Stream crossing design & installation” workshop offered by the PCSWCD
The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a stream crossing design & installation workshop on Appalachian Mountain Club’s property in the Katahdin Ironworks area (Maine Atlas & Gazetteer Map 42, D2, Katahdin Iron Works) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
Join us in the field and get your boots wet while discussing the principles of managing “Stream Smart” road crossings and implementing Best Management Practices during installation. This workshop will introduce you to the importance of free-flowing streams, stream surveying and structure engineering, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, erosion and sediment BMPs, cost, and maintenance benefits of crossings, and how PCSWCD can evaluate your crossings and provide other technical assistance.
PCSWCD’s own Stream Restoration Project Manager Emily Dickison will lead the discussion and provide information about barrier assessments and stream surveying. NRCS’s Fisheries Biologist Chris Reidy will present on the importance of reestablishing natural stream habitat and connectivity. Learn from Maine’s NRCS Aquatic Restoration Engineer Heidi Bunn as she explains how “Stream Smart” structures are designed and installed. Christian Fox with The Nature Conservancy will outline stream crossing conservation work occurring throughout the state. The Maine Forest Service will continue the discussion of BMP’s during in-water construction work, what technical assistance is available, and answer regulatory questions. Hear from AMC’s Land Manager Steve Tatko as he showcases crossings that improved trout and salmon habitat on their property by removing stream barriers on their road systems.
STREAM WORK – Emily Dickison, PCSWCD stream restoration project manager, stands beside a stream bed during barrier removal and bridge construction, manually reshaping a portion of the channel.
In addition to hearing information directly from these folks working on stream conservation work, this workshop will provide details about funding opportunities that may be available to aid in the engineering and construction of road-stream crossings!
Completion of this workshop qualifies for 4 Continuing Education Hours for individuals Certified in Erosion Control Practices by Maine DEP. Each CEH affords DEP-Certified individuals one year of recertification or reinstatement credit. Contact John Maclaine (john.maclaine@maine.gov) to ensure credit is applied following completion. Credits for licensed foresters, SAF Forestry Credits: 4.0 credit hours, Category 1 and Maine Board of Licensure of Foresters: 3.25 credit hours, Category 1. The workshop is sponsored by Sustainable Forestry Initiative and is free with lunch included.
Pre-registration required to attend, to register, please visit our website at www.piscataquisswcd.org, our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/www.piscataquisswcd.org, give us a call at 207-564-2321 ext. 3, or send along an email to info@piscataquisswcd.org.