Nik's Notebook: Welcome, Invaders!

Maine has historically (and, at times, comically) viewed those "from away" with great suspicion and even scorn. Rightly so, when it comes to invasive, non-native species like mouse ear snails, red algae, and European green crabs that all now impinge on our Gulf. These diabolical intruders, and many more, are a horror story for our coast, but they're just one tale in this Summer 2014 issue of Watermark, your beach reading from the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.

Because while these aquatic invaders may come "from away," so too do our annual fresh-faced summer interns, our many excellent research partners, and continual new ideas. And truly, Southern Maine's beach towns would be ghost towns without our summer tourists. So we welcome all these new arrivals to the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and hope they take back home with them, from their visits or even just by reading this summer newsletter, a little bit of "the way life should be." Or could be, anyway, with a little more science, education, and conservation.

Have a wonderful summer. Do come over; it's your Reserve!

Download the Summer 2014 Watermark

This issue includes:

• Nik's Notebook: Welcome, Invaders!
• From Away: Voracious Green Crabs Digging Deep in Maine Marshes
• From Away: Visitors from Chile and Colombia Focus on Research and Management
• Three Ways to Look at a Landscape Feature: Streamside Buffers
• Ladder Opens Branch Brook to Migrating Fish
• The Sandy Dialogues
• Sustainability Science Drives Saco Estuary Project
• Forest of the Future: Interpretive Signs for Yankee Woodlot
• A Sense of Wonder from Growing Head Start Program
• Group Volunteering: Being Social on a Mission
• Risk Assessment will Guide Wells on Adapting to Future Climate
• Solar Success: Sun to Supply All Electricity Needs
• Volunteer Needs
• People News
• Propane Scare
• Going with the Flow
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher