Penobscot Watershed Conference, April 9, 2016 FULL AUDIO

NORTHPORT. On Saturday April 9th, the Point Lookout Resort on Ducktrap Mountain hosted the Penobscot Watershed Conference. 

People around Penobscot Bay's 8,500 square mile watershed came together to discuss and give presentations on  the myriad threats to Penobscot Bay and its River watershed,  Listen below to audio from this important assemblage of 23 speakers, fielding questions from  among the  hundreds of interested people attending. People who've variously devoted their lives to protecting, understanding, worshipping, exploiting and/or enjoying Maine biggest watershed.and bay: Penobscot!
PART 1 SPEAKERS
1. Butch Philips & Chris Sockalexis, Penobscot Nation Traditional Opening Ceremony,11 min

2.  Paul Anderson,  UME biologist & Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis Welcoming remarks 5 min

3 Curt Spalding, US EPA Region 1 Administrator   14 min

4.  Chellie Pingree  US Congresswoman, 1st District 16 min

5.  Robert Steneck. Keynote Speaker 27min: Marine Scientist 26 min.Theme: "Navigating the Penobscot River through turbulent times toward an uncertain future: a 4,000 year retrospective."



PART 2 "Restoring Fishery Health, Projects, Big and Small"
6. Gordon Russel, Lower Penobscot Watershed Coalition
7. Laura Rose Day, 27 min Penobscot River Restoration Project
8. Alex Abbott, 20 min  US Fish and Wildlife Service
9. Matt Bernier, 19 min NOAA Funding Opportunities, the Habitat Blueprint

PART 3 "Current Uses of the Bay"
10 Carl Wilson, 14 min Maine DMR
11.Cyrus Sleeper 13min 23sec So.Thomaston lobsterman (noise during recording)
12 Taylor Allen, 10min 38sec Rockport Marine
13 Barry King. 14min 48sec Schooner Mary Day.
14 David Gelinas. Penobscot Bay & River Pilots. 13min30sec

PART 4. "Indicators of Environmental Health: the Bay."
4A. "Dynamic Conditions and Foodweb of the Penobscot Estuary"
15,Lauren Sahl, 12 minutes Maine Maritime Academy
16. Rachel Lasley-Rasher 10min 46sec, UMaine
17. Karen Wilson, 11min 38sec USM
19.James Gilbert, UME, Seals. 10 minutes

4B. "How Healthy IS the Bay?"
20. Larry Mayer UMaine Biogeochemistry of the River & Bay 12 min
21. Keri Kaczor, ME Seagrant/Coop Ext 12min 43sec
22. James Wilson UMaine River & Bay restoration and fishery economics

4C. "Citizen & other Monitoring Programs"
23. Christine Tilberg GOMCME 5min 44sec


 Islesboro Islands Land Trust  media release after the conference 

Lower Penobscot River Watershed Coalition meets Feb 26, Bangor.

Like Penobscot Bay, the tidal Penobscot River plays an important role in the fish and wildlife ecology of the Gulf of Maine. The Lower Penobscot Watershed Coalition is meeting February 26th from 10:00am – 2:00pm, at the Fish &Wildlife Building, 650 State Street, Bangor, ME to discuss protecting and restoring these values. The meeting is sponsored by Penobscot River Restoration Project Info: Gayle B. Zydlewski 207-862-3382. The draft agenda follows:

1. Review agenda

2. Introductions & Updates

3. Values of the Lower Penobscot Watershed that are worth preserving

4. What needs to happen to preserve these values

5. Overview of the Penobscot River Restoration Project

6. Discussion of Land Trusts and Watershed Councils

7. Elements of a Mission Statement

8. Discussion of organizational structure

9. Action items/next steps

10. Schedule next meeting

11. Other

Directions to Fish and Wildlife Bldg in Bangor:
Coming from I-95, take exit 187 (Hogan Road exit). If you are north bound, take a right onto Hogan Road and go to the Mount Hope intersection (third traffic light) and turn right. Approximately .3 miles take a left at the bus kiosk. This is the back entrance of the BMHI campus. Go past the large green barn. There will be a large parking lot on the right hand side of the road, and at the end of this is a three way-intersection. Turn right and look for the three-story rectangular brick building with a bronze deer sculpture in the front yard. That's the Fish & Wildlife Building. ASC is on the second floor.

If you are south bound, take a left on to Hogan Road and follow the directions.