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Town of Harpswell

Groundwater and Climate Fellow

Harpswell is a neighboring waterfront community to Bowdoin College and home to Bowdoin’s Schiller Coastal Studies Center.  Geographically, it consists of a long peninsula (Harpswell Neck), three large islands (Great Island, Orr’s Island and Bailey Island) and a number of off-shore islands. The town has over two hundred miles of coastline including a number of coves and bays. It is a Working Waterfront Community that strongly supports commercial fishing. 

The community has a population of approximately 5,000 year-round residents, the population almost doubles in the summer when its seasonal residents return to enjoy nature and a view of the water.  As a rural community, Harpswell doesn’t offer municipal utilities, so each resident is served by a private well for water and a septic system to handle wastewater. 

The town is actively working to address climate change, sea level rise and its impacts with a project that will identify strategies to protect its groundwater supplies and simultaneously expand its community information program about our changing climate with a resiliency handbook. The town will be working with a consultant to design the technical portions of the groundwater project, and a Fellow will help with many aspects of the project:

• Digitize the town's septic system data using GIS by inputting septic system locations from paper records.
• Expand the Town’s Climate Information Program: using InDesign or equivalent, layout the sustainability booklet designed by the Resiliency and Sustainability Committee.
• Canvas property owners to increase groundwater survey completion, aid homeowners in completing the survey as needed, and field verify survey responses. 
• As funds allow, sample wells that have historically been impacted by saltwater intrusion under the direction of the consulting hydrogeologist. 

The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Town Planner and with members of the Conservation Commission, Resiliency and Sustainability Committee, and associated town departments. The interdisciplinary position will encourage the development of communication skills including climate advocacy, local government, volunteer coordination, and field work with underserved populations.

Town of Harpswell

Planning, Policy, and Community Engagement Fellow

Harpswell is a spectacular waterfront community.  Geographically, it consists of a long peninsula (Harpswell Neck), three large islands (Great Island, Orr’s Island and Bailey Island) and a number of off-shore islands.  The Town has over two hundred miles of coastline including a number of coves and bays, which have historically supported commercial fishing.  

The Town has a Town Meeting form of government with a three-member Select Board and an appointed Town Administrator.  The Town Meeting is the legislative body that adopts municipal ordinances and the budget. The Town has a number of very active committees with highly knowledgeable volunteers. 

The Town has many critical and exciting initiatives underway.  It recently approved an updated comprehensive plan and the creation of a central fire station to coordinate the three volunteer fire departments.  It is actively working to address climate change and sea level rise and its impacts. And the Town does all of this with a small staff, committed volunteers and at times, with outside consultants. The Fellow will have the opportunity for hands-on involvement with some of these issues and related policies. 

The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Town Administrator.  The Fellow will be involved with key staff members including the Town Planner and the Recreation Director.  The Fellow will have the opportunity to experience how dedicated volunteers can play an integral role in municipal government (and in all organizations).

The Fellow will have the flexibility to choose multiple projects of interest.  The choice of special projects this summer will be determined based on the current needs of the Town, considering suggestions from the Fellow if their interests align with Town objectives. Possible projects include:

• Evaluating Town properties, many of which are shorefront, and making suggestions for improvements including signage.
• Researching local regulations about shoreline stabilization/erosion control in other Maine coastal communities.
• Planning a possible shoreline stabilization/erosion control project with native plants, such as at Mackerel Cove on Bailey Island.
• Partnering with the Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership and working at some of the Town properties.
• Conducting research around various types of playgrounds that can blend with natural surroundings or other creative ways to include kid-friendly features.
• Providing logistical support to the Recreation and Community Services Department, particularly for special programs and events.
• Assisting Town departments, particularly Planning and Code Enforcement, with utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and creating an online map feature
• Assisting the Town with implementation of hybrid meetings and protocols, as needed.
• Exploring approaches for preserving access to coastal waters.
• Interacting with Department heads to update sections of the Town’s website, including adding visual interest.
• Recommending ideas for better utilization of social media communications and possibly creating a “Welcome to Harpswell” brochure.