Are you worried about coastal erosion and what it might mean for you? Interested in preserving what you have? The January 2024 storms were a glimpse into possible future conditions here in Harpswell and the damage such storms can wreak.
To gain insight into how and why we should work to keep water on our properties and keep erosion in check, join the Harpswell Conservation Commission WaterWitches on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Schiller Coastal Studies Center on Orr’s Island.
Learn about resources that are already available to help you conserve water at the fourth public presentation as part of the commission’s ongoing workshops on water-wise initiatives for our community.
The current drought is focusing attention on why we should want to know more. Commission member Jamie Hark, a landscape designer specializing in resilience planning, will review the life cycle of a coastal bluff and why it is important to slow down water and keep it on-site.
Hark will discuss approaches to improving site drainage that require less permitting and expense. He also will cover the role that plants play in supporting coastal slopes.
Landscape interventions include hardscape, such as seawalls, revetments and riprap; softscape, such as upland, slope and marsh restoration plantings; and hybrid, the preferred method, which combines elements of both. Town, state and federal rules determine what is allowed.
Knowing more about your options will help you work with contractors, landscape designers or helpful family members to create conditions that keep water where you need it, with your landscape thriving and coastal bluffs intact.
Following the presentation, landscape experts will be available to answer specific questions you may have about your situation and the best approaches to take to preserve and protect our Harpswell coast.Registration is encouraged. To register, email conservation@town.harpswell.me.us.
