Conference to share Maine and New Hampshire beach issues, stories and data

Registration has begun for The Beaches Conference on July 14 at Wells High School. After nearly two decades and 10 events, this year’s conference will include the beaches of both Maine and New Hampshire. The day-long program will include presentations, workshops, field trips, demonstrations and exhibits — all opportunities for people interested in beaches and the coast to learn and share the most current information.

This year’s event opens with a “lightning round” of coastal issues that people are talking about, from an overview of erosion threats and ancient coastal shell middens, to beach water quality, public access to the shore, federal flood zone mapping, regional preparedness analysis by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the impact of federal budget proposals on beaches in Maine and New Hampshire.

“I am thrilled that the Beaches Conference has expanded to include New Hampshire waters and coast. After several years of looking for the opportunity to make this happen, it is exciting to be able to help fill the coastal informational needs of New Hampshire. Our coastline may be small but it serves critical economic, recreational, and environmental roles for our citizens, municipalities and state,” says conference co-chair Steve Miller of Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Stories of personal experiences with sea level rise are another new feature. In this session, “Listening for a Change,” a coastal property owner and retired philosophy professor, a coastal property owner and playwright, and a climate scientist will share their diverse perspectives on challenges they have faced to an expected audience of more than 200 people.

“Our open invitation for presentation ideas yielded more than 80 submissions from six states and two countries, and included entirely new formats such as an interactive play reading, art making with maps, and a training on new tools for planning professionals,” said program committee chair Kristen Grant, a marine extension associate with Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Extension based at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Wells Reserve and Laudholm Trust are hosting a Coastal Social after the conference, featuring local beverages and oysters.

The conference program and registration link are available at seagrant.umaine.edu/maine-beaches-conference or by calling the Wells Reserve, 207.646.1555 ext. 157.

Conference sponsors include Walsh Engineering, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and Laudholm Trust, Maine Coastal Program, Maine Sea Grant, New Hampshire Sea Grant, Kennebunk Savings, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Stewards, Bangor Savings Bank, Curtis Thaxter, Maine Beaches Association, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Magazine, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Geological Survey, New Hampshire Coastal Program, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, and Resource Access International.

Contact: Kristen Grant, 207.646.1555