Maine Shore Steward Volunteers - Maine’s Healthy Beaches Program Role Description
Title
Maine’s Healthy Beaches Program
Location
We are located in 28 municipalities and state parks, spanning from Kittery to Mount Desert Island. A total of 60 beach management areas are routinely monitored Memorial through Labor Day.
Objective
The Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) Program is a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health on Maine’s coastal beaches.
Qualifications
Membership is open to anyone. All monitors must be trained by Healthy Beaches Program staff and sign off on a volunteer agreement form.
Responsibilities
Local volunteers and staff collect valuable bacteria and environmental data used by local, state, and federal resource managers.
Time Commitment
Volunteers must attend a two hour pre-season field training. Beaches are monitored once per week (+/- depending on conditions) in the morning during the summer months.
Training/Support
Funding is provided by the US EPA, and beaches are managed according to established bacteria standards for marine recreational waters. The Maine Healthy Beaches Program is a unique partnership among municipalities, state parks, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies.
Benefits
This program, initiated in 2002, consists of community-based groups that monitor coastal swim beaches for bacteria to prevent recreational water illnesses. The data collected is being used by municipalities, state agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Supervisor
Keri Lindberg
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
377 Manktown Rd
Waldoboro ME, 04572
Tel. 207-832-0343 X 122; In ME- 1-800-244-2104
keri.lindberg@maine.edu