Androscoggin Watershed Conference 

May 7th

Thanks to all who presented or attended. The conference was well received. Some of the digital presentations will be posted here over the next few weeks. Check back to find them.

A great Keynote Address was given by

Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Sessions included

Threats to Our Lakes:  Scott Williams, Lake and Watershed Associates, reviewed the primary threats to our lakes, and Jeff Stern, ARWC Environmental Director, provided examples of Best Management Practices to mitigate the threats.  Information on the water quality and issues affecting Lake Auburn was covered by Dr. Holly Ewing who has made the study of Lake Auburn a focus of her work at Bates College.

Impacts of Climate Change on the Outdoor Recreation Economy:  Participants reviewed the impacts that Climate Change has had on Outdoor Recreation.  This winter has been an especially tough year for businesses and individuals that rely on and/or enjoy outdoor recreation. Participants include Nate Harvey, Great Glen Trails, Andy Cutko, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and Jeff McCabe, Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Water Levels, Flows and Climate Change: Androscoggin River, our lakes and tributaries:  The session focused on the Androscoggin River, but addressed how Climate Change is impacting our lakes and tributaries.  Speakers include: Tom Mapletoft, River Manager, Brookfield Renewables; Nick Stasulis, USGS; and Sarah Jamison, National Weather Service.

 Student Presentations: Students from Bates College and University of Maine at Farmington presented on several varied, but definitely interesting topics. Amelia Wallis, Bates College, discussed the status of Lake Auburn Tributaries.  Bates students Verina Chatata ('26), Enathe Muhawenimana ('26), and Caleb Ireland ('23) presented on Sabattus Pond phytoplankton blooms.  Riley Boucher, UMF, presented her research on using eDNA to assess the distribution of the smallmouth bass, an invasive species, in Maine.  Gillean Hamilton, UMF, explored the continuation of stream geochemical analysis near the Plumbago North lithium deposit in West-Central Maine.  Sadie Gray, UMF, while not being able to attend, shared a poster of her project on calculating how climate change is impacting essential organisms in the food chain in higher elevation Maine ponds. 

 BioRegional Resilience was presented by Roberta Hill from CEBE

Creating Resilient Streams and Infrastructure was presented by Jeff Stern, ARWC  

Historic and Current Water Quality of the Androscoggin River. This session covered the historic and current water quality aspects of the Androscoggin River.  Speakers include Ken Gallant, retired Environmental Manager, Verso Paper; Rob Mohlar, Maine DEP; and Scott Reed, Environmental Manager, Nine Dragons.