BETHEL — The River Current, the Androscoggin River Watershed Council annual conference, will be held Thursday, May 4, at the Bethel Inn Resort. 

In addition to a review of Androscoggin River Watershed Council activities and a full day of educational forums, there will be two additional sessions offered:

Climate Change in Maine and the 2016 Drought Reviewed: Glenn Hodgkins, research hydrologist, USGS, will summarize studies on historical climate related changes in hydrology, including flood flows, streamflows and groundwater levels of Maine and New England. Nick Stasulis, data section chief, Maine Office, USGS, will summarize hydrologic conditions (the drought) from the spring of 2016 into the winter of 2017. Hydrologic conditions from this period will be compared to previous hydrologic droughts.

Getting Involved with River and Stream Stewardship: Several of the land trusts in the watershed have robust stewardship programs, including some river access sites. The council is working with them and other access site owners to further develop a stewardship program to ensure access sites are user friendly and well maintained. Find out more about what is happening and possibly volunteer to help with a site or two.

Registration is required to attend the conference.

FMI, register: 207-824-3813, 207-754-8158, arwc@androscogginwatershed.org, www.androscogginwatershed.org.

A canoe sits on the shore of the Androscoggin River near West Bethel in 2013.