Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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Exhibits and Interpretive Trails; Publications; andOutreach to Community Groups and Schools.A major component of the Reserve’s educationalefforts is the Coastal Training Program. Throughthis system-wide initiative, the Wells Reserveprovides decision-makers in Maine communitieswith science-based information to encourage thewise stewardship of coastal resources. This is donethrough workshops, seminars, conferences, and theestablishment of community partnerships, as wellas the development and distribution of informationon appropriate topics.ResearchThe Wells Reserve research program studies andmonitors natural and human-induced change inGulf of Maine estuaries, coastal habitats, andadjacent coastal watersheds, and produces sciencebasedinformation needed to protect, sustain, orrestore them.Reserve scientists participate in research, monitoring,planning, management, and outreach activitieslocally, regionally and nationally. The program supportsfield research along Maine’s southwest coastfrom the Kennebec River to the Piscataqua River.Current and future focus areas for the research programinclude: Estuarine Water Quality; Salt MarshHabitats and Natural Communities; Distributionand Abundance of Fish and Shellfish; Salt MarshDegradation and Restoration Science.A major program component of the Wells Reserveis the System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)and its links to the Integrated Ocean ObservingSystem. This program monitors for various waterquality parameters, weather, biological change, andlandscape change.StewardshipThe Wells Reserve strives to exemplify wise coastalstewardship through sound natural resource managementwithin its boundary and through its partnershipsin the communities of southern Maine.The diverse habitats encompassed by the WellsReserve support distinct plant and animal communitiesthat require specific stewardship approaches.Woodlands and fields are fairly resilient to humanuse, while salt marshes, sand dunes, vernal pools,and certain upland habitats are more sensitive tohuman impacts. Some parts of the Reserve arerelatively pristine, while other areas—includingearly successional farm fields—are under ecologicalstress associated with past land use practices and thespread of invasive species. Rare native plants andanimals require specific management approaches.Deer population levels have contributed to thespread of invasive plants and human health issuesassociated with Lyme disease. Because of its habitatdiversity, and management challenges, the WellsReserve natural environments serve as an excellentlocation to experiment with various innovativeresource management activities, to conduct researchand offer education programs.The Reserve is also active in promoting coastalstewardship in the communities of southern Maine.Through its community-based stewardship programefforts, the Reserve encourages individuals andorganizations to recognize connections betweenland-use actions and environmental quality and totake responsibility for protecting coastal watersheds.This is accomplished through working with groupsand municipalities on watershed management, landconservation planning and assistance and habitatrestoration.Boundary and Land AcquisitionThe Wells Reserve seeks to permanently conservelands necessary to protect Reserve resources,thereby ensuring a stable environment for researchand education. One goal over the next five years isto broaden the Reserve’s representation of coastalecosystems beyond the salt marshes and immediatelyadjacent uplands to include coastal watershedareas. Over the next five years the Reserve willidentify and prioritize parcels of land within theWebhannet River, Little River, and Ogunquit Riverwatersheds that best meet the evaluation criteria setout in this Management Plan. The Wells ReserveWells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Figure I.2. The historic farmhouse serves as the Reserve’s Visitor Center.will seek to accomplish the following: 1) work withpartners including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Town of Wells, Kennebunk/Kennebunkport/WellsWater District, Great Works Regional Land Trustand the Laudholm Trust to develop conservationstrategies and funding; 2) cooperate with partnersto maximize the protection of natural resourcesof highest value to the Reserve’s programs; and 3)develop and implement the best options to permanentlyconserve identified lands.FacilitiesThe Wells Reserve strives to provide staff and collaboratorswith safe, comfortable buildings andequipment required to accomplish Reserve education,research, and stewardship program strategies;to provide visitors with facilities in which to learnabout coastal ecosystems; and to preserve thebuildings’ architectural heritage in the context ofaccommodating 21st century uses as an estuarineresearch and education center.Reserve facilities used for these purposes are in twolocations: Laudholm Farm, a complex of more thana dozen historic buildings and one new building;and the Alheim Property, an adjacent parcel holdingthree buildings one-half mile from LaudholmFarm.Management Plan: Overview
Page 3 and 4: Wells National Estuarine Research R
Page 5 and 6: Table of ContentsAcknowledgments..
Page 7 and 8: Representation on the Reserve Manag
Page 9 and 10: Objectives and Strategies.. . . . .
Page 11 and 12: XIII. Volunteer Plan.. . . . . . .
Page 14 and 15: xiiWells National Estuarine Researc
Page 16 and 17: I. OverviewIntroduction to the Rese
Page 20 and 21: The Wells Reserve requires specific
Page 22 and 23: II. IntroductionThe Value of Estuar
Page 24 and 25: Figure II.3. Biogeographic regions
Page 26 and 27: 1.2.3.Address coastal management is
Page 28 and 29: Department of of CommerceNational O
Page 30 and 31: 16 Wells National Estuarine Researc
Page 32 and 33: III. Wells NERR SettingPhysical Set
Page 34 and 35: Figure III.3. The two principal wat
Page 36 and 37: Wells Reserve campus and adjacent s
Page 38 and 39: 230 bird species and at least 32 ma
Page 40 and 41: landscapes are assuming a suburban
Page 43 and 44: IV. Strategic Plan29
Page 45 and 46: Objective 2: Optimize educational u
Page 47 and 48: V. Accomplishments33
Page 49 and 50: Figure V.2. Chris Feurt, the CTP Co
Page 51 and 52: Figure V.4. The barn complex was co
Page 53 and 54: ◊With partners (U.S. Fish and Wil
Page 55 and 56: VI. Administration41
Page 57 and 58: RMAManagerEducationResearch & Stewa
Page 59 and 60: ◊The York County Audubon Society,
Page 61 and 62: The Reserve Manager serves as the c
Page 63 and 64: Figure VI.4. An October sunrise gra
Page 65 and 66: VII. Facilities andConstruction51
Page 67 and 68: ◊Make facilities available to par
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Figure VII.2. The Reserved Life Est
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Killing House (early 1900’s)This
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Estate and are currently privately
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VIII. Public Access61
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Figure VIII.2. An artist at work by
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Figure VIII.4. A family enjoys a wa
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IX. Education and Outreach67
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Strategies◊ Work with partners to
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K-12 EducationThe Wells Reserve edu
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signs of wildlife, water quality mo
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irds, beach exploration, seasonal m
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X. Research and Monitoring77
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Figure X.1. Jeremy Miller (right) a
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System-wide Monitoring ProgramThe N
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tions concerning the sustainability
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permit, the Research Department als
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XI. Stewardship87
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◊◊◊◊◊Protect pristine hab
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Reserve cooperates with the followi
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will monitor this site (and others
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Figure XI.6. The Wells Reserve Stew
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XII. Reserve Boundary andAcquisitio
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Proposed Changes to the Reserve and
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Figure XII.2 (top): The main stems
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By expanding its boundary the Wells
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forests, and wetlands. It has habit
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Conservation EasementThe Wells Rese
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XIII. Volunteers109
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Figure XIII.1. Beach Profiling volu
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XIV. Communications113
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images, and cultivates interest in
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AppendicesAppendix A: Memoranda of
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Appendix A: Memoranda ofUnderstandi
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Appendix A-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix A127
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Management Plan: Appendix A131
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Appendix B: ConservationEasementsMa
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Appendix B-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix B153
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Appendix C: State of MaineLegislati
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Appendix C-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix C171
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Appendix D: Rules forPublic UseMana
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Appendix Das part of the Reserve. T
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Appendix D(a) No person shall remov
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Appendix D(a) Third through fifth g
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Appendix E: NaturalResource LawsMan
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Appendix Ecomponents of the Program
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Appendix Eability of these areas to
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Appendix ETowns experiencing less g
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Appendix Emust be in place before a
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Appendix F: FederalRegulations—NE
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Appendix Ffor resource management p
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Appendix F(b) The biogeographic cla
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Appendix Fzone. Key land and water
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Appendix Fminor construction projec
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Appendix Finterests therein, for an
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Appendix Fagencies and/or private o
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Appendix Fand the additional compon
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Appendix FResearch Reserve System.(
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Appendix FDC 20235. The following m
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Appendix FThis typology system refl
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Appendix Fthe boring clam Playdon,
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Appendix FC. Inlet type. Inlets in
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Appendix FB. pH Regime: This is ind
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Appendix G:CZMA—Section 315Manage
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Appendix GIn developing the guideli
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Appendix H:Wells National Estuarine
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Appendix HWells National Estuarine
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Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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