FALL 2017 volume 34 issue 2 watermark Published by Laudholm Trust in support of Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve The white pine was dangerously close to the old farmhouse. It came down methodically and was sent off inside with respect. The water tower undergoes its own long-delayed operation before the end of the year. • Storms • Hurricane Relief • Deaf Education A Fulfilling Summer of Art & Science • Recognizing Dedication • Hollings Scholars The leaves are down, as are The crafts festival, our • Cape Neddick River the temperatures and visitor 30th, was simply amazing. “A • Environmental DNA numbers; it’s November as real sweetheart of a show,” one • Articles of Incorporation Watermark goes to press and artist gushed. “The best one I’ve into the mail. We’re reflecting ever been to,” a long-time attendee raved. Attendance broke briefly on our Summer of Art 4,000 — a record. Gross income reached $117,000 — a record. & Science and already looking forward to a promising 2018. Weather was lovely — a return to normal, thank goodness. Our POWER OF PLACE exhibition buoyed spirits and Punkinfiddle, on National Estuaries Day, was cold and wet attendance throughout the summer. Admission fees for July but fun. It’s so heartwarming to know our volunteers and visitors to September were up 72 percent over 2016! That’s a lot of make the most of a day no matter what nature decides to deliver. visitors, many of them here for the first time. We imagine they These events will be back next fall, but we’ll wait a few years were impressed… by the sculptures, by the historic campus, before mounting another sculpture show, even though lots of by the well-kept trails, and by the people they encountered. folks are eager for more. Some of them were even inspired to join our community of Art and science remain top of mind still, as each directs supporters. If you’re among them, welcome! And thank you. our attention in specific ways to the wonders of nature. We (Just so you know, five sculptures by four artists are will keep integrating them into our programs and activities, remaining temporarily in place: Portal, Sentinel III, Owl Rising, like the Art & Nature for Veterans sessions we’re holding with and the two Chaises. Two Barn Swallows are staying here for Art HOPE, using their complementary strengths to encourage good, thanks to a generous donor.) learning, wellness, and growth. watermark watermark upfront A newsletter for members of Laudholm Trust and supporters of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Shoreline Explorer Adds Trolley Route Webhannet Salt Marsh Trail to Open Laudholm Trust 207-646-4521 fax 646-2930 to Reserve Next Spring This summer, for the first time, the Shoreline Our first ADA-accessible trail is in the works. Nik Charov, Trust President ext 144 [email protected] Explorer trolley added the reserve to its Situated along Wells Harbor Road and Tracy Kay, Operations Director route. The new blue line 4B trolley swung reached via Harbor Park, the trail will offer ext 127 [email protected] Scott Richardson, Communications Director through the parking lot seven times a day. salt marsh views and interpretive signage on ext 114 [email protected] Karen Stathoplos, Membership Coordinator Several dozen people disembarked here a wide, smooth path through an inviting mix ext 140 [email protected] during the inaugural season and we are of young pines and tall grass. We're working Wells Reserve working with York County Community with the Town of Wells on this project, which 207-646-1555 fax 646-2930 Action, which operates the Shoreline is funded by a reserve system “construction Paul Dest, Reserve Director Explorer program, to increase that number and acquisition” grant and town funds. We ext 124 [email protected] Jacob Aman, Research Associate during the 2018 season, which runs from plan to open the trail by Memorial Day. ext 112 [email protected] June 23 to September 3. Jane Ballard, Digital Coast Fellow New Trail Map for 2018 ext 112 [email protected] Beaches Conference 2017 Our pocket-size trail map will be revised Caryn Beiter, Program Coordinator ext 110 [email protected] The 11th Beaches Conference, extended next year. The map may be our most Sue Bickford, M.S., GIS Specialist ext 120 [email protected] for the first time to include New Hampshire popular publication; thousands of visitors Annie Cox, M.A., Coastal Training Coordinator along with Maine, was held at Wells High use it to decide where to walk each year. ext 157 [email protected] School in July. More than 230 people We're entertaining lots of ideas for the first Chris Feurt, Ph.D., Coastal Training Director ext 111 [email protected] concerned about the coast were in new version since 2009. We welcome your Michelle Furbeck, Research Assistant ext 105 [email protected] attendance and about 85 presented talks, input on what makes an effective map and Jason Goldstein, Ph.D., Research Director workshops, and displays. The reserve was how we can complement the paper copy ext 136 [email protected] Linda Littlefield Grenfell, Environmental among 16 organizations on the planning with web-based enhancements. Please let Educator ext 128 [email protected] committee, assisting Maine Sea Grant Scott Richardson know what you think. Suzanne Kahn, M.S., Education Director with all aspects of the event. The Beaches ext 116 [email protected] New England Salt Marsh Conference Jeremy Miller, Research Associate Conference combines scientific expertise, ext 122 [email protected] Planned for May Scott Rocray, CPA, Accounting citizen involvement, and an open forum for In May, the four New England estuarine ext 123 [email protected] John Speight, Facility Manager diverse voices. reserves — Wells, Great Bay, Waquoit, and ext 131 [email protected] Lynne Benoit Vachon, M.A., He`eia Reserve is Number 29 Narragansett — will host a workshop Volunteer Programs & Visitor Services Oahu is the site of the newest National focused on the effects of sea level rise on ext 118 [email protected] Estuarine Research Reserve. The He`eia the region's salt marshes. Details on the Maine Sea Grant Kristen Grant, M.A., Extension Agent Reserve in Hawai`i, dedicated in January, conference, to be held in Rhode Island, will ext 115 [email protected] encompasses 1,385 acres of upland forests be posted to our web calendar as soon as and grasslands, wetlands, reefs, and seagrass they are available. beds, as well as the largest sheltered body The paper in this newsletter: • Contains FSC certified 100% post- of water in the Hawaiian Island chain. It is consumer fiber located within the Kaneohe Bay estuary. • Is certified EcoLogo, Processed Chlorine Free, and FSC Recycled • Is manufactured using biogas energy fall 2017 volume 34 issue 2 3 nik’snotebook: Storms, political and otherwise wellsreserve at laudholm A PLACE TO DISCOVER Laudholm Trust Board of Trustees A SURPRISE October storm WITH HURRICANE-force GUsts recently Jessica Gribbon Joyce, Chair Joanne Conrad, Vice Chair hobbled Maine’s electrical grid, leaving tens of thousands in the dark for Dennis Byrd, Treasurer Maureen St. John, Secretary nearly a week. Yet even as some Wells Reserve staff returned to candlelit Ben McCall homes each day, they counted themselves lucky: Colleagues at the Jobos Rob Olson Michael Palace Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Puerto Rico haven’t had power Robin Planco Krista Rosen since September 20. Janet Underhill Reports from Puerto Rico aren’t completely dire. Recovery is slow, Honorary Trustees Doris Adams-Nunnemacher but spirits remain unbroken. The staff members there have turned their Cynthia Daley Tim Dietz reserve headquarters into a sanctuary, cooking nightly meals of pork, rice, George W. Ford II Lily Rice Kendall Hsia and beans over propane grills and campfires. The Jobos Bay Reserve truly Bruce Read Rebecca Richardson is a reserve for their community. Betsy Smith Hans Warner I would expect only the same from the Wells Reserve, should calamity Wells Reserve Management Authority ever strike Southern Maine. Our vision continues to be “resilient estuaries Nik Charov, Chairman and coastal watersheds where human and natural communities thrive.” President, Laudholm Trust Daniel Belknap, Ph.D. In this semiannual report, we try to detail some of the programs and Professor, Department of Earth Sciences University of Maine projects we believe are making our region stronger. This work would not Karl Ekstedt Member, Board of Selectmen be possible without you. Town of Wells Amy LaVoie We weathered another tempest this year — the proposed budget Assistant Refuge Supervisor – North U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cuts from the new Trump administration last spring have been, for now, Ron Hunt Acting Director of Operations, Bureau of Parks and Lands pushed back, with your help. I am certain we will prepare for and respond Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to future storms together as well. Kathleen Leyden (ex-officio) Director, Maine Coastal Program When the winds of change blow hard against science, education, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and conservation, I know the Wells Reserve will remain a shelter from Kim Texeira (ex-officio) the storm and a beacon in the darkness, largely because of support from Program Manager, National Estuarine Research Reserve System friends and members like you. Thank you. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration What’s happening now at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm? facebook.com/wellsreserve The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of 29 reserve sites throughout the country. All reserves require local funding to match federal instagram.com/wellsreserve grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Wells Reserve is the only reserve that receives its match from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Email: wellsreserve.org/signup organization.