Community Conservation of Vernal Pools

On April 26, 2022, CREA hosted a panel of people who were involved in a collaboration to develop an innovative tool for protecting vernal pools. Dr. Aram Calhoun and Dr. Jessica Jansujwicz provided context on the ecological value of vernal pools, the challenges associated with protecting them, and described the Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) tool that was developed as an alternative to the more rigid state and federal regulatory approach. Other panelists were some of the people involved in implementing the SAMP in Topsham: Angela Twitchell, Executive Director of Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, which executes vernal pool conservation in partnership with the Town of Topsham; Rod Melanson, Topsham Town Planner; Jim Howard, CEO of Priority Real Estate Group and developer of multiple projects around the state; and Elizabeth Hertz, natural resource consultant and former wetlands policy specialist for the State Planning Office. More information on the SAMP is available at this website: www.vernalpools...