Download 2015 conference presentations

 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Keynote Address: Conserving Lakes in a Time of Global Change 9:15 AM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Lisa Borre, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Climate change is having profound effects on lakes here in the U.S. and around the world. Rising water temperatures, loss of winter ice cover, a lengthening of the lake stratification season, increased evaporation, and more extreme weather events, including droughts and intense rainstorms, are exacerbating already challenging lake restoration efforts. These changes are affecting the food web in lakes, from the tiny plankton to entire fish communities. Climate change is also affecting the water balance and the delivery and movement of pollutants in lakes and their surrounding watersheds. Complicating matters is the interaction between multiple stressors on lakes, from invasive species and nutrient pollution to changes in agricultural practices and climate at a regional and global scale. Even clear water lakes in Maine and New England have begun to experience blooms of toxic, blue-­‐green algae in the past decade. Inland lakes across the U.S. and around the world are plagued with similar problems. What do we know about the changes we’re seeing in lakes? What can be done to protect and conserve the health of lakes? I will describe recent work by the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) and others who are working to better understand the role and response of lakes to climate change. I will examine the state of lakes from a local and global perspective, with examples from lakes in Maine, the United States, Europe and other far-­‐flung places around the world. I will also talk about how lake management efforts need to consider how we adapt to climate change and build resilience of lake ecosystems to weather the changes already underway. I will share promising strategies and discuss opportunities for action for conserving lakes in a time of global change. Predicting Lake Tipping Points: Using Historical and Contemporary Water Quality Data to Help Keep Our Lakes Golden 10:20 AM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Whitney King, Colby College, Dr. Frank and Theodora Miselis Professor of Chemistry The Belgrade Lakes chain is typical of many Maine watersheds providing exceptional recreational value, a close-­‐knit community, and millions of dollars in economic activity. Declining water quality is threatening many of our iconic Maine lakes. Developing sustainable solutions for the Belgrade Lakes has required community partnerships to define the change in lake ecosystem function (tipping points), agree on a plan for collective action, and implement broad-­‐based watershed restoration projects. Monitoring Climate Change in Your Watershed & Developing the Lake Group to Support It 11:05 AM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Forrest Bell, FB Environmental The impacts of climate change are being experienced at the local level. Lake associations and watershed organizations provide an important role in the stewardship of our natural resources and can assist with climate change monitoring and adaptation. The Kezar Lake Watershed Association, in conjunction with FB Environmental and several other stakeholders, have developed a Climate Change Observatory (CCO) in the White Mountains region of western Maine. The CCO has initiated several projects in the last two years including intensive stream temperature monitoring, culvert surveys, fish spawning surveys, and a “community values forum” to help determine the areas that the watershed citizens believe are priorities to focus on. Maine Lakes Science Center 11:35 AM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Peter Lowell, Executive Director, Lakes Environmental Association The Maine Lake Science Center is a new Maine resource established on 17 acres of diverse wildlands in Bridgton to facilitate lake research, educational outreach and collaborations. The center opened this month and features three researcher housing units, a conference room, two labs, offices and a classroom. It was motivated by the sense that more needed to be done to avert the water quality disasters that many researchers feel are imminent. Invasive Aquatic Species Program Update 11:50 AM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall John McPhedran, Unit Leader, Invasive Aquatic Species Program, Maine Department of Environmental Protection Opening and Closing Your Camp 12:00 PM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall (lunchtime session) Sandy Muller, Friends of Wilson Lake Most of us own a vacation home for rest and relaxation, but it is not always fun! The chore of opening and closing takes time. It can also cost money if one forgets things, like to drain a pipe! This lunchtime session will give you tips on how to make this easier and more organized. You will be provided check lists that are electronic in nature: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What needs to go home. What are you leaving. What needs repair when you return. Who needs to be notified that you are leaving. Make a shopping list of staples needed to bring back. Check list will be provided for participants and you can individualize them for your needs. Council of Lake Associations 12:00 PM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall (lunchtime session) Wynn Muller, Friends of Wilson Lake What’s the Buzz? Engaging Your Members 1:00 PM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Wynn Muller, Friends of Wilson Lake, and Cheryl Daigle, Maine Lakes Society The process of engaging or activating members in volunteer organizations is something we all deal with. Friends of Wilson Lake (FOWL) has become a successful member of the lake community and the Wilton town community as well over the past 25 years of its existence. We will attempt to share with you some of the methods they used in accomplishing this success and provide a timeline as what they have developed to do so. Newsletters have proven an effective method of establishing a communication path between the FOWL organization, its members, the community and the business community as well. Social media has become an important ingredient in this communication process. How can use of a website, Facebook and other social media help your organization? What are some of the pitfalls to watch out for? Next Gen Lakes Monitoring – Second Grade Science! 1:30 PM Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall Jen Jespersen, Ecological Instincts The Maine Lakes Society teamed up with Ecological Instincts and Mount Vernon Elementary School to offer a stream-­‐lined experiential education experience for twenty Mount Vernon second graders and ten of their upper class “mentors” in 2015. Known as “Bugs in the Classroom“, the project teaches students about the relationship between clean streams and lakes and a healthy aquatic macroinvertebrate community. The three part series includes a classroom visit using a watershed model to teach the students about ways to prevent pollution from entering our lakes and streams, a field trip and classroom exercise to observe stream and lake conditions, and to sort and classify the insects by their pollution tolerance. Kids built “bug samplers” with help from older students, which were deployed at four locations for three weeks in Minnehonk Lake and two nearby streams. Students developed hypotheses about water quality based on their observations, and then tested their hypotheses by charting their findings. The third and final visit included integrating their knowledge through writing and art with a writing prompt, bug art and fly tying. Bugs in the Classroom is a model program that gets kids outdoors, integrates science with math, writing and social skills, and can be used for elementary through high school students. Examples of the students’ art and writing will be on display at the conference throughout the day. Suck it Up and Soak it In! Guiding Development in Your Town for Cleaner Lakes 2:00 Camp Skylemar Recreation Hall LaMarr Clannon How land use affects water quality and how Low Impact Development (LID) techniques reduce hard surfaces, ease stormwater impacts, make things prettier and can save your town money. This talk will include specific examples on individual house lots and larger development in Maine and Northern New England. LakeSmart: Planting and Property Maintenance for Water Quality Protection 1:00 PM Sky II Lodge Maggie Shannon, LakeSmart Coordinator, Advocacy Director, Maine Lakes Society The greatest frustration I faced as a lake association president was our lack of tools to stem the slow degradation of water quality in our 2 home lakes. We needed to create a change in how property owners manage land in lake watersheds, but didn’t know how we could go about it. When LakeSmart appeared, I recognized it as an effective and inexpensive instrument which lake associations could use to impact their lake’s future directly. LakeSmart is a “Knowledge to Action” program that delivers expert know-­‐how to property owners through site-­‐specific recommendations they can apply at their lakeside homes. Like a blueprint, it outlines ways to live next to fragile freshwaters without causing harm. Then, as the LakeSmart brand spreads along the shores of the lake community, it establishes sustainable living as the norm of behavior in that group. “Look to the land for your Lake’s Sake,” was COLA’s first tagline when our organization was founded. LakeSmart is one way to get it done, and this hands-­‐on workshop shows how that knowledge gets transferred. Invasive Aquatic Plant Paddle 1:00 PM Sky I Waterfront (rain location, Garden Cabin) Roberta Hill, Maine Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program Invasive Species Director, Roberta Hill will lead a guided exploration of Trickey Pond’s littoral zone, with a wary eye out for aquatic invaders. The short paddle will be followed by a hands-­‐on “sorting and screening” exercise on shore. Learn how easy it is to determine whether the plants you see growing in your lake are suspicious of being invasive or not, and what to do if you find a suspicious plant. You could save your lake from ecological and economic disaster! LAKE CELEBRATION ~ “SKY I” WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga Session I 9:00 AM Session II 10:00 AM Becky Lambert, Big White Barn Yoga Come experience the tranquility of a Maine lake in the morning while listening to your inner voice and finding balance. No experience necessary. Take one or both classes. Pre-­‐registration required to reserve a board. Water Safety for Kids 9 :00 AM Kayaking Lessons for Kids 10:00 AM Guided Kayaking on Trickey Pond I 11:00 AM Paddling Safety Instruction 1:00 PM Guided Kayaking on Trickey Pond II 1:30 PM Clayton Cole, ACA New England Paddlers Club, and Tammy Kelly, Registered Maine Guide Opportunities for paddling instruction for kids and adults, water safety tips, and relaxing guided kayaking tours around beautiful Trickey Pond.