POLAND — Floods, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes have all become more frequent and often more severe because of the changes that the climate is experiencing.
These changes are evident, but there are more subtle impacts of climate change occurring to Maine’s lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater resources, according to a news release from Fergus Lea Jr., chair of the Androscoggin River Watershed Council.
The council plans to address these issues at the annual Androscoggin Watershed Conference, scheduled to start at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, at the Poland Spring Resort, 640 Main St. in Poland.
The conference will include an historic look at the Androscoggin River by Pat Webber, director of the Muskie Archives at Bates College; and Vanessa Paolella from the Sun Journal. Other sessions will provide information on how local water resources function and how climate change is impacting them. The conference will end in the afternoon with a panel and open discussion on the future of the river and its watershed.
Towns and organizations are taking a variety of actions to improve their resiliency. A session will review programs that provide support for local and regional resiliency efforts. It will also cover the interrelationship of area water resources to our infrastructure and provide examples of what is being done by communities to protect their infrastructure and improve the sustainability of the environment.
Jeff Stern from the watershed council will highlight how improving stream crossing under roads can protect roads and improve fish habitat. The most recent storm that washed out culverts and roads throughout Western Maine is just the latest example of the problems caused by the more frequent and intense storms.
Sam Roy from the Maine Emergency Management Agency will cover the functions of the Maine Drought Task Force and River Flow Advisory Commission.
While the threats to area lakes are not as dramatic as road washouts, as lakes warm they become more likely to experience algal blooms and reduced oxygen levels. Cold water fisheries in many lakes could be threatened over the next decade. Scott Williams, a lake biologist, and Linda Bacon from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will cover the increasing threats to lakes and provide examples of what some towns and lake associations have been doing to protect their lakes.
Groundwater impacts from climate change are even more subtle, but increased rainfall intensity and the increasing length and frequency of droughts can have serious impacts on groundwater resources. Of particular concern are the longer drought periods when wells serving homes in Maine’s rural areas go dry. Mark Dubois from Poland Spring and Ryan Gordon from the Maine Geological Survey will provide information on our groundwater resources and the impacts of climate change on them.
A session will discuss how forestry and conservation are helping to improve the resiliency of communities and the sustainability of water resources. In the afternoon, a panel will provide brief thoughts on the future of the river and the resources in the watershed.
Following those remarks, there will be an open discussion of issues both brought about during the conference and possibly others not discussed but still present.
For more information and registration forms, visit andrscogginwatershed.org under Upcoming Events.
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