The Nature Conservancy in Maine Strategic Plan 2018–2023 © Ian Patterson Why Maine Matters

ur work, supported by donors Maine not only feels like a special place in the This is leading to a historic recovery of and visionaries like you, is making world, it is. The Northern Appalachian forest prolific sea-run fish populations across an impact.O Over the last decade, we worked with runs through our state and is one of the the state because of improved habitat partners to restore fish passage to a thousand miles of largest intact deciduous forests anywhere and reestablished connections to habitat in the Penobscot River watershed; we brokered in the world. It supports a great diversity traditional spawning grounds. the nation’s largest transfer of development rights of wildlife and habitats, as well as rivers, Equally important to river habitat, and with a timber company on the shores of Moosehead streams, lakes, and ponds that are home inextricably linked, is the Gulf of Maine. It Lake; we established a partnership with fishermen to native fisheries and contribute to the is one of the most complex and productive marine and women to protect their livelihoods by working health of the Gulf of Maine. Our forest’s ecosystems on the planet. It is the economic to rebuild biodiversity in the Gulf of Maine; and we value as an ecosystem, an economic lifeblood of coastal communities and helped to secure a regional cap-and-trade program to engine, a cultural touchstone, and is an integral part of the cultural reduce carbon emissions. a state symbol is extraordinary. In 1956, pioneering ecologist and author Rachel fabric of New England, home As the impacts from climate change increase, Thanks to decades of work Maine represents the greatest to the iconic Maine lobster, Carson, along with a handful of Maine citizens, collaboration and innovation become even more and policies put in place opportunity for watershed conservation Atlantic cod, and many founded the Maine chapter of The Nature urgent. Working together with a diverse coalition to improve water quality, and restoration anywhere east of the more fish and shellfish of conservationists, scientists, community leaders, alongside a tradition of forest species. After many years Conservancy. According to Carson, “It is the only concerned citizens, and supporters like you, we stewardship and generous Mississippi River. of significant loss, the overall group I know which is doing something practical can ensure that our past successes endure, and our philanthropy, Maine’s key watersheds, health of New England groundfish work continues to inspire and make a difference. By like the Penobscot and Kennebec, are now largely populations is improving, due in part to restoration about actually preserving areas.” We continue listening deeply, we can design projects with broad healthy and intact overall. In fact, they are among the work done and led by The Nature Conservancy and that tradition today, blending pragmatism with approval, based in scrupulous science, and poised least disturbed and most climate-resilient watersheds its supporters. for greatest impact. It is this approach—informed by in the eastern United States. sound science to address the most pressing our communities, grounded in science, and moving threats to our natural world. towards action—that makes us who we are today. Just like Rachel Carson before us.

From Maine, we are creating a world of solutions.

Photo above courtesy of Linda Lear Center for 2 Special Collections & Archives, Connecticut College 3 © Bridget Besaw © Bridget Challenges and the Path Forward Our Vision and Approach A Shared Conservation Agenda We envision a world where the diversity of life thrives, As part of a global organization, we in Maine and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and are not alone in addressing these challenges. its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives. As While the details are specific to Maine, the we work to make this vision a reality, in Maine and broad themes of climate change, economic across the globe, our approach is guided by principles challenges, socio-political partisanship, and that connect the multiple threads of our work. In dwindling resources can be found wherever particular, we are committed to: we work. “We work with people, and for people, to ensure healthy forests, clean • Integrating strategies across our different areas To unify our conservation approach across the free-flowing rivers, abundant oceans, and solutions to climate change, here of focus, mirroring the interdependency of the world, The Nature Conservancy articulated a ecosystems we work to conserve. global conservation agenda based on a strong and in Maine and around the globe. No other conservation organization has a thorough foundation of scientific evidence. This • Focusing on biodiversity by working on land includes an analysis that affirms our vision of mission as comprehensive and effective.”—Kate Dempsey, Maine State Director and in water, at the scale of nature, and across a world where people and nature thrive together, geographic and political boundaries. provided that significant changes are made in • Engaging communities whose lives and the way we provide food, water, energy, and other livelihoods are linked to the natural systems resources to a global population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050. While we have fostered many significant • Our current statewide road-stream crossing we work to conserve. conservation victories, the natural resources infrastructure is failing and leaving migrating • Catalyzing partnerships and policies with all We must act now. The Nature Conservancy in of our state face real and mounting challenges. fish and people in our communities vulnerable sectors of society to forge strong relationships Maine’s work will help to ensure that we are making Climate change, a partisan political environment, to flooding and volatile weather. that empower us to further our conservation goals. the greatest possible difference for the planet. This dwindling public funds, and a host of other approach builds on our history and includes eight • Renewable energy sources are not yet available at issues put all our successes at risk, demanding • Leveraging innovation and investing in resources key conservation strategies. the scale required to move away from traditional a powerful call to action. Issues of increasing and staff to push the frontier of conservation energy sources to mitigate climate change. concern to us in Maine are that: science, take decisive action, and inspire others • Our children and young people in increasingly to follow. • The Gulf of Maine is warming at a faster greater numbers do not see their lives as rate than 99% of the world’s oceans. • Creating tangible, lasting results using the best dependent on the natural world. science available and a non-confrontational • Maine’s forests and forest economy • The role of science-based decision-making in approach to craft innovative solutions to complex are experiencing significant transitions, our policy development is at risk because of conservation challenges. The Nature Conservancy in Maine with unclear implications for rural cultural and political forces, making our work 207-729-5181 ■ [email protected] communities. increasingly difficult. nature.org/maine 4 5 Conserving the Future of Forests New & Notable Projects— Spring River Acquisition: Expanding a protected block of resilient forest to more than 44,000 acres and ensuring opportunities for wildlife movement.

St. John Forest Carbon: Generating a significant new revenue stream for We will work to secure a future where Maine’s diverse forests remain globally conservation while improving forest significant as an ecological resource, essential to Maine’s economy and quality of conditions on 124,000 acres. life, and valued for their contribution to carbon sequestration in a changing climate. Local Wood WORKS: An innovative partnership to support Maine’s forest economy by strengthening regional markets The Challenge Our Solution and incentives for climate friendly, local Maine is the most forested state in the nation. We seek to protect networks of resilient lands and wood products. Private stewardship has helped it remain the core waters that will conserve nature at a continental scale of the largest temperate deciduous-mixed forest through strategies and projects that allow nature to remaining in the Western Hemisphere. Its forest both adapt to, and ameliorate, climate change. Our © Ian Patterson provides diverse wildlife habitat, outstanding land conservation strategies are guided by science, These strategies include: recreation opportunities, and essential carbon including continual learning about the influences • Expanding ecological reserves and forest connectivity in five years storage, and it is vital to the health of Maine’s of forest condition on wildlife habitat, climate, and through conservation acquisitions and easements. Expected outcomes include an waterways and the Gulf of Maine. Over the last forest economies, and prioritizing the protection of • Contributing to increased total forest carbon sequestration 20 years, the Conservancy and many partners resilient and connected landscapes. additional 350,000 acres of forest as a vital climate solution. dramatically expanded permanently-conserved land permanently conserved as lands in Maine from 6% to 20% of the state. Yet • Demonstrating the benefits of forest science and part of a resilient and connected most of Maine’s forest is diminished in its age, stewardship on Conservancy lands. landscape; a 2.4% increase in structure, and complexity. Its diverse values are threatened by climate change, invasive species, • Supporting private forest stewardship by working toward a Maine’s total forest carbon; and an changes to the forest economy, and development favorable tax, legal, regulatory, and cultural climate. increase in statewide funding for pressures. Our challenge is finding innovative • Seeking value and new markets in the forest economy so conservation, including passage approaches to keep Maine’s forests intact, that rural communities thrive while supporting positive improve its condition, and sustain its many of an eight-figure Land for forest and climate outcomes. values for people and nature. Maine’s Future bond. 6 7 © Bridget Besaw Restoring Free-Flowing Rivers New & Notable Projects— Sheepscot River Restoration: Re-opening the watershed to provide extensive access to all 12 of Maine’s sea-run fish species.

Statewide Barrier Prioritization Tool: Using Maine’s uniquely comprehensive stream barrier data and the novel Penobscot pilot to create a We will restore connections between the Gulf of Maine and priority rivers, lakes, ponds, prioritization tool unmatched in the U.S.

and headwater streams throughout Maine for the benefit of native sea-run and resident World Fish Migration Day: Supporting a global fish, freshwater and marine food webs, and the human communities around them. awareness-building campaign on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish, with 569 events in 63 countries in 2018. The Challenge Our Solution

Maine represents the greatest opportunity for We will restore river and stream health by © Bridget Besaw watershed restoration east of the Mississippi reconnecting networks of streams, lakes, and rivers River. With over 75,000 miles of river and streams with the Gulf of Maine in critical places for fish and Our strategies include: in five years flowing through a diverse landscape harboring wildlife, while also addressing priorities for Maine’s • Leveraging science, planning, and monitoring to guide fish, wildlife, and human populations, the health communities. We will strategically invest in dam restoration of priority river and stream habitat. We will see 1,500 miles of rivers, lakes, of Maine’s waterways is essential to the vitality removal, fish passage at dams and upgrades to fish- • Promoting the benefits of restoration for people and streams re-connected; the nation’s of our state. For millennia, annual migrations of friendly and climate-resilient culverts with longer and nature in Maine and beyond through strategic millions of sea-run fish pulsed inland from the Gulf life spans, reducing costs and maintenance for road first statewide road-stream crossing outreach and coordination with current partners of Maine. These runs were all but extinguished managers and municipalities. This investment assessment including more than 30,000 and new audiences. by centuries of dam building and road networks. supports Maine people with safer roads, cleaner crossings; 500 fish-friendly and climate These structures are now increasingly vulnerable rivers, outstanding fish runs, and the positive • Developing policies, funding, and partnerships that resilient crossings installed, and five to failure, exacerbated by ever-increasing severe impact of all of this on inland and coastal recreation, make restoration easier and more acceptable through weather, putting our communities at risk of tourism, and revived coastal fishing communities. effective policy engagement. dams removed; and the establishment flooding and costly infrastructure damage. Our of a State of Maine ecological challenge is to restore the connections between • Implementing restoration projects focused on our rich coastline and inland ecosystems in a restoring fish passage in priority watersheds through restoration office to ensure continued way that is cost-effective, but bold enough to culvert upgrades, dam removals, and fish passage river restoration success. translate beyond Maine’s borders. provisions at remaining dams.

8 9 © Robert Bukaty Transforming Ocean Management New & Notable Projects— Fisheries Monitoring: Improving fisheries monitoring and empowering fishermen to incorporate on-the-water observations directly into the management system.

Coastal Resilience Platform: Launching new online decision-support tools to help coastal We will conserve and restore critical species and habitat features so the Gulf of Maine communities protect nearshore habitat and plan system can thrive ecologically in the face of climate change and provide the goods and for sea level rise. services necessary to support long-term sustainable use by Maine’s coastal communities. Addison Tidal Marsh Restoration: Re-establishing natural tidal flow in one of the most important salt © Energy Films marshes in the Gulf of Maine.

Our strategies include: • Leveraging transformational science and management The Challenge Our Solution by collaborating with scientists, managers, and resource users to revolutionize management of coastal fisheries The Gulf of Maine has long been recognized as Through a collaborative, non-confrontational approach in five years and habitat. one of the most complex and productive marine to conservation, we will identify, protect, and restore Increase the number of groundfish stocks environments on the planet. Once considered ecologically significant coastal and offshore habitats, • Developing and utilizing state-of-the-art fishery limitless and inexhaustible, the Gulf of Maine elevate science and action on seagrass and shellfish information systems to provide accurate and timely rebuilt to healthy, sustainable levels now faces depletion of many important fish beds, and rebuild populations of migratory fish, data needed to guide sustainable fisheries. from four to eight; 50 or more fishermen populations as well as a host of threats posed groundfish, and marine • Creating and sharing coastal resilience tools to support using Electronic Monitoring systems on by coastal development and climate change. mammals. Success in community-based protection of coastal resources and Changes in water temperature, salinity, and this initiative will result their vessels throughout New England; enhanced community resilience to sea level rise. acidity have already caused shifts in species in healthy, functioning a systemic and coastwide program composition, abundance, and distribution. The biological systems that are • Providing leadership in salt marsh restoration and to map and monitor eelgrass; the combination of these stresses and projected resilient to climate change coastal habitat conservation for sea-run fish species changes in ocean circulation patterns, sea and support vibrant coastal and shellfish. restoration of over 1,000 acres of level rise, and invasive species pose an fishing communities. current and future tidal marsh; and unprecedented threat to coastal species, • Promoting adoption of strong conservation funding the development of a partner-led habitats, and communities. initiatives and practices through strategic policies and partnerships. shellfish conservation program. 10 11 © TNC Inspiring Climate Action New & Notable Projects— Solar Impact Investing: Partnering with Coastal Enterprises Inc. to support development of municipal solar arrays.

Clean Energy Finance Report: Recommending policies and programs to drive new investment toward clean energy, energy efficiency, and We will build broad, bipartisan support for solutions that help Mainers use less electric vehicle infrastructure in northern energy, emit less carbon, and deploy clean energy, all while protecting land and New England. water, managing land in a climate-friendly way, and becoming more resilient to Business Listening Tour: Convening local chambers of commerce to increase business the effects of a changing climate. engagement on clean energy and climate change.

The Challenge Our Solution

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges The Nature Conservancy in Maine will bring a in five years facing people and nature and the United States solutions-oriented approach to clean energy and © Revision Energy Maine will be on track to reduce must play a key leadership role in addressing climate change, seeking to build durable bipartisan this crisis. In the absence of meaningful federal support for climate action. We will work together Our strategies include: greenhouse gas emissions 80% from leadership, state and regional action is imperative. with our Conservancy colleagues throughout the • Building bipartisan support for climate action by 1990 levels by 2050; have solutions in On a per-person basis, Mainers consume the Northeast to ensure that we make an impact at the engaging new and diverse constituencies and supporting most energy and emit the most carbon in scale where many energy and demonstration projects to change the narrative in Maine place to appropriately site renewable New England. Household income is below transportation policies are around climate change. energy projects; spend and use less the national median, yet we spend among developed. We will demonstrate • Developing and advocating for state policies that support energy per capita than 2018 levels; and the most on energy per capita in the United the benefits of shifting to a clean energy, energy efficiency, and natural climate States. Meeting long-term carbon emissions low-carbon economy, leverage have broad support among influential solutions at a state and regional policy level. reduction goals will require significant action our abundant natural resources Maine constituencies for state, in the coming decades. Meanwhile, climate as a climate solution, and offer • Securing support for climate action from Maine’s federal regional, and federal policies to change is a polarizing, largely partisan issue market-based opportunities representatives and developing a durable bipartisan reduce carbon emissions. in Maine and across the nation, with few to Mainers. center in Congress for federal climate action. actively seeking to bridge the divide. 12 13 © Dave Lauridsen Advancing Policy, Funding, and Capacity New & Notable Projects— Land for Maine’s Future Program: Targeted for significant expansion in the coming years, aiming for $30 million in new funding.

Salmon In-Lieu Fee Program: Using fees from river impacts to fund in-stream We will influence public policy in support of our overall conservation goals, restoration, a first of its kind in the country.

increase conservation capacity to protect high-priority lands and waters, and Federal Farm Bill: Working to secure deliver $40-50 million in federal, state, and local funds for priority projects. passage with meaningful funding for forest and river conservation.

© Sean Pavone The Challenge Our Solution The state of Maine is a leader in environmental The Nature Conservancy’s reputation for science Our strategies include: in five years stewardship and conservation investment— and pragmatism places us in a special position to • Advancing top state legislative priorities that align with We expect to be working in partner- think Rachel Carson, Edmund Muskie and the work within this political reality. By building upon our goals for forests, rivers, oceans, climate, and other nation’s first conservation ballot initiative in the our foundation of establishing strong enabling emergent needs at a state policy level. ship with a state administration Lands for Maine’s Future program. However, conditions for conservation we can effectively that views conservation and natural • Advancing top federal legislative priorities and vigorously advances that took decades to accomplish were address underlying policy challenges. Consistent defending the rollback of core conservation programs at a resources as a priority; $40-50 diminished over the last eight years by a state with our non-partisan tradition, the Conservancy federal policy level. administration that viewed conservation as will advance public policies, secure funding, and million in new state and federal a threat. Compounding these challenges are build capacity amongst our partners. It is abundantly • Increasing and securing public funding to support a broad funding for conservation activities; strained state and municipal budgets, cuts to clear that public policy, public funding, and the role range of land and water conservation activities. broad support among influential public services, and dire political prospects of diverse relationships are essential to our work. Maine constituencies for carbon at the Federal level. Increasingly partisan • Engaging the incoming state administration to build politics have left little room for traditional capacity of natural resource agencies and build reduction policies and federal supporters of conservation to engage in partnerships with diverse stakeholders seeking conservation programs; and common ground on conservation activities. productive, solution-oriented discussions a new State ecological with elected officials. restoration office. 14 15 © Bruce Kidman Deploying Cutting-Edge Science New & Notable Projects— Harnessing New Technologies: Advancing the use of environmental DNA for fisheries monitoring; LiDar for mapping streams, forests, and wetlands; and drones for preserve and easement monitoring.

Katahdin Social and Economic Drivers: We will develop innovative ecological and social science to inform creative, Partnering with the University of Maine to cost-effective solutions to Maine’s conservation challenges and to measure develop and assess community indicators of change over time. our success and learning. Flagship Preserves: Enhancing visibility and user experience at key Conservancy preserves, while ensuring careful management of The Challenge Our Solution © Joshua Royte/TNC ecological resources. Now more than ever, a science-based We will expand the kinds of science we approach to conservation is critical. engage in and the type of information Our strategies include:

Maine’s lands, waters, and people are we gather to meet these emerging Reihl © Jessica • Leveraging sound science to inform conservation planning confronted with increasingly complex challenges. We must understand the and design for land acquisition, ecological restoration, in five years energy siting, ocean planning, and other conservation and environmental, social, and economic complex interactions between people and We will see our science-based priorities challenges. Emerging threats like invasive nature that contribute to conservation community issues. pests and diseases, increasing energy challenges, including the economic and consistently used by other conservation • Developing, improving, and maintaining our systems needs of a changing population, and social factors that threaten species and practitioners; conservation dashboards for measuring success.

climate impacts to our forests, waters, habitats. Understanding the best ways © Ian Patterson in place to systematically assess the • Managing and monitoring preserves and easements for and wetlands will only get worse to engage Maine’s decision-makers and health of Maine’s ecosystems; 5-10 without evidence-based, pragmatic public will help us identify lasting and ecological integrity, easement compliance, and human use intervention. Additionally, decision supported solutions. This approach to enlist broader acceptance of conservation strategies. peer-reviewed journal articles and at makers may question the value of requires a greater emphasis on strategies • Collaborating with universities, state and federal least 10 science-informed projects science in the policy arena and we, in for promoting behaviors that enhance agencies, tribes, and others to add leverage to the covered by Maine media; and the conservation community, have yet conservation outcomes. Successful Conservancy’s science. routine use of new technologies to fully learn how to communicate collaborations will further increase the ways that natural solutions can the credibility of the Conservancy’s • Expanding the use of new tools and technologies for including LIDAR, drones, DNA, help communities thrive. science agenda. conservation applications. and data recorders. © Bridget Besaw © Bridget 16 17 Connecting People and Nature New & Notable Projects— Sebago Clean Waters: Launching a new water fund to protect the drinking water source for Greater Portland and expand business- and public-focused outreach in Maine’s largest city.

Nature-Based Education Network: Facilitating the establishment of a statewide pipeline for connecting youth to nature through learning, service, and leadership. We will ensure that people in Maine value their connections to the Flagship Preserves: Positioning our preserves throughout the state as centers of community learning and engagement with nature. natural world, understand how nature enriches their lives, and act to Wabanaki First Light: Participating in a learning journey aimed protect it in a lasting way. at strengthening conservation in Maine by including indigenous expertise and perspective.

The Challenge Our Solution © Ian Patterson Many people in Maine have a longstanding Building upon our years of experience working in Our strategies include: in five years traditional bond with the lands and waters they communities and with those who depend on Maine’s • Working with communities to promote value for work, recreation, and emotional well- natural resources for their livelihoods, we strive to lasting economic prosperity through We will see a widespread understanding of the economic being. Yet, as economic, social, biological, and listen and appreciate a diversity of values people natural solutions and community values of conservation land and the recreational economy; cultural conditions change, people’s relationships hold, the challenges they face, and the relationships driven sustainability. a Greater Portland Water Fund to support the 15-year with nature change as well. Compared with other they have with nature. These insights will help us • Providing adults, youth, and families goals of protecting 25% of the Sebago Lake watershed concerns, land and water conservation is not design conservation projects that connect natural with opportunities to connect currently a top priority for most people. solutions with the daily needs of people, deliver for Portland’s drinking water; a network to facilitate a through educational, recreational, relevant messages, build meaningful relationships, and volunteer experience-based statewide pipeline for deepening youth connections to and foster cross-sector dialogue. engagement with nature. nature; a pilot project to expand access to land and

© Designlab © Ian Patterson • Elevating the visibility of the water for the Wabanaki people; citizen science projects Conservancy’s work in Maine, and engaging a broad spectrum of people in science, natural engaging and inspiring donors, systems, and the outdoors; and a broad recognition of members, and target audiences through The Nature Conservancy as a leader, partner, and solutions-oriented marketing and project-based outcomes. resource in conservation and science. 18 19 Collaborating Around the World New & Notable Projects— Funding: Directly supporting global projects with at least $100,000 each year from the Maine budget.

Staff: Increasing dedicated staff time to projects beyond New England from the current 3% to 8% annually. We will ensure that we are sharing our talent and resources with conservation Global Ambassadors: Appointing a trustee programs around the world and fostering local leadership, and that we are on a rotating basis to the Conservancy’s engendering a deep commitment to global conservation and having an impact Global Ambassador Committee to engage fellow trustees in global work. well beyond our own region.

The Challenge Our Solution in five years The Nature Conservancy in Maine is an active When the world needs us more than ever, we We will have a trustee appointed to part of our global organization, significantly need to determine how we will stay focused on serve on the Conservancy’s Global contributing to the Shared Conservation Agenda making an impact for our global organization while that seeks to align and leverage Conservancy remaining strong and active in Maine. We will design Ambassador committee; volunteers © Ami Vitale strengths and capacities in North America conservation strategies in Maine and across New and staff from other programs and around the world. Our challenges, both in England to contribute meaningfully to the Shared To do this we will: hosted in Maine and Maine Maine and as a global organization, include Conservation Agenda and to have impact well • Bring trustees, volunteers, donors, and staff together to volunteers and supporters overutilization of some staff and volunteer beyond our geographic boundaries. participate in the Conservancy’s work around the globe resources while underutilizing others; building by sharing and learning with and from each other. visiting other programs; raised an an audience for our global work; and missed additional 15% in funds for global • Continue an “As Maine” giving group among trustees opportunities to provide exchanges and share strategies; and dedicated 8% learning between staff and volunteers. and staff to annually allocate funds from Maine’s operating budget to support global strategies. of Maine staff time to projects

• Encourage staff participation in CODA Fellowships and beyond New England. other opportunities to support the global organization.

ST. JOHN PENOBSCOT Cross-Cutting Conservation FOREST SCIENCE CARBOST. JONHN PENOBSCOT FOREST ST. JOHN RIVER SCIECORRIDORNCE PRIORITY ACQUISITION ST. JOHN ACQUISITIONS PERHAM BOG CARBON PENOBCLESACNOT FOREST This map shows examples of notable projects and programs SCIEENENRCGEY FISHERIES CARBON ST. JOBOND-FUNDEDHN MONITORING FINCUANCLVERT PROJEECT PENOBSCOT from around the state, with icons and colors used to emphasize FOREinS MAPLET TON RENEWABLE ENERGY SCIENCE CARBON LISTENING TOUR the integration and connections across our program areas.

BIG REED BOND-FUNDED FOREST MONITORING CLEAN CULVERT PROJECT ENERGY FISHERIES in MT CHASE Program Areas FINANCE MONITORING CLEAN DEBSCONEAG LAKES ENERGY FLAGSHIPFISHE PRESERVERIES PARTNER ACQUISITIONMONITORINGKATAHDIN REGION FINANCCLEE AN LITTLE BIG WOODS COMMUNITY VISIONING Conserving the Advancing Policy, FISHERIES ENERGY LEUTHOLD Future of Forests Funding and Capacity ECORESERVE MONITORING MONITORING FINANCE CLESEBAANGO SPRING ENCLEREGAYN FISHERIES ST. JOHN RIVER FIWNANCATEERS PENOBSCOMTONITORING FOREST BOND-FUNDED BRADLEY-SUNKHAZE SCIENCE CULVERT PROJECT TRAIL CONSTRUCTION Restoring Free-Flowing Deploying in PHILLIPS CARBORENEWABLEN ENERGY LISTENING TOUR Rivers Cutting-Edge Science CHINA LAKE BAGADUCE RIVER SEBAGO ALEWIFE RESTORATION SPRING RESTORATION MACHIAS BAY CLEAN ADVANCING POLICY ADDISON TIDAL TIDAL FLOW RESTORATION IN AUGUSTA RIVER MARSH RESTORATION

WSAETBEARGOS CLIMATE POLICY SHEEPSCOT RIVER GREAT WASS ADVOCACY SPRINRESTORATIONG FLAGSHIP PRESERVE Transforming Ocean Connecting People CLEAN SEBAGO RIVER Management and Nature WATERS SPRINGSENTINEL FISHERY CLEAN PROJECT MUNICIPAL SOLARRIVER WATERS IMPACT INVESESTMENTBAGO PRESUMPSCOT CLEAN SPRING RIVER FLOODPLAIN CLEAN FISHERIES ENBAESINR OYGSTERY RIVER SCARBOROUGH MARSH RESTORATION MONITORING TIDAL FLOW RESTORATION FINANCE WATERS Inspiring Collaborating Around CASCO BAY Climate Action the World LIVING SHORELINES SACO HEATH FLAGSHIP PRESERVE

22 Photos, clockwise from top left: © Josephine Gingerich/TNC, © Bridget Besaw, 23 Map Design by Nicole LaBarge/TNC ME © Mark Berry/TNC, © John Clarke Russ, © Ian Patterson, © Waterfront Maine