FARMINGTON — Maine Audubon is hosting a workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 25, to help municipal employees, contractors, land trusts, landowners and other groups improve stream crossings to maintain and restore the habitat and economic values of Maine’s tributaries. The workshop will take place at the University of Maine-Farmington, North Dining Hall C, Olsen Student Center, 111 South St.

Free scholarships for municipal employees and municipal contractors are sponsored by the Saco River Salmon Club and the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership.

“This workshop emphasizes why and how we can connect fish and wildlife habitat while protecting roads and public safety,” said Barbara Charry, wildlife biologist with Maine Audubon. “The workshop covers road stream crossing projects – from site assessment to permitting and installation. Functioning stream crossings also add economic value to a community, as they greatly reduce the chances of washed out roads and damage from storms, saving towns thousands of dollars in repair costs down the road.”

Maine Audubon and the Nature Conservancy recently completed a joint survey of nearly 1,000 stream crossings in Maine. Roughly 40 percent of the crossings surveyed are severe barriers to fish and wildlife movement and about 90 percent are barriers for some species for at least part of the year. Most commonly, the culvert is perched above the stream, which blocks fish from traveling to spawning habitat. Others are blocked by debris, are undersized or are too shallow.

“Replacing old culverts with Stream-Smart road crossings will not only allow for greater habitat connectivity for wildlife but will help towns prepare for the large and frequent storm events that have been washing out roads around state and the northeast,” said Charry.

Workshop presenters include professionals from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Project Share and the Maine Coastal Program. Participants will receive recertification credit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Voluntary Contractor Certification program.

Registration is $30. Light refreshments will be served. Register online at www.maineaudubon.org/stream-smart or contact Becca Wilson at bwilson@maineaudubon.org or 207-781-2330, ext. 222. To learn more about the Stream Smart program, contact Barbary Charry at bcharry@maineaudubon.org or 207-781-2330, ext. 225.

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