Every five years, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) takes a close look at conditions in Casco Bay, gathering information on the condition of Casco Bay and our region. Local data reveals obvious signs of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures and more severe storms. But climate interacts with other processes, from urbanization to introduction of marine species from around the globe, creating challenges for future planning. Learn from CBEP’s director about highlights from the latest State of the Bay report, including the importance of land conservation for water quality, interesting measurements of bay health such as eelgrass abundance, and the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish. He will also discuss how CBEP is working with towns on ways to make the bay and communities more resilient.

Registration is required for this virtual event. See registration link below.

Curtis Bohlen, director of the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP), is an aquatic and wetland biologist with an interdisciplinary background in ecology, economics, and public policy. Bohlen works to seek creative solutions to environmental challenges, support local communities, and improve management of Casco Bay. In recent years, the organization has expanded efforts to assist communities to understand and to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Bohlen has worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill, for environmental advocacy organizations, as an environmental consultant, and on the faculty of Bates and Colby Colleges. He holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Stanford and a PhD from Cornell.

About the series: Weathering Climate Change: Understanding Shifts in Our Local Landscapes is an educational series of walks and talks aimed at informing, engaging, and uniting community members of Cumberland and Chebeague Island around local climate issues that impact us all. The series is offered in collaboration with Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust (CCLT), Sustainable Cumberland, ME, and the Chebeague Climate Action Team.