On Friday, March 8, the City of Saco and Save Our Shores Saco Bay will hold its fifth annual Saco Bay Symposium from 9:30-11 a.m. in the auditorium at Saco City Hall, 300 Main St.

Panelists include several government officials, scientists and experts to talk about the latest developments in the battle to remediate the significant erosion in Saco Bay, especially Camp Ellis, widely considered the most erosive beach in the state of Maine.

There will be a presentation by Marine Geologist Peter Slovinsky of the Maine Geological Survey.

Speakers include, Lori Gramlich, State Representative from Old Orchard Beach (District 131); Brian Ambrette, Senior Climate Resilience Coordinator, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; Marybeth Richardson, Director, Maine DEP, Southern Maine Regional office; and Patrick Fox, Saco Public Works Director. An open forum/discussion will follow.

The confirmed panelists are:

• Mayor Jodi McPhail, Saco

• John Bohenko, City Administrator, Saco

• Richard Milliard, Southern Maine Dredge Authority

• Donna Bailey, State Senator, District 31

• Kevin Roche, President, SOS Saco Bay

• Sarah Stanley, Representative of Senator King

• Pam Buck, Representative of Senator Collins

• Michael Burman, Ward 4 Councilor, Saco

• Charles Tilburg, Director, Marine & Environmental Programs, UNE

• Paul Schumacher, Executive Director, Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission

• Peter Hanrahan, Hanrahan Environmental

• Justin Chenette, Saco, York County Commissioner

• Jami Fitch, Sustainability Coordinator, Scarborough

• William Emhiser, Councilor Ward 1, Biddeford

• Jen Thalhauser, US Army Corps of Engineers

• Marshall Archer, Councilor, Ward 1, Saco

Highlights will include updates on recovery from the January storms, where the Federal, state, and local governments are focused, how we can build back and the future of life along the coast.

The event can be live streamed at: www.facebook.com/sacomaine  or www.youtube.com/cityofsacoTV