July 12, 2006
Friends of Schoodic Meeting

In Attendance:  Dan Decker, scientist in residence this summer, Nancy Horschak, Pauline Angione, Jay Horschak, Ann Harward, Julia Brown, Justin Brown, Dick Barton, Tom Mayer, Jeannie Wilson, Rosemary Levin, Garry Levin, Bill Zoellick, Janet Michaud, Denny O'Brien

Presentation by Dan Decker

Dan began with a brief description of his background at Cornell, which includes a combination of being professor and previous chair in the Department of Natural Resources, an administrator, and someone active in extension work. He is at the Park this summer to help the Park develop a management approach to wildlife management that includes human dimensions.

He talked about his experience at Rocky Mountain National Park helping pull together a research program. He also worked with the Park on a national basis to develop expertise within the Park with regard to human dimensions of resource management.

His role here has two dimensions. One is to help the Park work on deer management. The other is to act as a "guinea pig" -- our first scientist in residence -- and to help the Park and Acadia Partners understand how to make SERC an increasingly attractive place for visiting scientists.

Ed Pontbriand

Ed talked about his experience fighting fires in Arizona. The fire was initially allowed to burn as a prescribed fire for resource management purposes.  The fire stayed within the management parameters for about 3 weeks, but then took off.  Temperatures shot up, winds picked up, and the fire got to a stage where, initially, the Park Service had to back off and let it burn.

Ed went down as a task force leader.  He showed pictures of the fire and fire fighting -- very impressive, high flames.

Fence Removal

Jay reported that a group hauled the fence out of the woods on Monday. The were able to move about 20 bales of wire.  What is left to move is very hard to get to. Jay suggested that the rest might be moved by helicopters as National Guard training.

What is left to do is remove the fence posts. Jay suggested that this is a potentially good Friends of Acadia project -- in the sense that Friends of Acadia could provide some funding. There is still some question about how -- what kind of machine could do that. Garry suggested that we need to identify the costs and options. Ed suggested that we start by thinking through the management options.  Jay will begin by identifying the key alternatives.

Little Moose Clean Up

Scheduled for July 22. Jeannie pointed out that we have a number of conflicting events that day. Jay noted that we don't really need very many people -- in fact, too many people could be a problem.  The event will start at 9 AM -- with a meeting at the gatehouse.

Picnic

There are a good number of conflicting events on the 29th.  Garry proposed that it be postponed until August 26.  Jeannie expressed some concern about people needing to be informed that it is NOT the 29th of July.  Garry will send out an email to this effect.  Tom will put up a notice inside the gatehouse for volunteers there.  Friends of Schoodic will provide a main course of hamburgers and hot dogs and drinks.  Ed Pontbriand agreed to take care of this. People should bring deserts and salads.  Garry will get invitations out.  Set the published time for 4 to 6.

Reminders

BioBlitz is coming up Saturday morning.  Friends of Acadia annual meeting is this Friday.

Gatehouse

Tom said that the one item that needs attention is getting the float out. Tom said that traffic seemed light. Ed noted that visitation is down in general.

Ed Pontbriand -- Park Report

The SCA has been working on the Sundew Trail.  One problem is people cutting over to Pond Island at low tide. Visitation at Schoodic for June this year was 27,422 -- Last year at the same time we had 45,000 visitors.

Ed also shared information about new signage for the Park, which will include new signs for Route 1.

SERC Report

Denny announceed a meeting on July 25 that will present planning about the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium.

Next Meeting

Will be on August 9.  Rob Brooks, a wetlands expert at Penn State, will be here as a guest speaker.

The meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.