The University of Maine at Farmington team will expand and enhance its developing understanding of the Rangeley region’s social-ecological system (SES) while at the same time working to make its findings accessible to a broader audience through collaborative design of mobile device applications, a web-based public archive of research and activities, and continuing development of a State of the Lakes report. In addition to documenting key ecological indicators, mobile “app” content will be gathered from key figures in the region’s recreation, logging and civil society spheres and focused on sharing place-based sustainability strategies, i.e., Rangeley residents’ ways of taking care of the region’s lakes, woods, and community. The web archive will present data on environmental quality, economic assets and population trends. And, the State of the Lakes report will present a holistic picture of the opportunities for and threats to Rangeley’s spectacular lake resources. With these three major outcomes, the goal of the UMF team is to illustrate, as completely as possible, Rangeley’s unique social-ecological system in a way that can be shared with year-round and seasonal residents, as well as visitors. At the same time, the major YR3 outcomes will each be assessed in terms of their uptake and efficacy as instruments promoting knowledge-to action (K-A). The fuller picture that the YR3 activities provide of the Rangeley region, its SES and knowledge pathways, will allow more residents and visitors to understand and undertake sustainability strategies.
