1B. Managing uncertainty - ecosystem change, shifting fisheries, and strategies for the future.

Fishermen and fisheries managers have always had to operate without knowing precisely where the fish will be, when they will be there, and how many can safely be caught.  Today feels different though.  The fisheries that sustain us today and those that sustained our communities in the past may not be the ones we can count on in the years to come. After briefly exploring coastal ocean changes that have impacted our fisheries, we explore strategies, options, and opportunities to adapt in ways that can help preserve the fishing heritage and fishing economy of Washington County.

 1C. Infrastructure and Sea Level Rise

Coastal communities are challenged by rising sea levels which inundate infrastructure such as causeways, roads,and sewage treatment facilities. Inland climate change still impacts community infrastructure, as more intense rain events overwhelm and undermine bridges and culverts. More than an occasional inconvenience, damaged infrastructure in our region has already cost human lives and threatens livelihoods.  Explore how towns in our region are proactively addressing these sea-level rise and threats to community infrastructure.

 1D. Agriculture, Forestry & Climate Adaptation 

Join us to learn more about the current and anticipated impacts of climate change on agriculture and forestry industries and native pollinators in Downeast Maine. A guided panel discussion will explore challenges faced by local employers and businesses in these sectors, how the more immediate impacts are being mitigated, and adaptations that will provide the best chance of sustainability in an ever-changing climate.

The electricity industry is changing rapidly, and improvements in technology are providing new solutions to old energy needs. Beneficial Electrification can lower our overall energy costs and shrink our carbon footprints, while making a more resilient electric grid possible in the future. Families and businesses can benefit from thinking strategically, considering all of their energy needs, uses, and impacts when making energy-related decisions.

  2B. ‘Weathering’ Hard Economic Times

Solutions are needed to more efficiently heat and cool our residential, commercial and municipal buildings. Many current systems are old, inefficient, or not designed to address both the heating and cooling needs. Join us for a discussion about thermal efficiency, the economic impact of increased costs to heat and cool an aging housing stock in  Washington County, and the opportunities and incentives for making improvements to existing systems or replacing and updating them.

 2C. Nature-Based Tourism in a Changing Climate

Three speakers will each share their field observations about how changes in the climate have affected the natural resources that their tourism and outdoor recreation businesses depend upon, from moose populations to water quality to heat indexes.  Some of these changes could bring benefits, others will surely not.  The speakers will describe how changes to the natural systems influence their businesses and visitor behavior, and how they may need to adjust to increase resiliency and longevity of their business future.

 2D. Renewable Energy In Downeast Maine