BDN covers Maine beaches conference
The Bangor Daily News reported on the 10th annual Maine Beaches Conference held at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. Experts who spoke at the conference said human impact poses the greatest threat to the future of Maine’s beaches, according to the article. Kristen Grant, an extension associate at Marine Sea Grant, spoke about the role water monitoring plays in gauging the effect humans have on the condition of Maine’s beaches and waters. “With pollution comes rising sea levels, species endangerment and unsafe swimming conditions,” Grant said. “Monitoring the water quality started about 10 years ago and has been going on ever since. It’s a problem we’re constantly trying to address to the public.” Keri Kaczor, coordinator of the Healthy Beaches Program and a marine professional with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke about how the majority of pollution problems are concentrated at spots where rivers and streams deliver storm and wastewater runoff to the sea, the article states.