The Coastal Training Program team has been hard at work helping the Town of Sanford to outline goals and strategies for achieving open space and resource protection in the town's natural areas and working landscapes.

In 2008, the Coastal Training Program assisted the town with a series of workshops designed to bring community stakeholders together, to share their visions for the future of Sanford, and to craft a plan for realizing those visions.

The draft Conservation Plan is now available. The plan highlights the importance of green infrastructure -- the values that natural places and open space provide? such as clean water, farmland, wildlife habitat, flood control, and natural beauty. It also addresses conservation goals identified in the Sanford Comprehensive Plan.

Dr. Christine Feurt, coordinator of the Coastal Training Program, reports&

This plan represents a tremendous effort by Sanford residents and town staff working in partnership with the Wells Reserve. Sanford is becoming a regional leader in water quality protection with their work to clean brownfields, protect stormwater at the airport, and conserve special places like McDougal Orchards. The Sanford Conservation Plan includes a regional focus and links to efforts in neighboring towns.

The next step is for the Sanford Planning Board to determine if the plan meets the needs of the community. A positive outcome depends upon broad support for the work of the Sanford residents who helped create the plan. The larger the voice for conservation at the meeting the better.

Questions regarding the plan can be addressed by:

• Chris Feurt at 646-1555 ext 111
• Zack Steele at 646-1555 ext 157
• Tin Smith at 646-1555 ext 119