Bay History. 2021. Third time's the charm. Upstream Watch takes up the Penobscot Water Keeper mantle.

 Penobscot Baykeeper Proposal Rises Again.

In 2021 ENGO Upstream Watch explores Penobscot Baykeeping

BACKGROUND

UW was approached by  Ron Huber executive director of Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate Friends of Penobscot Bay, in April 2021 to inquire about UW’s ability to take over the Baykeeper duties in light of his impending retirement. 

UW’s board has approved a formal exploration of this issue, including financial implications, as the current Baykeeper operates as a self-funded individual. UW’s current scope of service is Little River, Goose River, Belfast Harbor, and coastal Northport. 

PROPOSAL 

We are actively exploring the possibility that UW will take responsibility for protection of Penobscot Bay and its watersheds. While this would significantly expand UW’s geographic reach, the protection of local watersheds is the core of our mission and is well-served by our experiences, knowledge, and existing relationships.

 An additional, strengthening element to this proposal would be a collaboration with an as yet not formed Penobscot Riverkeeper in order to maximize impact, geographic reach, and to take advantage of organizational, fundraising, grassroots support, and advocacy synergies. Ideally the Riverkeeper partner would be identified by the Penobscot Nation and we will create a full proposal collaboratively. 

STRATEGIES 

Our key strategies may include, but are not limited to:

• Identify, catalog, assess, and plan to address the wide variety of current, legacy, and emerging threats to the Penobscot River system and Bay. This may include:

• Hiring appropriate scientific and legal support, 

• Strategizing with legislators to meet our goals and organizing to protect against harmful legislative developments.

• Initiating and maintaining monitoring, reporting, and documentation programs.  

• Form an organizational coalition with existing and new ally organizations to identify who can address which priorities, where we can collaborate better, and how to best gather and share resources for maximum impact.

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• Maintain active involvement in permitting, litigation, monitoring, legislation, and all other areas that pose a threat to the health of the Penobscot Bay watershed. 

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• Energize a network of grassroots activists, volunteers, citizen scientists, and advocates to support watershed health.

Possible Staffing Configuration

2 to 4 part-time employees including a Penobscot Baykeeper, Penobscot Riverkeeper, and other communications, administrative, or fundraising support.  

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS  

Partners may include, but are not limited to:

(gray= not yet approached)

• Sierra Club, already supportive 

• Penobscot Nation 

• Friends of Belfast Bay 

• Down East Salmon Federation 

• Atlantic Salmon Federation 

• Trout Unlimited

• Sportsman’s alliance of Maine

• Coastal Mt LT

• Isleboro Islands Landtrust 

• Environmental Priorities Coalition Members

• others 

NEXT STEPS

1. Invite Penobscot Nation to be involved in the project, shape its development, and name their needs;

2. Develop mutually agreed upon work plan with specific objectives, resource needs (budget), ideal staffing configuration, and action steps;

3. Build a wider grassroots and organizational coalition around the draft work plan; and   

4. Approach funding organizations, individuals, and other types of supporters. 

QUESTIONS 

• Should Penobscot Bay/Riverkeeper be a project of UW? A coalition? A new 501c3 org?

•  How will decision making work? 

• What can the Waterkeepers international organization do to assist these projects?

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. 

Great Bay-Piscataqua Riverkeeper's talk in Belfast March 4, 2015 AUDIO

Jeff Barnum on right. Ron Huber on left

On March 4, 2015, Jeff Barnum, the Great Bay-Piscataqua River Waterkeeper gave a talk in Belfast Maine public library. 

An employee of the Conservation Law Foundation, Jeff has been waterkeeper since August 2013.  He explained how he stewards his waterbody and the challenge of recent declines in eelgrass and oysters, stormwater, runoff, the Grimmel Corporation's scrap steel export facility - that may open up in Searsport -and more!

Just as we heard from the the Fundy Baykeeper and Casco Baykeeper, Barnum urged attendees to proceed with starting a waterkeeper program.

DOWNLOADABLE MP3 AUDIOS
Part 1. 14 minutes
Intro. Big drop in Piscataqua  River's  & Great Bay's oysters & eelgrass.
 
Part 2.   6 min 55sec
Nutrients  and Sewage treatment plants

Part 3. 13 min 29sec
Stormwater & biocides

Part 4.  23min 29sec
Grimmel Industries scrap exporter in Piscataqua and now for Penobscot Bay.

Part 5.  11min 30sec
Spill preparedness. Penobscot Bay shellfish closures  

Part 6.  6min 38sec
Oilspill preparation. Penobscot bay shellfish closures, dams  & pollution effects on  alewives, herring smelt  Piscataqua Waterkeeper boat. 20 feet long, 8 foot beam. Platform for elected officials and media.

Part 7.  10 min 45sec
"Sealkote"  driveway & parking lot sealer: Asphalt-based safer than coal tar-based. Less PAHs into the water. Grimmel baseline study of heavy metals must be done. Riverine mercury. GAC Chemical acid wastes. West Penobscot Bay Affiliate Waterkeeper may be a good start, given size & variation of bay.  END OF TALK