FALL 2020 volume 37 issue 2 watermark Published by Laudholm Trust in support of Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

Working Together Toward Habitat Resilience inside • Flotsam / News Briefs • Nik’s Notebook: 2020 • New Research Fellow coastal communities long enough subjected to the enormous • Solar Power Update • Regional Resilience Plan Wander and you will find water over a roadway stress that tidal pressure can put • We Had Visitors at high tide. Locals know the spots where flooding has been on its bed, particularly when the • FY 2020 Financials • What to Do for Winter an occasional inconvenience. There’s a fair chance they have only passage for that water is noticed that flooding happens more often these days, and they not big enough. With overtopping and undercutting, eventually may know that sea level rise projections portend overtopping something has to give. will become more frequent during future high tides. One such spot is Sawyer Road, which links Cape Elizabeth Coincident Concerns Back in 2017, the reserve’s restoration project manager, Jacob to Scarborough over the Spurwink River. A bridge once spanned Aman, was working with The Nature Conservancy on a stream the Spurwink here, but it was replaced by a culvert first in 1963 connectivity project, compiling a list of priority sites for then again in 1997. The current culvert is aluminum, about 12 restoration. As part of their outreach, they met with the Cape feet wide by 11 feet high, and too small. Elizabeth planner and public works director about Sawyer Road Undersized culverts restrict the natural ebb and flow of and another Spurwink River road crossing. Both sites were high tidal waters that are vital for salt marsh health. The impeded salt priorities for ecological improvement, since they contained both marsh suffers changed salinity, altered plant life, and reduced a large amount of salt marsh and a good capacity to allow for sediment flow. A pinching culvert also increases the velocity of marsh migration. water currents running through it, causing a creek to scour its continued on page 6 banks and form unnatural pools. The characteristic hourglass shape on either side of a roadway in aerial photos is a telltale An undersized culvert under Sawyer Road in Cape Elizabeth restricts the tidal flow of sign that a salt marsh calls for ecological triage. the Spurwink River. The Wells Reserve assisted with a study of the road crossing and Sawyer Road has had the attention of town officials for surrounding salt marsh. This photo shows an eroded river bank that has been scoured its frequency of flooding and imperiled stability. The road is by water currents accelerated by the small culvert.

watermark fall 2020 watermark A newsletter for members of Laudholm Trust and supporters of flotsam the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Coastal Ecology Center Exhibit Laudholm Trust 207-646-4521 fax 646-2930 Area Closes to Public On October 5, 2002, Mya the talking clam Nik Charov, Laudholm Trust President ext 144 [email protected] greeted visitors to the Maine Coastal Ecology Tracy Kay, Operations Director Center for the first time. For many years after, ext 127 [email protected] Katelyn Rice, Fundraising Coordinator she regaled the public about the mud life of ext 145 [email protected] Scott Richardson, Communications Director a simple softshell. As she got older, though, ext 114 [email protected] Mya wouldn’t ever stop talking. Eventually, Karen Stathoplos, Membership Coordinator ext 140 [email protected] she had to be silenced; the switch was Wells Reserve thrown. Mya’s tired-tech comrades around 207-646-1555 fax 646-2930 the room, one by one, had also given up the Paul Dest, Wells Reserve Executive Director ghost. Reluctantly, the reserve has closed ext 124 [email protected] these exhibits and is weighing options for the Jacob Aman, Project Manager ext 112 [email protected] future use of the space. Caryn Beiter, Program Coordinator ext 110 [email protected] Sue Bickford, M.S., GIS Specialist Walk a Trail, Read a Story ext 120 [email protected] After two successful collaborations with 5210 Jessica Brunacini, M.A., Margaret A. Mya arenaria, the talking softshell clam, was a Davidson Fellow Let’s Go! York County, reserve educators have ext 143 [email protected] popular attraction in the ecology center exhibit area Annie Cox, M.A., Coastal Training mounted their own StoryWalk® along the Coordinator until she started talking nonstop. She is now retired. ext 157 [email protected] Saw-whet Owl Trail, out to the Laird Norton Laura Crane, M.S., Research Assistant fields, and down the Farley Trail. The book, ext 105 [email protected] action plan before the end of the year. Chris Chris Feurt, Ph.D., Coastal Training Director Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, will ext 111 [email protected] described the process as a “collaborative be out through the winter. Jason Goldstein, Ph.D., Research Director effort among representatives from groups ext 136 [email protected] Emily Green, Coastal Training Associate Drifters Range Far and Wide that value Maine’s coast and marine areas in [email protected] Brian Greenwood, Facility Manager Several of the 24 ocean drifters released on very different ways.” She called the quality of ext 131 [email protected] the collaboration inspirational, particularly in Linda Littlefield Grenfell, June 25 as stand-ins for planktonic lobster Environmental Educator larvae are still at sea and reporting their light of the pandemic. ext 128 [email protected] Ben Gutzler, Ph.D., Post-doctoral positions via satellite. Their tracks for the Research Fellow MTA2C Coalition Reaches 5-Year Goal first month were critical to the project’s ext 119 [email protected] By completing the 220-acre Fuller Forest Suzanne Kahn, M.S., Education Director success and have given the science staff ext 116 [email protected] Preserve in York, along with numerous Jeremy Miller, Research Associate much to consider over the coming winter. ext 122 [email protected] smaller projects within its five-town focus The extended journeys of surviving drifters Max Olsen, Beach Profiling Coordinator area, the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea [email protected] are amazing to see. Link to the current map Scott Rocray, CPA, Accounting Coalition has reached its goal of protecting ext 123 [email protected] from wellsreserve.org/drifters. Jeff Tash, Wildlife Biologist an additional 1,500 acres of open space in [email protected] Lynne Benoit Vachon, M.A., Maine Climate Plan Nears Completion 5 years. The coalition has protected 15,000 Volunteer Programs & Visitor Services acres since it was founded in 2002, with an ext 118 [email protected] The Maine Climate Council, with the reserve’s Dr. Christine Feurt on the Coastal ultimate goal of protecting 19,000 acres Maine Sea Grant around Mount Agamenticus, the Kristen Grant, M.A., Extension Agent and Marine Working Group, plans to ext 115 [email protected] complete its work on the state’s climate watershed, and Brave Boat Harbor. watermark fall 2020 3 nik’snotebook wellsreserve at laudholm a place to discover

requires reserves: of strength, empathy, patience. A year like 2020 We’ve been honored to be your local national Laudholm Trust Board of Trustees estuarine research reserve during this trying time. We’ve kept our trails open because we Hal Muller, Chair Bruce Bjork, Vice Chair know you need them for safe outdoor recreation and restorative time in nature. Many of Dennis Byrd, Treasurer Robin Planco, Secretary you also visited us online, or in your memories, knowing that this treasured place on the John Carpenter coast of Maine is a reserve for so many. Thank you for thinking of us. Stephen Giannetti Todd Moxham We’ve been thinking of you too. We miss you. Our ongoing work here is always Rob Olson Leslie Roberts bolstered by the smiles and greetings of new and returning visitors to Laudholm, not to Krista Rosen Penny Spaulding mention staff and volunteers. Remote work, and everyone healthily masked, have kept us Janet Underhill all safer, but they are pale substitutes for the togetherness that we all need and expect, Honorary Trustees especially around the holidays. Cynthia Daley George W. Ford II Plenty has already been said about the trials, tribulations, and terrors of 2020. As Lily Rice Kendall Hsia usual, I’d prefer, for my sanity and my family’s, to think about the positives I’ve seen. One Bruce Read Betsy Smith in particular has given me hope to last for years: the response of the worldwide scientific Hans Warner community to the novel coronavirus, which was unknown just thirteen months ago. In Wells Reserve Management Authority one year, doctors and researchers have leapt across international boundaries and national Nik Charov, Chairman President, Laudholm Trust interests to meet the challenge. They have published nearly 80,000 papers on the virus, Karl Ekstedt Member, Board of Selectmen saved millions of lives with clear and science-based guidance, cut the development time of Town of Wells David Rodrigues multiple safe and effective vaccines by 80%, and are preparing to deliver an unprecedented Director of Real Property Management, Bureau of amount of doses in record time, all to save the world. Parks & Lands Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Nothing like this has ever been done before — it’s too easy to lose sight of that. Working Forestry Karl Stromayer together, we are beating this virus. As you’ll see in the pages of this year-end newsletter, Manager, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge “working together” can accomplish a lot in coastal science, education, and conservation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gail Zydlewski, Ph.D. (appointment pending) too. Our activities at the Wells Reserve have continued, and even grown, in this strange and Director, Maine Sea Grant College Program University of Maine tragic year. We’ve found new ways to work together virtually; I can only imagine how strong Kathleen Leyden (ex-officio) we will be when we’re all back together again, in the flesh. Until then, have a good winter. Director, Maine Coastal Program Maine Department of Marine Resources Tap your reserves, stay safe, and stay well. Erica Seiden (ex-officio) Program Manager, National Estuarine Research Reserve System Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Nik Charov President, Laudholm Trust Chairman, Wells Reserve Management Authority

The paper in this newsletter: The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of 29 reserve sites • Contains FSC certified 100% post- throughout the country. All reserves require local funding to match federal consumer fiber grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Wells • Is certified EcoLogo, Processed Reserve is the only reserve that receives its match from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Chlorine Free, and FSC Recycled organization. Each year, Laudholm Trust contributes private funds and in-kind • Is manufactured using biogas energy services to support Wells Reserve operations and capital improvements. 4 watermark fall 2020

community / coastal training

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of Welcome Jessica Brunacini, NERRS Davidson Fellow protected areas established for long-term research, education, Jessica Brunacini has joined the staff as the and stewardship. This partnership reserve’s first Margaret A. Davidson Graduate program between NOAA and the Fellow (see Watermark, summer 2019). Jessica, a coastal states protects more than one million acres of estuarine land Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State University, is and water, which provides essential among the few social scientists selected in the habitat for wildlife; offers educa- inaugural cohort of the national program. tional opportunities for students, teachers, and the public; and serves In 2019, each of the 29 estuarine reserves as living laboratories for scientists. announced research priorities for eligible candidates to consider. Our coastal resilience The 29 Sites in the NERR System ACE Basin, South Carolina priority (below) caught Jessica’s eye. “It was Apalachicola, Florida pretty close to what I would have written to Chesapeake Bay, Maryland describe my dissertation topic,” she said. Her Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Delaware, Delaware proposal was titled “Broadening participation to Elkhorn Slough, California build resilience: Exploring the role and effect of Guana Tolomato Matanzas, Florida public participation in decision-making around Grand Bay, Mississippi Great Bay, New Hampshire managed retreat in Wells, Maine.” He‘eia, Hawai‘i Jessica started out with a fine arts degree (photography) earned in her home state of New Hudson River, New York Mexico, but one of life’s twists soon found her seining fish under the Brooklyn Bridge. That Jacques Cousteau, New Jersey Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico experience inspired her to earn a master’s degree in environmental conservation education Kachemak Bay, Alaska and launch her career with a variety of nonprofits in New York City. Later she co-developed a Lake Superior, Wisconsin professional training program on population dynamics and climate change, which she helped Mission–Aransas, Texas Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island pilot in Malawi, then spent 5 years as assistant director of the Polar Learning and Responding to North Carolina, North Carolina Climate Change Education Partnership. North Inlet/Winyah Bay, South Carolina Jessica began her Ph.D. work in 2017 focused on understanding the social aspects of Old Woman Creek, Ohio Padilla Bay, Washington climate change adaptation policy and planning, including concerns about justice and equity. Rookery Bay, Florida She developed skills in participatory research, an approach meant to do research with, not on, San Francisco Bay, California people while addressing real-world problems. Sapelo Island, Georgia South Slough, Oregon “During my fellowship, I will involve community members in evaluating options for Tijuana River, California responding to sea level rise, coastal erosion, and increased flooding. The goal is to identify Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts practices that ensure the public is meaningfully engaged in decision-making.” Weeks Bay, Alabama Wells, Maine “Shorelines are increasingly vulnerable to storms, sea level rise, and erosion. In response, vulnerable coastal communities are making complex management and policy decisions about how to adapt to change. One issue related to adaptation remains difficult. ‘Relocation’ raises hard questions about property rights and emotional attachments to place. Therefore, research is needed to better understand the challenges of developing adaptation strategies and relocation policies and the methods for engaging communities in dialogues that build resilience.” watermark fall 2020 5 on campus / conserve and convert

New Solar Panels Add Capacity for Growth Are You Considering Solar? This summer we installed ReVision Energy’s Phil Coupe says, our fifth solar array, adding “We would be delighted to make a 4.55 kilowatts of generating $300 donation to Wells Reserve for capacity with a ground- any solar energy project we build.” mounted set of 14 panels % Simply mention the Wells Reserve when east of the barns and Coastal 1 you call about solar for your home or Ecology Center. The estimated annual production will be 5,700 kilowatt-hours, offsetting business. 6,000 pounds of carbon emissions. The system was funded by a NOAA grant and Laudholm Southern Maine Trust donations. (207) 221-6342 Our previous systems of photovoltaic arrays have been producing enough electricity Midcoast, Downeast, Central Maine to meet 100% of our needs for more than 5 years now. To keep this achievement intact, we (207) 589-4171 needed to add capacity to power an energy-efficient air-source heat pump system newly New Hampshire, Massachusetts installed in the Dorothy Fish Coastal Resource Library. We planned a small surplus over what (603) 679-1777 was needed for that heat pump, as we hope to install electric-vehicle charging stations in the * Incentive applies to a solar electric or solar parking lot in 2021. We’re continuing down the path toward fossil-free operations at the Wells hot water system of 3 kilowatts or more. Reserve at Laudholm.

SOLAR This snapshot of solar success was taken in REPORT mid November 2020 and includes both the Maine Coastal Ecology Center and the Alheim Commons. First Panels Installed: March 2013 Due to technical issues, reporting is incomplete for Energy Produced: 475,328 kilowatt-hours some months, so these statistics are minimums. The Wells Reserve has CO2 Emissions Avoided: 618,272 pounds likely already surpassed one half million kilowatt- Dollars Reimbursed: $66,070 hours of solar electricity. Most Productive Month: May 2020, > 9000 kWh 6 watermark fall 2020

continued from page 1 CoastWise Partners The meeting helped prompt the officials to pursue a town-wide assessment of culverts and Maine Coastal Program habitats, which led to further study of Sawyer Road. Acadia Civil Works Jake and other reserve personnel assisted with studies by assessing local tide elevations Bates College and by making high-precision GPS measurements of roadway elevations, culvert position, salt Bowdoin College marsh cross sections, and stream channels. They deployed dataloggers across the salt marsh Estuary Partnership to measure water surface elevations throughout a tidal cycle. With data, imagery, and models Downeast Salmon Federation in hand, they helped select and evaluate two sea level rise scenarios to drive design criteria for Great Bay National Estuarine sizing the replacement road crossing. The final report was delivered (by consultant Acadia Civil Research Reserve Works) just as COVID-19 was altering everyone’s expectations for 2020. Interfluve Kennebec Estuary Land Trust Tallying Maine’s Tidal Restrictions Maine Audubon Maine has more than 1,000 tidal road crossings in its 20,000 acres of salt marsh. Nine out of 10 Maine Coast Heritage Trust of those crossings restrict the normal movement of water through the marsh. Taking the long Maine Department of Agriculture, view, the Maine Coastal Program has just finished mapping them for the state’s Tidal Restriction Conservation and Forestry Atlas, an inventory of culverts, bridges, dams, and other structures that will aid planning for Maine Department of Environmental Protection community resilience and habitat restoration for decades to come. The atlas is a useful tool Maine Geological Survey whose final form could scarcely have been imagined when the reserve and others took the first Maine Department of Inland steps toward the outcome. Fisheries and Wildlife In 1999, the Conservation Law Foundation introduced Return the Tides, an effort to Maine Department of Marine Resources inventory, survey, and analyze potential tidal restrictions, first around Casco Bay then throughout Maine Department of Transportation Maine, with an eye toward identifying salt marshes in need of restoration. Even before that effort Massachusetts Division of began, the Wells Reserve’s first research director, Dr. Michele Dionne, had been working with Ecological Restoration Maine Audubon on establishing a clear and consistent process to assess salt marsh health. Their Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management New Hampshire Coastal Program New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services NOAA Northeast Wetland Restoration The Spurwink River is constricted The Nature Conservancy by an undersized culvert under University of Maine Sawyer Road. The narrow passage University of New Hampshire causes higher velocities during US Fish and Wildlife Service both ebb and flow, which creates US Department of Transportation, “scour pools” on each side of the Federal Highway Administration road. The resulting hourglass VHB shape is common to tidal crossings Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve with adjacent salt marsh. Woods Hole Group, Inc. Image by Acadia Civil Works watermark fall 2020 7 efforts had grown from (and complemented) research and management efforts elsewhere in Maine, Massachusetts, and other places with similar salt marsh characteristics and challenges. Coastal Training Program While the Return the Tides project continued its focus on tidal systems, Maine Audubon Collaborative Knowledge Network and other organizations launched Stream Smart in 2011, providing workshops for contractors, Biddeford+Saco Chamber of landowners, and professionals responsible for stream crossings throughout the state. Their Commerce + Industry Bowdoin College goal was to ensure culvert design and construction maintain fish and wildlife habitat while Casco Bay Estuary Partnership protecting roads and public safety. City of Biddeford/Biddeford CoastWise Approach Conservation Commission Cumberland County Soil and Water Tidal road crossings like Sawyer Road present greater complexity and risk than most non-tidal Conservation District systems. As the reserve and other organizations have acquired new skills, tools, and knowledge EPA Environmental Finance Center about these systems, they formed a new partnership to develop a voluntary, standardized set of Research Institute guidelines to encourage the design of “safe, cost-effective, ecologically supportive, and climate- Island Institute resilient tidal crossings.” The draft guidelines are expected to be under final review by year’s end. Maine Audubon The CoastWise approach is meant to establish a set of holistic guidelines and best practices Maine Climate Change Adaptation that municipal road managers, engineers, and restoration practitioners can follow through Providers Network the full process of planning, designing, permitting, and building tidal road crossings. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust recommendations will account for coastal flooding and storm surge events not just in the near Maine Coastal Program term, but looking out 50 to 100 years under various sea level rise scenarios. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Restoring tidal flow to Maine’s compromised salt marshes will be solving a series of Maine Department of Environmental complex problems, but CoastWise partners also understand the simplicity of the task as Protection captured by the Stream Smart Golden Rule: “Let the stream act like a stream. Make the road Maine Drinking Water Program invisible to the stream.” Maine Geological Survey Find the CoastWise project at wellsreserve.org/coastwise. Maine Sea Grant Maine Water Crafting a Regional Coastal Resilience Plan NOAA Office for Coastal Management New England Estuarine Research Society The Wells Reserve will soon be As the resilience plan develops, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership collaborating with the Southern Maine towns and natural resource experts will Poland Spring Planning and Development Commission find projects that meet at the nexus of Corridor Commission and other partners on a regional coastal ecological and infrastructure needs. Saco Watershed Collaborative resilience plan for the ten municipalities Planning will be based on a from Kittery to Scarborough. The primary collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative goals are to prepare for impacts of coastal long advocated through the reserve’s Coastal Schoodic Institute hazards and to identify land use strategies, Training Program. The reserve has employed Southern Maine Conservation adaptation measures, and nature-based the approach effectively in several projects Collaborative solutions for making the region more building toward this regional plan, including Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission resilient to coastal flooding. Better Safe Than Sorry, Resilience Dialogues, The program that funds this project Tourism Resilience Index, Climate Games, The Nature Conservancy was designed to help communities view and another SMPDC project, Tides, Taxes, and University of New England Sustainable Communities Collaborative coastal resilience projects through an New Tactics. ecological lens. Where social priorities affect Maine’s imminent Climate Action Plan York County Soil and Water Conservation District coastal resources, the plan will guide efforts and CoastWise guidelines will provide toward incorporating restoration. further support to the planning effort. PROGRESS THROUGH A PANDEMIC

The pattern begun in March safely with others. Visits year, but we count our numbers despite the adherence to restrictions held through the year: were up, programs filled, blessings that the spring, looming SARS-CoV-2. that, over the long run, will Folks appreciate spacious and kind people generously summer, and fall passed ¶ We are not out of the give us all the best chance natural areas and are willing demonstrated their so gracefully. ¶ Below, woods yet, as you well to return to unconstrained, to take the precautions gratitude. ¶ Yes, much was then, are some measures know. We urge your convivial moments in our necessary to share them different than our typical of success, a few rewarding continued diligence and beloved, protected places.

We Had Visitors!

850 3625 4601 2927 1574 JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Tallies at the admissions booth generally occurred only between 10am and 4pm, so this chart shows just part of total attendance. Selected Weekend Stats August 13/14 524 visitors Emily Robinson was one of eleven friendly volunteers who September 5/6 593 visitors greeted and assisted visitors at the admissions booth over October 10/11 807 visitors the summer.

Docent Program Citizen Science 18 docents at 21 trainings (15 virtual) 6 phenology monitors posted 9,136 covering biomimicry, soundscape observations of 16 plant and 3 animal ecology, climate change, block printing, species to Nature's Notebook (through July) nature observation, nature poetry, estuaries and coasts, phytoplankton, bird language, phenology, history, and more Volunteers 15 rangers and 11 admission volunteers kept visitors safe and informed Talks 152 people at 7 lunch-n-learns Automobiles 65 people at 4 evening talks 26,315 cars counted on entry road, 28 people met 3 scientists suggesting 52,000+ visitors this year New Members Anne D. Adams Joan Engler Virginia Lawrence & Samuel Stevenson Stacey Salotto-Cristobal Bella Ahanogbe, Sandy Henin & Family Emily Engler Martha Leathe Michael P. Sammons Carey, Mike & Cayser Allard & Susan Lillian Enright & Paul Semprini Liz Leberman Lori Ann Sands Wheeler Jeannie & Brian Ensor Anne & Tim Lee Erin Santomenna Eid & Hillary Alsabbagh Chantel Estrella Elizabeth Lee Alicia Sawtell Deb Amell Barry & Carolyn Chute-Festervan Fern Lee & Linda Campaniello Terry & Barb Schalou Jennifer Anderson Paul Figliozzi Jacky LeHoullier Peter Seekamp Debbie Asbjorn Melissa & Mike Finneran Genevieve Leslie Jeffrey & Shevaun Shamon Marena Bach & Jim Quinn Ryan Fisher & Danielle Smith Donna & Michael Libby Stephen Shane Bonnie Baratta Mike Fletcher Tamara Ling & Jim Regan Melanie Shmalo & Family Steve & Andrea Barone Patricia Foote Andrea Long Erik Silcox Donna Barrett Rick & Carol Forbess Nancy Loomis John Silk & Katherine Marinoff Bob & Terri Bartlett David Forest Heidi, Peter, Jack, Abigail & Sarah Lord Holly, Daron & Olivia Smith Julia Barton & Family Frank Fortunati Lawrence Lubrie Lyndsay Smyth Cliff & Jen Bassett Joan L. Fox Jamie Lucas Ally Snell & Adam Blankenbicker Michele Beaudoin Miriam Fox Mary Lyons Trisha Solio & Katherine Power Colette Beaumont Jessica Gaines & Devin French David MacCannell Lindsay Spigel Roberta Bell Paul Gelardi Jean MacDonald Elizabeth Stanhope Dan Belyea & Greg Sereyko Joanna Geraghty Hannah Magnusson & Brendan Sarah Steedman & Chris Bushell Susan Bennett Nicholas Gere Whittaker Ingrid Strange Rose Ann Berwald Sonja Gerken Ali Manieri Tom & Melissa Tammaro Joe & Deirdre Bigley Jane Gerrish Thomas & Kathleen Manning Nancy Terry & Kenny Newbury Deborah Bilodeau Katie Geschwendt Tina Manolakos Trent Thomas Jennifer L. Blair Terry Gigger Susan & Fred Marshall Tricia Thompson & Marcie Nogueira Tylor Blanchard Karen Gilbert Janet & Robert Martel Cynthia Torres Roger & Judy Boilard Sally Glass Doris McClellan Susan Totter Harlan Bosmajian Susan & Greg Gnall Natasha McCrum & Jed Cook Diana L. Towle-Speidel Amy Bourque & Tony Correia Sandra Goldstein Maura McEvoy Charlie Townsend Garreth & Heather Bowie Hector Gomez & Laura Rios Kevin & Elizabeth McGann LynneAnn Trask Rebecca Boyle Anthony Gosselin Ed McGarrigle David Udelsman Helen Brock & Doug Knight Rick Gouin Rod McNally Gayle, Drew, Reid & Isaac Vardakis Mary Brooks Patty Goy Chris & Danielle Mercer Donna Venegas Kayla Burke Mary Grady Caren & Fred Michel Amanda Verdick Erin Cadigan Denise Green Brian & Prudence Minnihan Ann M.Vigeant Stephen & Lonni Campbell Devon Greenwood & Travis Larson Elliott Mitchell Valerie Viola Ray Capizzo Mark Gronovsky Roxana Mocanu & Ricardo Trindade Mimi Vu Bailey Carignan & Chris Freeman Alejandro Guzman Melodie & Jay Moroney Ann Walker Thomas & Pamela Carnicelli Greta Hagen Dave & Kathy Myszka Mark Walpole Walter Carroll Renee & John Hake Andrew Narducci Cynthia Walsh Bob & Sandy Carter Susan Hall Leslie Nelson Lisa Warren & Brian Miles Judith Castle Hannah Halle Ann Nevius & Thomas Smith James Wassell Ray & Donna Charbonneau Eugene & Bonnie Halpin Scott Newcombe Hilary Webber Allison & Kevin Chase Leslie Hand Laurie Newell Katarzyna Wegrzyn David J.Chavolla Michael & Karen Hanrahan Terry Nightingale Tricia Welch Jessica Clark Cheryl Harmon Stan & Melissa Norton Greg & Marilyn Weltin Kelli Colson Angela Haynes Chelsea & Jason Ouellet Melissa Whitney Allison Contey Peter Hayward & Debbie Gassaway- Kate Owens Robert & Andrea Whitton Kate Conway Hayward Daniel Palmadesso Sara Wirthwein David & Sarah Cooley John Heden Karin Parker Phillip Yoder Marco Cornelio Brian Helmuth Mark Parsons Jean Zelonis Sue Coveney Heather Hicinbothem Caroline Patrie Matthew Zglobicki Elaine Crandall-Burt Chris Hillman Paul, Carolyn & Michael Pattavina Mike & Laurie Ziehl John A. Criscuoli Charles & Lisa Hocking Adam, Casey, Poppy, Piper & Marley Jessica & Christopher Cyr Beth Hogan Pearson Kendrick Daggett Erin Holden Linda & Peter Persechino Memorial Gifts Gerri Dansky Patricia Holder Michael & Kimberly Peterson Becky Richardson Michele Davies Alison Houck Petrakis Family Beth Anne Howell Larry & Nick Days and Carey, Amelia & Brooke Hoyle Rick & Lorraine Pettengill Dr. Paul Sweet Maya Connor Hilary Irons Gay Pettorini Patricia Frost Michael Deem Jacobson Family Jason Pinkham Patricia Gillette Claxton Carol Delaney Krista Jobst & Casey Donahue Matthew, Wendy, Axel, Lachlan & Tony Viehmann Deb & Rick Dellovo Leif, Eva & Leyli Johnson Ginger Plache John & Rebecca DelRosso Amy Joyce Steven Podsiadlo & Beth Bamford Celebratory Gifts Ellen & Ed Dennehy Kuffer Kaltenborn Michael Pompili Clare Dever Ashley Karr Daniela Posada & Thomas Murphy To honor James Buck & Norma Fox Carole & MaryLou Dione-Fabrizio Marla Katz Jason Pugliese To honor Mort Mather Mary Pat Donnellon Mark Kellis Carolyn Puliafico To honor Scott & Christina Richardson Thomas D’Ottavio & Natasha Reinhor Carrie Kennedy Mary Ann Ratteree on their anniversary Tomas & Mya Dundzila Nicolyn Keville Suzanne Ray Elizabeth Dunn Richard Klau & Martha McGlannan Klau David Remiszewski & Carol Curit In-kind Contributions Joanne M. Duran Karen Knight & Bernard Mahar Emily Ricard Peter & Moe McKenzie – weed mulcher Kathleen Dziadzio Marjorie Kolkin Keith & Beth Richtman Kathleen E. Earley Elissa Kraus Deborah & Eric Robb Ryan Ebeling David & Barbara Krogmann Greg Robinson Eric & Emily Elliot Stuart & Carolyn Krouse Marian Roncarati-Fortin & John Fortin Scott & Laurie Ellis Celeste Ladd & Gordon Ober Dan Rothermel thankyou Kerry Emanuel Jamie & Leigh Lament Katherine J. Ryan for gifts received between Alicen Encarnacao Rebecca Langshaw-Simon John Sahlman June 30 and November 15, 2020 (draft) FY 2020 Financial Report July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 This condensed information has been derived from draft financial statements. Upon completion, reviewed financial statements for the Wells Reserve and Laudholm Trust will be available online and in our offices.

To Our Supporters — For the first time in nearly a decade, Laudholm Trust ended the year with a budget deficit. This $33,803 shortfall was mostly a result of the pandemic-driven cancellation of all site rentals this spring (weddings and events). A federal loan from the Small Business Administration helped to bridge much of a larger gap that emerged in FY20; it could have been worse. Nevertheless, the Trust relies on fundraisers like the Crafts Festival and wedding rentals for at least one-third of its annual revenues. This year our summer and fall fundraisers were completely canceled. Over 2020 and 2021, we expect to experience a cumulative loss of more than $250,000. Federal pandemic relief funds will be essential to our continued operation, but so will donations from members like you. Please consider increasing your support for the Wells Reserve, through the Laudholm Trust, this holiday season. And please consider supporting the other causes and nonprofits you hold dear. Through to the other end of this pandemic, we will need them all, “now more than ever.” laudholmtrust

Revenues Expenses Total* $754,352 Total $788,155 Laudholm Trust Professional Fees Income from Trusts Salaries and Benefits $28,759 (4%) and Endowments $276,270 (35%) $230,529 (31%) Donations Non-Personnel Services $149,147 (20%) $32,719 (4%)

Events and Gift Shop (net) Contributions $123,054 (16%) to Wells Reserve Grants $450,407 (57%) $65,000 (9%) Small Business Administration Memberships Payroll Protection Program $119,722 (16%) $66,900 (9%) * excludes gains on investments and trusts wellsreserve

Revenues Expenses Total $1,868,507 Total* $1,813,887 Operating Income, Contributions, Research and Monitoring Contributions from Other Grants $469,825 (26%) Facilities and Administration $190,590 (10%) Laudholm Trust $414,796 (23%) $450,407 (24%)

Capital Investments Government Grants $176,861 (10%) $1,227,510 (66%) Education and Training $462,400 (25%) Stewardship and Conservation $290,005 (16%) *excludes depreciation Wells Reserve Mission: To understand, protect, and restore coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Maine through integrated research, stewardship, environmental learning, and community partnerships.

Laudholm Trust Mission: To raise financial and community support for the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and Maine’s coastal environment. SO MANY WAYS TO HELP

Switch to Monthly Giving wellsreserve.org/moon Ditch that Beater wellsreserve.org/cars Make a Gift of Stock wellsreserve.org/stock

Place a Chair, Bench, or Tree 207-646-4521 ext 144 (Nik)

Have you thought of leaving a gift to Laudholm in your will? We would be honored. And we’d welcome the opportunity to thank you now. Call Nik to discuss the possibilities.

207-646-4521 ext 144 wellsreserve.org/planned-giving Shorten the Long Winter We hope you are determined to make the most of the coming have hosted over the years. We keep building the collection, so winter. Remember: The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is open every subscribe to our channel while you’re there. Here are the most day from 7am to sunset. And it won’t be long before that Sun recently posted videos at press time: sets a little later each day. Come on over.  Conservation as a Critical Societal Need  Landslides in Maine Popular Trails Off Limits Until Spring  How to Talk about Climate Change (even during a pandemic) The K/K/W Water District is replacing the waterline that serves  Hurricanes in Maine Drakes Island. For their access and your safety, sections of several  Community Relocation as an Adaptation to Ecological trails will be closed during construction: Knight Trail, Barrier Beach Degradation Trail, Pilger Trail, Laird Norton Trail. We have posted a map of the  A Mussel’s View of Climate Change closures to our website. Access to Laudholm Beach will require  Values and Worldviews on Nature walking from town parking lots on Drakes Island. Work started in early December and should be done next spring. We will update our website with information about the project and will announce any trail sections that reopen during the project period. Watch Talks on YouTube Tune into our channel at youtube.com/wellsreserve to see the DaPonte String Quartet recorded live at Laudholm this fall performing Randall Thompson’s Alleluia. While you’re there, discover lunch-n-learns, evening programs, and workshops we

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021