WINTER 2000 to Preserve, Protect and Improve the Unique Ecosystems of Merrymeeting Bay
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MerrymeetingMerrymeeting NewsNews The Newsletter of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay • P.O. Box 233 • Richmond Maine 04357 WINTER 2000 To Preserve, Protect and Improve the Unique Ecosystems of Merrymeeting Bay. Friends of Merrymeeting Bay is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Support comes from members' tax- MARK YOUR CALENDAR deductible donations and grants. Feb. 16, Mar 15, April 19 events scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Beam Class- Education room, Visual Arts Center, Bowdoin College, Brunswick Hands Around the Bay, Speaker Se- May 17 event scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Bridge Academy, Dresden ries, field trips. All events are free to the public, sponsored by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. Conservation & Stewardship Protecting natural resources through private and public ownership, ease- MARCH 15 A Working Watershed from 1600 to 1950: ments and stewardship. Industry & Agriculture on Merrymeeting Bay Edward Hawes, Consulting Historian Membership Events APRIL 19 A Bird’s Eye View of the Bay: A Look at Swan Island Picnic, paddle tours of the Bay, field trips, conservation meetings, Current Conditions &-Changes Over Time Using potluck suppers and shoreline clean-ups. Aerial Photos Dave Edson, James W. Sewall Co.; Research and Advocacy Alan Haberstock, Kleinschmidt Associates Water quality, data collection, toxics, fisheries restoration. MAY 17 Eagles & Ospreys in Midcoast Maine (Dresden Bridge Academy) 2000 Steering Committee Don Hudson, Chewonki Foundation Frank Burroughs, Bowdoinham May 20 Bowdoinham Public Library 27th Annual Plant Sale Dana Cary, Topsham 9 AM to 4 PM. Jenn Cost, Brunswick For more information call 666-8405 Andy Cutko, Bowdoinham Steve Eagles, Richmond Ed Friedman, Bowdoinham Kathleen Kenny, Dresden GREEN POINT FARM Pat Maloney, Topsham A Christmas card of a few years back easily developable land go the way of Kathleen McGee, Bowdoinham features my twin daughters happily pick- condos and golf courses? Al Mesrobian, Bath ing apples high in an apple tree at Green Thanks to the foresight of the owner, Bill Milam, Woolwich Point Farm in Dresden. When I heard Bob Gleason, and the work of the Maine David Phinney, Bowdoinham that the farm was for sale I thought of Wetlands Protection Coalition, of which Jay Robbins, Richmond the 200 or so housing units proposed Friends of Merrymeeting Bay is a part, near the Cathance in Topsham and won- my children and my grandchildren will On-Line dered if this beautiful farm would suffer be able to explore this land. The 432 http://www.col.k12.me.us/mmb/ the same fate. Would my daughters have acre farm has just been purchased using [email protected] a chance to play in the orchards and fields federal funds from the North American of Green Point Farm again or would this con't on pg 5 Page 2 - Merrymeeting News - Winter 2000 Friends of Merrymeeting Bay A WARM WELCOME AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR NEW 1999 MEMBERS: Zona King, Joan Llorente, Bill and Paige Ruth, Lester and Nancy Steffens, Mike From Bath: Al Mesrobian, Peter and Mangum, Burnham Martin, Ralph Keyes Steitzer and Susan Chadima, and Denise Sharon Robohm, Stephen and Joyce and C. McKenna, Robert Muller, Rich- and Sheldon Tepler; from Woolwich Wilson; from Bowdoinham: Steve ard and Beverly Nickerson, W.G. Pinfold, Randolph Doak, E. Blaiklock and K. Bernier, Dwight and Heather Blease, Priscilla Seimer, Ann Spencer, John and Madden, Lauren Mofford, James and Hank Ogilby and Susan Drucker, Nancy Sherrye Trafton, Jean and Kenneth Michelle Rines, and Julie Erb and Herb Drucker, Pamela Hanson, Henry and Walbridge and Elihu York; from Dresden: Thomson; Dennis Purington from Joanie Mitchell, Terry Murphy and David Jan Goranson, Peter Lincoln, Shirley Belgrade; Sara Amato from Bowdoin; Phinney; from Brunswick: Daniel Atkins, Watkins, and Keith Reece and Nancy David McKinley and Leslie Badham Susan Blair, D. Nagler and C. Brzoza, Whatley; from Harpswell: Leon and Kay from Dartmouth MA; Jim Gill from E. Beth Bullock, Edgar S. Catlin III, Jenni- Ogrodnik, Jan and Clarence Richards, Winthrop; Hilary Neckles from Hallowell; fer Cost, Will Everitt, Louise Gardiner, and Charles Woodman; from Topsham: Marcus Parsons from Newton MA; Doug Paula Greenlee, Chris and Dianne Christopher Dwinal, Kathleen Greer, Clopp from Portland , David and Marilyn Gutsher, P. D’Alessandro and J. Mont- Michael and Mary Imrie, Lisa Tessler and Tilton from Richmond and Judith and gomery, Craig S. and Suzanne Johnson, Mark Ireland, Karen Peterson, Kathryn Daivd Falk from Washington D.C.. 1999 ACCOMPLISHMENTS We welcome your participation on any of these committees. Education Planning Office to “Assess Merrymeeting 4. Posted fish consumption advisories 1. 1998-1999 Speaker Series com- Bay Aquatic and Upland Habitat Changes around the Bay. pleted, 1999-2000 Speaker Series well Over Time.” Study is nearing final phases. 5. Worked with a new river advocacy underway. Join us at the April speaker series to hear group: Maine Rivers 2. Hands Around the Bay - Held a the results. 6. Co-sponsored a conference on "Merry Meeting on the Bay" day last spring 2. Began a water quality monitoring/ sprituality and environmental stewardship. at the Chop Point School. Over 220 el- testing program at six sites around the Bay. ementary school children from 10 area Partnered with Trout Unlimited to monitor Conservation and Stewardship schools attended. even more sites on the Kennebec above 1. Continued outreach program to 3. Website - continued work on our Augusta. landowners around the Bay. website http://www.col.k12.me.us/ 3. Developed a proposal for contami- 2. Continued work on easements mmb/ nants survey of fine sediments around the around the Bay. bay. Analysis funded [$20,000] through 3. Protected approximately 100 acres Research Surface Water Ambient Toxics Program of to date. 1. Received $24,500 from the Out- Maine DEP. Samples submitted to Maine 4. Helped pass the 50 million dollar door Heritage Fund through the State DEP by FOMB in December. land protection bond. 4. Continued Current Study efforts 5. Worked with Maine Wetland Pro- including attempted completion of 1998 tection Coalition. study, initial data gathering with USGS team, type testing of equipment for pos- Membership and Fundraising sible radio transmitter/drifter study with 1. Published four issues of our news- Winter 2000 aerial tracking. letter. VOL. 10, NO 1 2. Night on the Town Fundraising January, 2000 Advocacy Raffle Completed. 1. EDWARDS DAM REMOVED!!!!!!!! 3. Successful first Annual Appeal Merrymeeting News 2.Testified before the State Legislature [THANK YOU!] is the newsletter of Friends of regarding Toxic Use Reduction, Mercury 4. Merrymeeting Bay Cleanup - All together we have removed over 17,000 Merrymeeting Bay, P.O. Box 233, Reduction and Land Acquisition legisla- pounds of debris from the shores, woods, Richmond, Maine 04357, and is tion. (50 M passed by the voters last No- published seasonally. and roadways over the past four years. vember) 5. Coordinated the local leg of the Merrymeeting News is sent to 3.Continued work with the Maine annual Androscoggin Source to the Sea FOMB members and other friends Toxics Action Coalition. Outreach work Trek and incorporated three days of pad- of the Bay. For information call Ed including informational material to health dling on a segment the Kennebec. Friedman, Chairman 666-3372. care providers on the dangers of eating 6. Hosted the kick-off celebration of toxic Maine fish. Maine Rivers at Chop Point School. Friends of Merrymeeting Bay Winter 2000 - Merrymeeting News - Page 3 ANNUAL MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIR Y2K Special: The Bay Continues to Fill and Drain on Schedule As the winter ice finally grips the Bay and our "snow emer- The ad then notes, "Welcome to a place where common gency" ends with the arrival of the first few inches, I feel fortu- sense reigns and lunch is a turkey sandwich…doing it quickly nate to sit by the stove and write just a bit on another successful and efficiently, our manifesto." year for FOMB. This issue, full of some excellent writing, a meri- While Chair of this organization, this place is where I strive torious list of achievements, and a report demonstrating our fis- to keep us. I continue to try and maintain a vision of what is cal responsibility really demonstrates well what we are about. most beneficial for the Bay, a place we all cherish in our own Our sediment samples were collected and submitted for testing, ways [and as Bryce Muir pointed out the other night at our the aquatic vegetation and land use study is well underway, we Speaker Series, is well worthy of sanctification], and lead us to had a great turnout for our Hands Around the Bay day at the ACT as efficiently as possible in support of our mission and that Chop Point School, we've protected more valuable land along vision. It has been a pleasure to work with our dedicated Steer- the Bay, our speaker series continues to be top notch, and we ing Committee and our many volunteers in pursuit of these goals. initiated a rigorous water quality monitoring program. These A special pleasure has been to work with our outgoing Ex- and our other accomplishments [listed on page 2 ] remind me ecutive Director, Betsy Ham, these last three years. While sad to of a recent advertisement that caught my eye enough to tear see her go it is good to know that the rivers of Maine will be out and save. It goes something like this: better off as she takes on her new role of River Advocate at the Paint Job: How to Paint a Fence. 1) Go to hardware store. Natural Resources Council of Maine. 2) Buy white latex paint and a good brush. 3) With cold drink in As we begin to look at applicants for our Executive Director hand, paint.