FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PICTURING THE FUTURE OF OUR COAST
Gulf of Maine King Tides Photo Contest Planned for October 9
WELLS, Maine, September 26, 2014 — Along the 7,500-mile Gulf of Maine shoreline, an extreme
high tide on October 9 will illustrate what may become—with sea-level rise—the new tidal norm.
Participants in the first-ever Gulf of Maine King Tides Photo Contest will document how that day’s
astronomical high tide affects roads, docks, marshes, beaches, and other coastal settings. Citizens are
encouraged to join the contest by submitting images taken with their cameras or smartphones. Details
on taking part are at gulfofmaine.kingtides.net.
“Sea-level rise is not in some far-off future. It’s here and we’re already seeing the effects,” said
Suzanne Kahn, education director at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. “When the sun and moon align to
cause exceptionally high tides, like the ‘king tide’ coming on October 9, we get a preview of how high
a typical tide could be in the coming years.”
Sea levels within the Gulf of Maine have increased more than half a foot over the past century and
scientists anticipate an additional rise of at least 2 feet by 2100.
“With growing public concern about climate impacts along the coast, we hope the scenes people
capture during this contest will help communities identify vulnerable areas and better prepare for sealevel rise,” Kahn added.
The Gulf of Maine contest is part of the international King Tides Project, which helps people envision
a world in which sea levels are markedly higher than they have historically been. The Wells Reserve
joins organizations from three states and two provinces in promoting the Gulf of Maine King Tides
Photo Contest, which extends from Cape Cod Bay to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia.
Photos should be taken around the daytime high tide on Thursday, October 9 (just after noon in
Portland and Wells) and submitted online by October 15. Contest winners, announced by October 31,
will receive gifts contributed by Patagonia and Photo Market in Portland, Maine. The grand prize is a
Fujifilm FinePix XP170 waterproof digital camera.
Partners in the Gulf of Maine King Tides Project include the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine
Environment—Climate Network, King Tides Project, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, Ecology Action
Centre, Envisioning Change/University of Southern Maine, EOS Eco-Energy, Friends of Casco Bay,
Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maine Geological Survey, Massachusetts Bays
National Estuary Program, New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup, New Hampshire
Department of Environmental Services/Coastal Program, New Hampshire Sea Grant, St. Croix Estuary
Partnership, and Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.
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The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a 2,250-acre National Estuarine Research Reserve with its
headquarters listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wells Reserve’s goal is to protect
and restore coastal ecosystems around the Gulf of Maine. Staff and volunteers expand knowledge
about coasts and estuaries, engage people in environmental learning, and involve communities in
conserving natural resources.
The work of the Wells Reserve and the care of its historic site are made possible by Laudholm Trust.
Organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1982, member-supported Laudholm Trust provides vital
monetary and in-kind support to the Wells Reserve. This local support enables the Wells Reserve to
receive additional funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is located on Laudholm Farm Road, just off U.S. Route 1 near the
Wells-Kennebunk line.
Contacts
Scott Richardson
editor@laudholm.org
207-646-4521 ext 114
wellsreserve.org/media
Tweet @wellsreserve
Suzanne Kahn
suzanne@wellsnerr.org
207-646-1555 ext 116
Wells Reserve at Laudholm
342 Laudholm Farm Rd
Wells ME 04090