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Maine citizens have a long history of active participation
in environmental monitoring programs, making our state
a model across the country. The Maine Shore Steward
is a partnership of University of Maine Cooperative
Extension and Sea Grant, Maine Coastal Program, Maine
Department of Marine Resources and Maine Department
of Environmental Protection working to connect the
state's need for coastal data with interested, dedicated
volunteers. Find out more about Maine Shore Steward
at http://www.umaine.edu/umext/ssteward.
Below are brief descriptions of the monitoring programs
associated with Maine Shore Steward and contact information
for the program coordinator(s). We hope you'll join
us!
Clean Water/Partners in Monitoring Program This program provides organizational and technical
support to citizen water quality monitoring groups
from Kittery to Calais. Water Quality groups study
the health of estuarine water by monitoring for dissolved
oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, and fecal coliform
bacteria. As a result of successful monitoring efforts
in Maine, thousands of acres of clam-flats have been
opened.
For information contact:
Esperanza
Stancioff,
University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea
Grant
(207) 832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104
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Department of Marine Resources Volunteer Water Quality
Monitoring Program Citizen volunteers are assisting the Department of
Marine Resources (DMR) in evaluating water quality
in shellfish growing areas from Kittery to Calais by
collecting water samples, measuring water temperature
and record their observations at sampling stations
in their communities. Water quality data is used to
regulate shellfish growing areas to ensure that only
pollution-free areas are open for harvesting.
For information contact:
Sherry Hanson, Volunteer Coordinator
Department of
Marine Resources
PO Box 8 ,West Boothbay Harbor, Maine
04575
(207) 633-9401
email: Sherry.Hanson@state.me.us
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Island Monitoring Project The goal of the new island monitoring project is to
develop science-based island monitoring methods that
will provide managers and island owners with crucial
information needed to manage recreational use. Volunteers
might be measuring campsite and pathway dimensions,
photographing landing areas, entering GPS coordinates
for exposed tree roots, and inventorying seaweed species
in an island's intertidal zone.
For information contact:
Natalie Springuel, Maine Sea Grant
207-288-5015 x298
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Intertidal Habitat Monitoring A pilot intertidal monitoring project will be an element
of the new Island Monitoring Project. The goal of the
project is to develop indicators and methods for assessing
the impacts of use on the intertidal area of recreation
islands.
For information contact: Tracy Hart, Maine Sea Grant
(207) 725-3694
or
Esperanza Stancioff, University of Maine Cooperative
Extension/Sea Grant
(207) 832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104
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Maine Healthy Coastal Beaches Program The program brings together fifteen coastal beach
communities (representing 31 beaches), where municipalities,
state parks and community groups are monitoring beach-water
quality. They use standardized methods to take water
samples at coastal swim beaches to monitor for bacteria,
an indicator of recreational water-borne illnesses.
The program also involves notifying the public if health
risks are detected and educating both residents and
visitors on what can be done to avoid water-related
illness at the beach.
For information contact: Esperanza Stancioff ,University of Maine Cooperative
Extension/Sea Grant
(207) 832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104
http://www.mainehealthybeaches.org
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Maine Phytoplankton Monitoring Program At more than 40 sites coast-wide, community members
and students use plankton nets and field microscopes
to monitor for phytoplankton that have the potential
to cause harmful algal blooms (HAB's also known as "red
tides"). This volunteer program was designed to
act as an early warning system for HAB's, which may
result in shellfish bed closures due to biotoxins.
For information contact : Esperanza Stancioff, University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea
Grant
(207) 832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104
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Southern Maine Beach Profile
Monitoring Program Beach profiling is a simple surveying technique used
to measure the contour of a beach. Long-term beach
profiling data is the first step to understanding how
fast and why our beaches are changing - data critical
to making informed decisions about beach management
issues. Each month, teams of community volunteers profile
16 local beaches from Georgetown to York.
For information contact:
Kristen Grant,
Maine Sea Grant Extension
(207) 646-1555 ext.115
http://www.geology.um.maine.edu/beach/
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