claire Ross, a teacher at Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland, will install picture posts to observe seasonal changes with her students over time. The students will collect light and temperature data at the posts and will also create a public information brochure about the posts.
David Word, a teacher at St. Francis High School in Kentucky, will conduct stream restoration with his students. They will remove invasive species and replace them with native plants on the banks of a local stream. Temperature and sunlight data will be collected before and after the plantings, and signage will be created to educate the public about the project.
Cheryl Oakes and Pam Parrott, teachers at Wells High School, are teaming up with the Wells harbormaster to install picture posts at the Wells Harbor with students. They will document seasonal changes, test for fecal coliform, and record their observations and results on a student-initiated website.
Amanda Roy, a student in the Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP) at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, plans to address storm water runoff in the watershed by installing rain barrels or a rain garden with students in the spring. Students will also calculate the area of impervious surface on their school campus and the amount of runoff during rain events.
Marion de Laubenfels of Arundel plans to connect students to the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea initiative. The group will travel to sites within the watershed and conduct habitat restoration along the way.

Wells Reserve Director Receives National Honor

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

WELLS, Maine, November 4, 2011 — Paul Dest, director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), was presented with the 2011 NERR System and NERR Association Award at the annual NERRS/NERRA meeting at Ponte Verde Beach, Florida, on October 27. The award is given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the reserve system.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized, and especially meaningful when it is by one’s peers,” said Dest.

The presentation was made by Rebecca Ellin, NERRA president, and Laurie McGilvray, chief of the Estuarine Reserves Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ellin said the Wells Reserve “is often cited as an example of a well-managed program that responds to the management information needs of coastal stakeholders.” She cited Dest’s key role in the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative and many years of service to the NERR Association, a nonprofit with a national reach.

Ellin also called attention to the success Dest has demonstrated without the typical state/university partnership used by the other 27 reserves in the system. The Wells Reserve is the only site in the system with a nonprofit organization, Laudholm Trust, as the state partner.

“Paul always has a positive, can-do attitude. He is creative, optimistic, and solution-oriented. He provides diplomatic and constructive feedback. And he supports a top-notch staff who themselves are leaders,” summarized Ellin.

Dest is the second Wells Reserve staff member to be recognized with the NERRS/NERRA Award. Research Director Dr. Michele Dionne was honored in 2008.

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve protects and restores coastal ecosystems around the Gulf of Maine. Staff and volunteers expand knowledge about coasts and estuaries, engage people in environmental learning, and involve communities in conserving natural resources.

The work of the Wells Reserve and the care of its historic site are made possible by Laudholm Trust. Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1982, member-supported Laudholm Trust provides vital monetary and in-kind support to the Wells Reserve. This local support enables the Wells Reserve to receive additional funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Annual Fund Welcomes Your Donation

diana@laudholm.org (Diana Joyner) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

The crisp joy of autumn makes us keenly aware of change in the natural world. It is more than leaves turning; it is watching them drift on a gentle breeze or twirl in a tempest, hearing them clatter through branches and crunch underfoot.

Autumn is more than days getting short; it is the heart-lifting beauty of an early sunset or the full beaver moon adding sparkle to a pewter ocean.

The season is more than geese honking in vees; it is a meadow vole stocking its larder, a garter snake absorbing one last warm ray, a late monarch winging away, a mudminnow settling into soft mud at the bottom of a salt marsh pool.

This time of year is also when we request your gift to our annual fund. Your donation is more than money; it is your vote of confidence in our mission, an inspiration to do better, our opportunity to do more.

Thank you for your generosity, concern, and enthusiasm for both this place and its influence in our communities.

Go to our Support page.

My MCC Term in Review

no-email.ethornton@wellsnerr.org (Emily Thornton) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

With the 2011 field season and my Maine Conservation Corps term drawing to a close, I think now is the perfect time to review and reflect upon all of the work that was done this summer and fall. It was an ambitious field season for the researchers at the Reserve, and after a busy summer and even after the first snowfalls, several projects are still underway. I was very involved in four big projects during my term, which I will review below, and helped with several smaller projects too, as help was needed.

Kennebunk and Mousam River Monitoring: The first project I worked on after arriving at the Reserve, and the last I will finish before I leave, is the fisheries monitoring of the Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers. When I began my MCC term in May, fyke netting in the Kennebunk and gill netting in the Mousam had already begun, so I jumped right into the middle of the project. We caught migratory and resident fish fyke netting on the Kennebunk River. Migratory fish included American eels, sea lampreys, and blueback herring, while residents included common shiners, white and longnose suckers, brown bullheads, fallfish and three-spine-sticklebacks. Gill netting on the Mousam, we caught striped bass and American shad, both migratory species.

This fall, we continued our monitoring of the Kennebunk River by fishing in one of its tributaries, Goff Mill Brook. Our method for capturing fish this time was electrofishing, a technique we had become quite practiced at during other summer monitoring activities. Electrofishing is exactly what it sounds like: a battery-powered backpack with anode and cathode extensions sends a weak electric current through the water, temporarily stunning nearby fish so they can be collected with nets. After fishing three 200-foot reaches, we’ve seen fish such as brook trout, white suckers, chain pickerel, American eels and nine-and three-spine sticklebacks.

Saco River Monitoring: The Saco River monitoring project had much the same goal as the Kennebunk and Mousam River monitoring project detailed above: to determine the fish species and populations present in the Saco River in Biddeford, ME. However, the means to our end were quite different. Though we did use fyke nets, as in the Kennebunk River, our nets needed to be set and reset with each tide for two days. At the first low tide, we set up our nets with the wings stapled down to allow fish up into the grasses of the salt marsh. We returned at the next high tide to release the wings on the net, creating a barrier between the fish on the marsh and the rest of the river. As the high tide went out, the trapped fish were forced into the funnel section of the fyke net, where, at the next low tide, we came to weigh, measure, and release the individuals. During this project we netted eight sites on the Saco River for 24 hours each. Working with the tides made for some late night and early morning fishing trips, but shared between a large group of interns and associates made the project manageable. We caught 389 fish of 19 species during our four days on the Saco, including migratory alewives and American eels.

Merriland/Branch Brook/Little River (MBLR) Monitoring: If I had to choose one project that characterized my term at the Wells Reserve, the MBLR Project would be it. The purpose of this project was to quantify how open and forested riparian (stream bank) areas affect not only fish species and populations, but also macroinvertebrate species and populations, stream habitat characteristics, runoff nutrient content and water quality metrics such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. This summer was the first year of this three-year monitoring project and while some elements of the project were up and running immediately, other parts (habitat assessment, for example) required us to use a lot of new field techniques and equipment, and took some practice to master. Difficulties surmounted, the data collection phase of the project was a success and we collected stream data from 20 stream reaches throughout Wells and Sanford. We caught 312 fish in this watershed, the most common of which were brook trout, white suckers, and American eels. We are now in the early phase of the next step of this project; analyzing the mounds of data we have collected. These analyses will tell us if there is a real significant difference between characteristics of streams with forested banks and streams with open banks.

Shoreys Brook Monitoring: This fall, a historical dam on Shoreys Brook, a tributary to the Salmon Falls River, is being removed and the Brook is being restored to a more natural state. In order to document how this dam removal will affect resident and migratory fish in the Brook, we did some pre-dam-removal monitoring on eight, 200-foot reaches of the waterway. The procedures we used for this project were identical to the electrofishing and habitat assessment methods followed in the MBLR project. The streams in the MBLR and Shoreys Brook watersheds, though not far apart spatially, were quite different in their fish populations and habitat characteristics. Common fish species in Shoreys Brook included pumpkinseed sunfish, American eels, sea lamprey, and golden shiners. Plans for future, post-dam removal monitoring are in development and pending funding.

Having the opportunity to work on these projects and countless other mini-projects has given me a great overview of the work that the Reserve undertakes every field season and of the different types of projects that fall under the umbrella of ‘estuarine research.’ I was originally attracted to the MCC position at the Wells Reserve for several reasons, one of which was my inability to decide whether I wanted to pursue studies of freshwater or marine ecology. I thought that estuarine ecology would be the perfect compromise. This has indeed been an excellent experience for me. Not only have I gained many useful skills acquirable only through direct experience, but I look forward to continuing to use these skills in graduate studies and future research with fish.

York River Wild and Scenic Update

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Not long ago, we mentioned the York River Wild and Scenic study bill. Here's an update:

The "Wild and Scenic" effort received a boost late this summer when U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree submitted a Wild and Scenic Study Bill in Congress. On September 15, a public hearing on the bill was held by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. Dr. Maryann J. Minard, director of curriculum at York School Department, provided testimony to the committee. You can read her remarks and see some photographs here: Minard Testimony.

If the study bill passes both the House and Senate, a comprehensive feasibility study would be done, including assessments of history and archaeology, ecology and biodiversity, fisheries, water quality, land use, and other topics.

Birding in York County

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Yesterday's Lunch 'n Learn in Mather Auditorium drew over 20 people who were interested in learning more about the birds of York County. Marie Jordan of York County Audubon Society shared her vast knowledge of birds, as well as an impressive slideshow of her bird photographs. Following are just a few of the snippets of information that I documented in my notes from the program:

Pine Siskens come through this area in November and March. They look like house finches, but have yellow on the wings.
King Eiders can sometimes be seen off Marginal Way in Ogunquit. Harlequin ducks are common in this location in the winter, too.
Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings feast on the fruit from crab apple trees through the winter months.
Saco Heath is a great place to find Prairie Warblers in the spring.
At Kennebunk Plains, birders often see Upland Sandpipers, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Vesper Sparrows.
Many birds have expanded their range into Maine. Birds like the Red Bellied Woodpecker and the Carolina Wren were not here 30 years ago.
It is very important to manage fields for Bobolinks and Meadowlarks, waiting until after their nesting season to mow.
Marie shared a statistic she had heard--that roughly one million birds in Minnesota are killed by cats each year. She encouraged all of us to keep our cats indoors for the sake of songbirds.
Mockingbirds have their own song! In addition to all of the mimicking they do, they also have their very own "harsh sounding" song.
When someone asks Marie what her favorite bird is she replies, "The bird I am looking at this minute!" She has too many favorites to name just one.

After the indoor presentation, the group ventured outside on a bird walk with Scott Richardson. Soon after leaving the auditorium, a Sharp Shinned Hawk flew overhead and Scott explained the flight patterns and wing differences of the area's most common raptors.

Following is the list of birds either seen or heard along the walk:

Song Sparrow
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Blue Jay
Red-tailed Hawk
American Crow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Black Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Bonaparte's Gull
Common Loon
Ring-billed Gull
Tree Swallow

Trees Planted Along Entry Drive

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

The Reserve recently received 12 trees from a nursery in midcoast Maine, thanks to the Maine Forest Service's "Project Canopy." This week, Charles, volunteer Mark Klys, and the AmeriCorps team planted them along the entry road, where they will serve as a wind break and visual buffer.

Watershed Restoration Field Trip

acox@wellsnerr.org (Annie Cox) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

On October 5th the Coastal Training Program partnered with Protect Kittery Waters, Spruce Creek Association, FB Environmental, Robert's Maine Grill, and the Great Works Regional Land Trust to host a day-long field trip showcasing watershed restoration efforts on Spruce Creek and Shorey's Brook. The day began at Kittery Town Hall where Mary Ann Conroy (Public Works, Kittery) and William Straub (CMA Engineers) spoke about the tree box filter and raingarden they installed with Maine DEP 319 funding.

After discussing parking lot stormwater management at the municipal scale our group of 43 participants (consisting of federal, state, and municipal officials, community members, and non profits) headed over to a home on Spruce Creek to learn about residential scale raingardens, infiltration steps, and native plant buffers from Forrest Bell and Emily DiFranco of FB Environmental.

Our next stop took us to Shapleigh School where Kittery Public Works collaborated with numerous organizations to create a large-scale raingarden with a built in amphitheatre.

Rob Roseen from UNH Stormwater Center told us about Haley Field which features a subdrain that leads to a man-made wetland. The parking lot for the field is made of pervious concrete.

Robert's Maine Grill hosted us for lunch, which was enjoyed by all! We got to hear from the owner, Michael Landgarten, about his interest in low impact development and stormwater best management practices.

And we got to view the planting plan for their native plant buffers!

After lunch we left the Spruce Creek Watershed and headed over to Shorey's Brook situated between Eliot and South Berwick. Tin Smith, the Reserve's Stewardship Coordinator and a founding member of the Great Works Regional Land Trust, shared the story behind the 400-year-old dam site and the implications of having it removed.

The dam breached in 1998 and will be removed to restore the brook's pre-dam width and restore diadromous fish passage.

This wraps up the Coastal Training Program's field trip season. But we've got plenty of trainings planned for the winter. Would you like to be on our mailing list? Contact Annie Cox at acox@wellsnerr.org.

Preschool Story Hour Attracts a Crowd

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

This morning, Jeanne Gamage and Nancy Viehmann led the first Preschool Story Hour in the Reserve's new fall series. It was very popular, attracting over 40 children, parents, and preschool teachers. Little Tom Turkey, written by Maine author Frances Bloxam, was the featured book this month. The children were wide eyed as they listened to Jeanne read the story and show real turkey feathers.

Following the story, Jeanne shared turkey egg and scat replicas with the group. Next, everybody hit the trail with Nancy in search of turkeys, their scat, and their tracks. The children took turns jiggling turkey callers, in hopes of attracting one of these magnificent birds.

Before leaving, participants were given turkey badges and coloring pages to take home, further extending their Wells Reserve at Laudholm experience.

The Reserve's library Preschool Story Hour programs for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are free. The next two offerings are on Tuesday, November 8 (A Log's Life) and Tuesday, December 13 (Bird, Butterfly, Eel) from 10:30-11:30am. The Wells Reserve's Dorothy Fish Coastal Resource Library is open to the public on Tuesdays from 10-1 and Wednesdays from 1-4. It has over 3,500 volumes on coastal environments, estuarine issues, and watershed conservation.

Autumn 2011 Calendar

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

Our autumn 2011 program calendar is now available online.

Download the 2011 autumn calendar now

Punkinfiddle Musicians 2011

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

We are pleased to welcome these performing artists to the ninth Punkinfiddle.

Gordon Bok

Gordon Bok grew up around the boatyards of Camden, Maine. In his early years, he worked on a variety of vessels, from passenger schooners to yachts. He learned many tunes, sea songs, stories, legends and ballads from the people he worked with. Where he couldn't find songs that matched his experiences or needs, he began to write his own, and has kept up a lively flow of poems, songs, stories, choral and instrumental works. He has performed extensively in the United States, and in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. He has appeared on the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor. Gordon's music has been sung by many performers.

Ellie Buckland

Ellie Buckland is a young fiddler/singer/dancer from the Farmington area who grew up in a musical family and in the tutelage of the vocal and instrumental music programs of the Mt. Blue Regional School District. In addition to her classical violin studies with Laurie Kennedy, Ellie studies dance at Broadway Academy of Dance in Farmington, and, with the help of the Mt. Blue Music Boosters, has studied fiddling at Maine Fiddle Camp, violin at USM String Camp, and violin and voice at the Maine Summer Youth Music Camp at the University of Maine, Orono.

Andy Buckland

Andy Buckland grew up in a musical family of professional and teaching musicians going back at least 3 generations. As a youth he fell asleep to the sound of bluegrass music as his mother played banjo in late-night jams and rehearsals with early bluegrass greats. Andy later pursued rock 'n' roll with a vengeance, cutting his teeth in the Boston music scene, and toured New England and Texas with the folk-rock group Dougherty & Grace. In 1998, while researching an article on his mother's involvement in bluegrass, Andy became enamored with the "ring of the banjar" and taught himself to play the 5-string banjo. After a year and a half on banjo with Wilf Clark and the Misty Mountaineers, Andy left performing for seven years to teach general music and chorus in the Mt. Blue School District. Andy is now the bassist for Boréal Tordu.

Laura Cortese

Welding the propulsive grace of ancient fiddle styles to disarmingly open-hearted original pop songs, Laura Cortese has emerged among the most intriguing and versatile, musicians in the bountiful New England post-folk scene. At home in any number of traditional styles, her highly-visible work as a supporting musician (on fiddle, vocals, and bass) includes appearances with Uncle Earl, Tao Seeger, Band of Horses, and—as part of Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden—Patterson Hood and Michael Franti. The past two years have found Cortese in creative overdrive, balancing sideman duties, solo tours, and recording sessions with an increased devotion to her own music: a kaleidoscopic hybrid that is enriched by roots music undertones and yet remains defiantly contemporary.

Ariel Friedman

Ariel Friedman graduated from Northwestern University in 2008 where she studied cello performance with Hans Jorgen Jensen, and will graduate from New England Conservatory in 2011 with a Masters in Contemporary Improvisation. A winner of ASTA's 2009 Alternative Styles Award, she is an inventive cellist and, aside from playing in a band with her sister Mia, she performs, tours, and records with Scottish National Fiddle champion Hanneke Cassel. She is also a member of the new Boston-based girl band, Long Time Courting, as well as Childsplay. She teaches at various fiddle camps during the summer and has her own private studio.

Mariel Vandersteel

Mariel Vandersteel grew up in the rich musical scene of the San Francisso Bay area. During high school, she played for local contra dances, as well as performing with Alasdair Fraser and the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers and the Black Brothers. After immersing herself in the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland, she studied Violin Performance at Berklee College of Music then traveled to Norway to study the Hardingfele and Norwegian folk music. She now plays with Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, Laura Cortese's Acoustic Project, Putnam Smith, The Paper Star Trio, and as a duo with Emma Beaton.

Snakes in the Grass

suzanne@wellsnerr.org (Suzanne Kahn Eder) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

Last night at the Reserve, wildlife biologist Jonathan Mays captivated the audience with an account of his research studying black racer populations in the Wells Barrens. From 2007 to 2010, 14 racers were surgically implanted with radio transmitters to determine racer habitat use, home range size, and denning ecology.

As a result of the study, we now know that the studied population of black racers are habitat specialists, preferring open shrubland/sand barren areas. Species of vegetation that racers seem to use most often as cover include lowbush blueberry and sweet fern. Both males and females spend the majority of their time in these shrublands, going largely unnoticed.

Jonathan's study also revealed that black racers have huge home ranges, making the efforts to protect large unfragmented areas of habitat even more critical. One female was found to use roughly 500 acres! More typically, the females were using about 200 acres and the males were using 100 acres. Jonathan highlighted that the females in the study chose nest sites far away from the core activity of other racers, likely due to the fact that black racers will eat other black racers—especially young ones! The racers in Jonathan's study were active from April through November, with the highest activity levels in July and August.

In terms of denning activity, some males denned together and some females denned together, but no males and females were found denning together. However, all 14 racers in the study had their denning sites very close together in the same area of the Wells Barrens.

Jonathan finished up his presentation with tips regarding how we can help reptile populations in Maine, reminding us that there are no poisonous snakes in Maine and they play a key role in our ecosystems. Following are the suggestions he made:

Slow down and watch for wildlife on the roads.
Observe reptiles in their habitat and leave them there.
Do not release pet reptiles into the wild.
Support local land trusts and conservation organizations. For racers, we need to maintain early successional habitat.
Get involved with Maine Wildlife Road Watch, a program that relies on community support to document wildlife car strikes and road kill in the hopes of learning more about where wildlife cross roads. As a result, preventative measures can be implemented in the future (road underpasses, overpasses, and signs that alert drivers of popular wildlife crossing sites so they will slow down accordingly).

MCC at Wells NERR

no-email.ethornton@wellsnerr.org (Emily Thornton) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

My six-month stint as the Wells Reserve’s Maine Conservation Corps/AmeriCorps volunteer is now half over, and what a busy three months these have been!

I have spent the majority of my time preparing for and conducting stream habitat assessments in the Merriland River/Branch Brook/Little River (MBLR) watershed. Thanks to an excellent crew of interns and volunteers, those were finished late August and we have moved on to the Shorey’s Brook watershed.

I was interested in being stationed at the Wells NERR because of the opportunities for ecological field work. The monitoring projects at the Reserve this year are quite extensive and I have had the opportunity to participate in everything from electrofishing and fyke netting to bird watching and marsh salinity monitoring. These projects have provided an excellent glimpse into possible fields of environmental research and monitoring, something I had hoped to gain from this experience. As the summer draws to a close, I am looking forward to finishing up our current projects and taking a closer look at the information we collected this summer to see what it can tell us about our local watersheds.

Protection of Merriland River Parcel Gets Boost from Federal Grant

editor@laudholm.org (Scott Richardson) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

WELLS, Maine, September 2, 2011 — The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve has received a $287,000 federal grant to assist with the permanent protection of a 130-acre parcel with high conservation value along the Merriland River in Wells. The Wells Reserve and the Wells Conservation Commission collaborated in requesting the grant, which was awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.

“Protecting land along the rivers that flow into our estuaries is a conservation priority,” says Paul Dest, director of the Wells Reserve. “This grant will greatly assist the Town of Wells in acquiring an ecologically significant parcel that will protect water quality and provide public access for low-impact recreation.”

The Merriland River purchase will protect, through fee simple acquisition by the Town of Wells, 130 acres of uplands and forested wetlands including 5,250 feet of river frontage. The parcel will connect with 410 acres of adjacent Town-owned land to create a 540-acre conserved area.

In June 2010, Wells citizens approved a ballot measure to release funds from the Land Bank Account that will be used as the local match required to receive the federal grant.

“The voters of Wells once again acted responsibly in planning for the Town’s future,” says Owen Grumbling, chair of the Wells Conservation Commission. “Conserving the clean water in this beautiful river system is a fine investment.”

While the federal grant and matching funds have been secured, a survey, an appraisal, deed research, and other due diligence tasks must be completed before the sale is complete. Closing is anticipated by the end of the year.

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program is a national competitive program meant to protect important coastal and estuarine areas with significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state to other uses. States, municipalities, and national estuarine research reserves compete annually for the funds.

The Merriland River proposal, submitted by the Wells Reserve and the Wells Conservation Commission in 2010, was ranked 4th of the 42 proposals submitted from across the country. “The high ranking by a national review committee underscores the tremendous conservation value this property possesses,” says Dest.

This is the second such grant received by the Wells Reserve. The first helped protect over 400 acres of land in Kittery, York, and South Berwick in 2005.

The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a 2,250-acre National Estuarine Research Reserve with its headquarters listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wells Reserve’s goal is to protect and restore coastal ecosystems around the Gulf of Maine. Staff and volunteers expand knowledge about coasts and estuaries, engage people in environmental learning, and involve communities in conserving natural resources.

The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is located on Laudholm Farm Road, just off U.S. Route 1 near the Wells-Kennebunk line.

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Hurricane Irene SWMP Report

jmiller@wellsnerr.org (Jeremy Miller) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

So looks as if we got a bit "lucky" and missed the brunt of Hurricane Irene as the storm passed to our west dropping large amounts of rain on western New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts and Vermont. Here are some totals from our System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) weather station behind the Coastal Ecology Center.

We had a top wind gust of 36 mph recorded at 12:30pm on 8/28/11. For sake of comparison, our Wells Harbor Tide Station (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) recorded a top gust of 43mph and Portland Observatory had a top gust of 49mph. Average wind speed for the reserve was around 26mph. We recorded 1.7" of rain on Sunday. A meager total to the 8+ inches recorded in other parts of New England. Now we can all look forward to the beautiful weather moving into New England for the rest of the week!

To view our SWMP weather data online please visit the Centralized Data Managment Office website.