Three waterkeepers tell Friends of Penobscot Bay: set up a baykeeper!

Our bioregion's three waterkeepers  have visited Penobscot Bay in recent months to talk with those interested in getting a Penobsot Baykeeper project. 

Matt Abbott, Fundy Baykeeper

Listen to a January 7, 2015 talk & Q&A by  Fundy Baykeeper Matthew Abbott;  a February 27, 2015 talk & Q&A  by Casco Baykeeper emeritus Joe Payne and a March 14, 2015 talk & Q&A  by  Great Bay/Piscataqua River Waterkeeper Jeff Barnum

 A common thread of the discussions  has been setting up a unique affiliates-style West Penobscot Baykeeper program as start up, with expansion to other reaches as local communities sign on to the value of waterkeeping Penobscot Bay.

This acknowledges the  enormous size of the bay and and the varied societies, economies and ecology of its different reaches, and also focuses on the most environmentally and ecologically challenged western reaches of Penobscot Bay. 

Joe Pay, Casco Baykeeper emeritus

There are immensely significant  geographic,  ecological, environmental, economic and cultural differences between the reaches which loosely consist of  West Penobscot Bay from Port Clyde to Stockton Springs;  tidal Penobscot River from Prospect to  head of tide at  Veazie;  East Penobscot Bay from Stonington to the town of Penobscot;  Islesboro and the Fox Islands; and the outer islands

West Penobscot Bay and its coastal forests face increasing commercial, residential and industrial development pressure  along the US Route 1 corridor. The pace of development in East Penobscot Bay and on the major islands  is much slower  and lower impact.  Our board members have collectively more than a century worth of experience on (mostly) west Penobscot Bay in one way or another. .

While all-volunteer  Friends of Penobscot Bay has been committed to  carrying out FOPB's missions on a shoestring budget,  a paid part time, regional waterkeeper is a good first step and necessary as development pressures increase under an industry-friendly  administration.

Jeff Barnum, Great Bay/Piscataqua keeper

 

An affiliate waterkeeper program may prove to be an excellent way of achieving this over the medium run, while gaining us the many support benefits  of being part of an association of more than 100 waterkeepers around the natoin and the world - each of whom has faced similar challenges fighting for clean water, healthy habitat & successful renewable fisheries and scenic natural assets

While there have been some successes along our way in Penobscot Bay, there is a great deal more that we could accomplish. Affiliating with this noble movement may be just the thing. 

Casco Baykeeper on Penobscot Baykeeping: Audios of 2/27/15 talk in Belfast

Last night (February 27, 2015) Casco Baykeeper emeritus Joe Payne gave a talk and took part in a discussion at the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church on organizing a Penobscot Baykeeper Program.  (For those who couldn't make it to the event, listen to the hourlong event at this link:     (mp3))

* Part 1 14min 40sec

* Part 2 15min

* Part 3 16 minutes

* Part 4  16min 32 sec

* Full hour

Joe gave his strong support to organizing a Penobscot Baykeeper. A LONG overdue event, he says. The now retired Casco Baykeeper suggests a unique affiliates-styles Penobscot Baykeeper program that reflects the enormous size of the bay and and the diverse societies, economics and ecology of the different reaches. 

This could be whichever divisions make sense: for example: East Penobscot Bay, west Penobscot Bay and the Fox islands & islesboro. Or upper bay/outer bay. Or even single harbors like Belfast Baykeeper.

Whichever it is. Joe said, each would benefit by being organized around people with great knowledge of and devotion to, their reach of Penobscot bay, Eventually a baywide leader would arise among the affiliates, he said, and a bay wide Penobscot Baykeeper might emerge. Or the affiliate system may prove to be an effective system on its own.

On raising money, Joe said, and all agreed, the money is out there. the businesses the philanthopists, the people  all  who would have  a voice for the ecology and enviornment of their bay or their reach of Penobscot Bay.

In the discussion part of the meeting, Joe took questions from pesticide activist Jody Spear, right whale defender Mark Dietrich, retired school teacher David Smith a critic of the new hardrock mining rules of the Lepage administration, educator-on-sabbatical Linda Bowie on project-based teaching, deep ecologist Hugh Curran of Morgan Bay, a critic of excessive aquaculture 
and meeting host Ron Huber of Friends of Penobscot Bay.


However it is done, all agreed, a Penobscot Baykeeper is LONG overdue!

Coming event: Maine legislator to explain Ocean Acidification Commission results January 7th, Belfast Public Library. Plus Fundy Baykeeper & GAC win.

BELFAST.  Coastal acidification, ocean acidification & remarks from the Fundy Baykeeper on the new Penobscot Baykeeper plan are on the agenda for the January 7, 2015 meeting of Friends of Penobscot Bay. The meeting will be held in the Belfast Public Library's 3rd floor meeting room, from 6pm to 7:30pm.  Free and open to all. 

Representative Mick Devin will discuss and take questions on the new report by Maine's Ocean Acidification Commission that crystallizes the thinking from across the spectrum of Maine governmental, academic, aquaculture fishery and  and other living marine resources interests.  

Representative Devin is co-leader of the commission. He says that the Commission's top priority is to institute regular acid testing of flats and waters along the entire length of the Maine coast.  

Until then, Devin says, regulators have no idea what the hot spots of the Maine coast are that most need remediation. The commission also calls for several other initiatives including stricter enforcement of state pollution laws and hatchery production of softshell clams, growing them in that sheltered environment to a size that can successfully resist shell corrosion from acidic waters and from green crabs, before releasing them into Maine's increasingly acidic and crab-infested flats,  as well as sveral other initiative

Before Representative Devin's talk, Ron Huber of the Friends of Penobscot Bay will briefly describe his group's success at getting longtime coastal acidifier GAC Chemical Corporation to agree to remove acidic wastes from its waterfront and shore up part of an eroding bluff that has sent tons of spent bauxite ore and sulfuric acid  directly into Stockton Harbor over the  past 40 years. The group will commend GAC Chemical for taking this important first step in healing the harbor's industrialized southwestern cove. 

Fundy Baykeeper Matt Abbott will follow Representative Devin. Matt is one of two baykeepers of the Gulf of Maine (along with outgoing Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne). Baykeeper programs vary widely.  

Each is custom-fitted to the unique environment ecology, sociology and economy of that bay, river or lake-keeper. Casco Baykeeper and  Fundy Baykeeper have different but quite effective modus operandis reflecting their different circumstances.

Friends of Penobscot Bay leader Huber said his group envisions having the best of both programs: the research and agency/legislative interaction of the Casco Baykeeper's program and the Fundy Baykeeper's focus on advocacy and oversight of coastal industrialization & sprawl proposals large and small, 

"With a little help from our friends we'll be able to carry out  our missions and steward Penobscot Bay through the ongoing changes in acidity, climate and population," he said.

The event is free and open to the public. All interested in Penobscot Bay including students, bay-dependent businesses, and everyone who loves or cares about Penobscot Bay are urged to attend.

For  more information contact the Friends of Penobscot Bay at 207-691-7485 or coastwatch@gmail.com

Friends of Penobscot Bay: people who care about Maine's biggest bay