Several State agencies, including the State Planning Office, would serve on the SAC and research subcommittees. These agencies would play a key role in stimulating new research in the sanctuary. The Manager also would help to facilitate estuarine research projects directed toward finding practical solutions to coastal resource management problems. Maine's Coastal Program would be involved in the formulation of pragmatic estuarine research projects. The specific research projects to be conducted would be determined later; however, research will be encouraged on the following topics because of their relevance for effective coastal management. (1) the ecology of endangered species, particularly the Bald Eagle; (2) invertebrate population dynamics and their importance in the (3) ecosystem studies of energy and nutrient flows within the estuary; (4) population dynamics of seabirds and the factors which have the (5) determining the impacts of rising sea levels on the ecosystem (6) ecology of whale species in the estuary; (7) physiological studies of marine invertebrates; (8) vascular plant distribution in relation to environmental gradients; (9) determining the factors influencing marine algae occurrence, (10) determining the distribution of subtidal benthos and the factors which control it. One of the functions of the SAC is to refine and add to this research agenda to meet the State's most pressing needs for marine and estuarine research. The shoreline property areas offer a unique opportunity for research into the dynamics of the Machias Bay estuary. Several factors influence the research potential of the proposed sanctuary sites. These include: 0 the presence of rare and endangered species; the presence of large colonies of nesting sea birds; the presence of the largest cobble beach of its type in the 0 the presence of several hundred acres of undisturbed upland and 0 the presence of important anadromous species; and o the presence of important marine species harvested commercially, Institutions that have done or are doing research in the area include: o Darling Center at the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) o The University of Maine at Machias o Bigelow Laboratories for the Ocean Sciences (Boothbay) o The College of the Atlantic o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research and o Cobscook Bay Laboratories of Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts) o The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Major research opportunities in this proposed sanctuary generally fall into three categories: 1) analysis, and interpretation of the upland, intertidal, and subtidal components of the Machias Bay; 2) monitoring and survey programs; and 3) research to analyze the impact of various pollutants and pollution levels of estuarine life. Existing Monitoring 1. Finfish surveys: Department of Marine Resources (DMR) sets 2. Lobster catch data collection: DMR collects information on 3. Paralytic shellfish poisoning sampling: Blue mussels and 4. Winter Waterfowl: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and 5. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and USFWS survey shorebird breeding water birds and migratory shorebird populations in the area. 6. Additional water-fowl inventory: Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and USFWS biologists conduct periodic 7. 8. 9. h. The International Shorebird Survey: The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the USFWS coordinate an active survey of migratory shorebird populations in selected areas of coastal Maine. Surveys are conducted by volunteers and results are sent to Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, Massachusetts. They have The National Marine Fisheries Service: conducts a survey of Coliform testing: DMR tests Machias Bay water samples periodically for total and fecal coliform bacteria, primarily to determine whether areas of the Bay must be closed. Closed areas may be dug under supervision at times. The clams are transported, treated and cleaned, tested and sold. Education and Public Awareness Programs The proposed site is well suited for educational programs because the shoreline properties are capable of supporting such activities without significant harm. Also they are within seven to eight miles of secondary schools and the University of Maine at Machias. Marine biology and geology classes have used the shorelines for many years to study intertidal benthic invertebrates, pristine salt water marshes, and rookeries. The establishment of mainland coastal areas in a coastal natural area sanctuary system would create an opportunity for students in eastern Maine regions as well as citizens who participate in the Audubon Society's educational field trips, to utilize the area for field-oriented natural history and coastal ecology educational programs. Currently, there are no mainland sites in Machias Bay that are publicly owned for the specific purpose of Maine natural historical education or biological field trips. The sites in the sanctuary offer a mixture of different ecological land types: spruce-fir forests, cobble beach, salt marsh lagoon, coastal raised peatland, seabird nesting islands, and eagle nests as well as a relatively unpolluted estuarine area. This area is of exceptional ecological quality because of its diversity of coastal habitats and pristine nature. The various types of educational programs would be coordinated by the Sanctuary Advisory Committee. The Committee would act as an advisor to the Town and educators in the marine sciences. The Sanctuary Manager would actively encourage the educational use of the sanctuary and be responsible for implementing relevant educational programs and projects. A focus of educational activities at the sanctuary would be to increase people's understanding of how to improve management of our coastal resources. Specific educational programs would include: (1) interpretive nature trails; (2) guided field trips for secondary students; and (3) outreach programs to attract adults and students from the region to the sanctuary. The University of Maine at Machias, Cobscook Bay Marine Laboratory, and the College of the Atlantic are the closest institutions with specific marine science programs that are expected to use the area. Without a Maine Coast Estuarine Sanctuary, there would be no estuarine area specifically identified to represent estuaries in the Arcadian biogeographic region, one of eleven major regions in the Nation, and Maine would lose the opportunity to establish specific areas for conducting research in estuaries that represent the coast of Maine, which is itself unique in the United States. Thus, Maine and the Nation would be unable to derive the benefits from the information and public awareness that would result from establishing this area as an estuarine sanctuary. Under the "No Action" alternative, the land along Machias Bay would not be acquired and would not be designated as an estuarine. sanctuary. It is anticipated that the lands would be subject to increasing development pressure and would at some future time be developed as residential areas. The sanctuary designation and the provision of management funds would help to forestall such development. The designation of this area as a sanctuary would also encourage greater public consideration of possible donation of lands in the future, rather than having parts of these lands being donated piecemeal to conservation organizations orito the State, as has happened in the past. The sanctuary designation, plus the provision of management funds and the planning accompanying it, would establish a more comprehensive program as well as encourager additional research in the area. However, the no action alternative would not preclude any ongoing research efforts now or necessarily in the future. 2. Alternative Sites (Including Selection Process for Maine Coast In August 1980, the Maine State Planning Office sent a letter to coastal towns informing them of the opportunity to acquire Coastal Natural Areas for research and education through the Estuarine Sanctuary Program. Letters and brochures were sent to Town Selectmen, City Managers, Planning Board members and Conservation Commissions as well as local conversation groups and others (see Appendix 4). This program was designated in Maine as the Coastal Natural Areas Program because of the strong ties with Maine's efforts at natural areas protection through the Critical Areas Program. Over 75 towns or individuals responded by suggesting more than 30 potential areas for the Coastal Natural Areas Program. This response indicated that there was considerable public support for investigating the prospect of establishing an estuarine sanctuary in Maine through the Coastal Natural Areas Program. The State Planning Office formed a Coastal Natural Areas Selection Committee to advise the SPO on the program's direction and the selection of candidate areas. SPO selected a wide variety of coastal citizens, educators, researchers and conservationists to serve on the committee. The following persons were asked to serve on the Committee: Dr. Frederick H. Hutchinson, Chairman Bill Ginn, Maine Audubon Society Bob Gardiner, Natural Resource Council Benjamin Emory, Maine Coastal Heritage Trust Ed Bradley, Portland David Mills, Southwest Harbor Herb Hartman, Dept. of Conservation Mrs. Jean Childs, Portland Walter Welch, Dept. of Marine Resources Fourtin Powell, Eastern Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission Richard Jones, Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Kenneth Anderson, Maine Dept. of Fish & Wildlife The committee at its first meeting in early December 1980, decided that given the interest in the program, the State of Maine should continue to pursue the Coastal Natural Areas Program. The following criteria and guidelines were used by SPO and the Coastal Natural Areas Committee to select a candidate or candidates for Coastal Natural Areas. i (a) Preference given to proposals for areas that are the most valuable for scientific research and education activities. In particular, preference will be given to proposals where arrangements have been established with existing research and educational programs; (b) (c) Preference given to proposals which would protect types of areas not already protected by existing parks, refuges and and sanctuaries in Maine; Preference given to proprsals for areas of unusual natural significance to the State of Maine. Factors indicating unusual natural significance include: 0 the presence of rare or endangered species; (d) Preference given to proposals that would result in the conservation of a relatively complete natural system or a large portion of such a system; |