Penobscot River Synthesis

Web site: PEARL - Penobscot River Synthesis

Abstract:
The Penobscot River Synthesis will develop a comprehensive bibliography of scientific references and resources related to the Penobscot River. The Synthesis is designed for use by scientists and educators interested in the Penobscot River Restoration Project, dam removal research, and the environmental history of the Penobscot River. The bibliography will be hosted on PEARL, the online database of environmental information in Maine (www.pearl.maine.edu). A second part of the proposed project, A Penobscot River Journal, will interpret the scientific information from the bibliography for a lay audience in newspaper articles and a printed publication produced by Maine Sea Grant.

Problem Statement:
The announcement of the Penobscot River Restoration Project (PRRP) has many people wondering what we know and don't know about the river. Scientists in Maine and the region, who view the project as an opportunity for ecological research, are formulating research proposals. Faculty members at the University of Maine are excited about the project and exploring possible collaborations (see, for example, the Penobscot science symposium held October 19-20, 2004 at the University of Maine). As scientists begin to address the changes that will result from the PRRP, they will need baseline information on status and trends in the Penobscot River ecosystem, traditionally obtained by reviewing literature of past research. It is likely that many will be seeking similar references, driving the need for a single, comprehensive bibliography. It is not just scientists who are interested in the environmental history of the river. People who live in the communities along the river — and across the country — will be paying more attention as the project advances. The general public likewise should have access to the knowledge gained from the literature review. Science results are not fully realized until they are available to the target community, and one way to accomplish this realization is to convey scientific information in a narrative format (Franklin, 1997; Kramer, 2004).