Pond Construction and Maintenance in a Changing Climate

When: Wednesday, April 30 from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, BYO lunch; Field walk 12:30-2:00 PM (Rain Date: Thursday, May 1)

Where: Brodis Blueberries, 87 Jones Hill Rd, Hope, ME 04847

Cost: $25. Includes the comprehensive NRCS guide, “Ponds: Planning, Design, and Construction”, in addition to other learning materials.

Ponds are a key nature-based tool for tackling challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. In this workshop, participants learn how to build and maintain a pond to enhance their landscape, increase biodiversity, maximize wildlife habitat, and help reach water management goals in a changing climate. Agricultural engineer Candi Gilpatric of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will focus on site selection, styles of ponds, and construction methods, keeping the impacts of climate change in mind. For those who already have ponds, Candi will discuss helpful maintenance practices to keep ponds safe and healthy. Retired fisheries biologist and conservation professional Joe Dembeck will focus on pond biology and the wildlife associated with ponds in Maine. He will discuss pond habitat features for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, fish considerations, nuisance wildlife, and how healthy ponds can support climate resilience goals.

Candi Gilpatric has over 25 years of experience as an Agricultural Engineer for Maine Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). She has assisted hundreds of farmers and other producers with planning, designing, and implementing conservation practices and systems, including irrigation ponds. In addition to her technical expertise, Candi is an excellent presenter with a knack for translating higher-level engineering concepts to diverse audiences.

Joe Dembeck holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Water Resources Management and has decades of experience in conservation and fisheries biology. Joe was director of Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District for over seven years following a 20-year career as a fisheries biologist in positions with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and an environmental consulting firm. Now retired, Joe has continued his work in conservation, serving on the Somerset County SWCD Board of Supervisors and sharing his expertise through speaking engagements including pond construction and apple pruning workshops.