I. Introductions/Anti-Trust

Chairman Donovan called the meeting to order at 9:40 A.M. and welcomed the 27 people in attendance to the 62nd meeting of Project S.H.A.R.E. After the general introductions, Chairman Donovan read the Anti-Trust guidelines.

II. Past Minutes

Chairman Donovan asked the membership for any errors or omissions to the June10 minutes. There was a motion by Torrey Sheafe, second by Bill Cherry to accept the minutes. Motion passed.

III. Treasurers Report

Steven Koenig gave a summary of the Treasurers Report and funding initiatives. There was a motion to accept the treasurer’s [report] by John Burrows, second by Sherrie Sprangers. Motion passed.

IV. Guest Speaker

The meeting celebrated the 10th anniversary of Project SHARE. Jerry Marancik began by highlighting the “climate” of salmon restoration a decade ago and the circumstances that led to the initial concept of Project SHARE. A key principle established from the onset was the decision that SHARE would remain neutral of the question of listing Atlantic salmon as endangered.

Gary Donovan noted that the fear of a listing was real amongst the landowners. Some had just gone through the listing of the spotted owl in the Pacific NW and were looking for a different model to deal with the potential listing of Atlantic salmon. Gary proceeded with a chronology of the past 10 years.

1994: organizational development of SHARE

1995 -1997: priority projects implemented blockage removal for fish passage, weirs, temperature studies, assisting with developing the hatchery at the Wild Salmon Resource Center (WSRC). SHARE stayed out of the political arena during the listing process.

1996: Governor King stated opposition to the listing.

1997: Matt Scott hired as ½ time Executive Secretary of SHARE

1997: Services agreed to follow the state plan. Development the local watershed councils, an important part of the State Conservation Plan. Lou Horvath initiated the 5 year challenge grant for the WSRC.

December 15th, 1997: Services issued a statement accepting the State Conservation Plan.

February 1998: Services issued a statement that a federal listing was unlikely.

June 1998: Services were concerned that the Federal Appeals Court ruled against reliance on a similar state plan in Oregon.

1999: Services were sued to list salmon as endangered and conducted a status review.

2000: Federal listing of Atlantic Salmon as endangered.

January 2001: Steven Koenig hired as 1st full-time Executive Director of SHARE.

Highlights of SHARE from 2001 to present included:

• Guiding SHARE through policy development needed to do business as a professional 501©3
• Fine tuning of SHARE’s role Downeast post ESA listing
• Established a professional accounting system
• Development of Narraguagus NPS Watershed Management Plan, the first for a river in Maine
• Celebrated Washington Academy’s Youth Watershed Team being #1 in the nation
• Built on Matt’s record of grants and contracts for habitat restoration to over $1,000,000

Gary’s final thoughts:

Project SHARE has exceeded my expectations. Change is constant. SHARE will continue to be successful and relevant if it remains adaptive and abides with its founding principles of RESPECT, FOCUS ON RESOURCE SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN POLITICS, and CONTINUE WITH THE VOLUNTARY COOPERATIVE APPROACH TO RESOLVING ISSUES.

Ed Baum spoke on “What a difference 10 years can make”. January 20, 1994 the Services issued just finding that a listing may be warranted. SHARE started with small habitat restoration projects. In 10 years, the objectives and accomplishments of SHARE have exceeded all expectations. Major accomplishments include cooperative partnerships, building trust amongst stakeholders, accomplish by voluntary involvement, focus on the resource not politics.

Salmon Restoration

1994

Gloom and doom of potential listing
Political meddling
Stakeholders polarized
Narrow support base for restoration

2004

Atlantic salmon listed
Stakeholders united
Broad support by Feds and State
Broad NGO support
State ends lawsuit

Steven Koenig then presented a power point presentation of SHARE’s current focus. SHARE is approaching the $2,000,000 milestone for raising funds for salmon restoration. The current focus is on information transfer, educational outreach, and on the ground habitat restoration. Current habitat restoration projects focus on stabilization of non-point source sites and fish passage. New challenges on the horizon include mitigation of pH related water chemistry and moving toward in-stream habitat improvements.

Mark Minton concluded with a discussion of the draft Federal Recovery Plan and the role of NGO’s in the plan. The Plan identifies risks, actions to take, and a timetable for those actions. The Plan prioritizes action based on the priority of identified risks. The three major categories of risk are those actions that:

1. prevent extinction
2. prevent significant decline
3. all other actions required for full recovery

Mark noted that is important to work on all three areas of priority as capacity allows.

V. Other Business

• The Sheepscot has hired a new coordinator.
• The 8 Rivers Round Table will be hosting a summit September 26/27 in Machias. Focused on capacity building for watershed councils.
• The Gulf of Maine Summit will take place in New Brunswick in October. Information can be found at gulfofmainesumit.org.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00.

The next meeting is December 9, 2004 at the Hillgrove Community Center.

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