The Wrack

Because were a national estuarine research reserve, we study the life that exists between low tide and high, between fresh water and salt. Perhaps were used to swings between extremes, to the different worlds that are continually uncovered and recovered here. Elections and world events matter to us, sure, but our work goes on no matter what.

Kennebunk resident Paul Dest, for 16 years the director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, was honored on December 12 with the 2016 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dest was presented with his award at the National Summit on Coastal and Estuarine Restoration and 25^th meeting of The Coastal Society in New Orleans.

I missed a meeting.

Let me explain.

So, there is this marsh, see. And there are these things called tides. They work together to distract people like me in the most marvelous way. People who grew up around predictable pond water. Dont get me wrong, I love my memories of growing up on Long Pond just outside of Rangeley, Maine. I cant imagine a better place to be a kid.

If the first casualty of war is the truth, then truth never stood a chance.

Its too early to tally the full damage from Hurricane Matthew, but I watched closely as four research reserves in our national system took the brunt of the storm.

The following was published in the Biddeford-Saco?Journal Tribune Sunday edition, 10/2/2016, and?Making It At Home's 10/5/2016 issue.

When my wife, sons, and I went away to our annual family reunion over Labor Day Weekend, we never expected to return home to find a party raging at our house. Wed left our cat, Greenberry, in charge of the homestead. When we got back from our trip, she was playing host to hundreds of obnoxious guests.

Fleas.

The enjoyment of simple things can be the most rewarding.

Throughout much of my professional life, I have been involved in various issues related to coastal conservation and public access. My activities have included:

• The Practical? acquisition of lands along the coast that provide direct access for residents and visitors, and that protect wildlife habitat
• The Educational  organizing forums, lectures, and workshops that explore legal and policy issues relating to coastal ownership, use, and access
• Writing and Publishing  most recently, co-editing the 3-volume Maine Coastal Public Access Guide

So it was only natural that the Wells Reserve (and yours truly) would team up with University of Maine Sea Grant and the Maine Coastal Program to revise and publish Public Shoreline Access in Maine: A Citizens Guide to Ocean and Coastal Law.

This concise, full color guide, just released, is a summary and analysis of the laws, policies, and court decisions that have helped define ownership of, and public access to, Maines coast.

Download Public Shoreline Access in Maine: A Citizen's Guide to Ocean and Coastal Law (6 MB)

Robert and Rose Marie are avid lepidopterists, which is a fancy word for people who are enthusiastic about butterflies and moths. This couple's passion focuses on butterflies. Since 2007, they have been busy each year collecting information for the Maine Butterfly Survey.

Now that the butterfly survey has ended, they have turned their butterfly catching talents to producing butterfly checklists for natural areas. That is what brought them to the Wells Reserve. Robert is the primary netter and Rose Marie is the photographer.

Using drones in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.