Watershed Steward Volunteers

Who We Are:

We live by a lake or river, are members of a lake association, and we are  interested in bringing beauty and health to the landscape and improving the condition of Maine’s inland waters.

What we do:

Watershed Stewards help improve Maine’s lakes and rivers by collectively volunteering to be trained by watershed experts and committing to 20 hours of volunteer activities within a year of the exchange at their watershed site. 

Volunteers should work with an Extension Educator to invite lakefront residents to participate or raise enough interest in the importance to preserving and revitalizing the watershed themselves.

Where we are located:

Watershed Stewards volunteers start by attending a 20-hour program, which is done on a lake-by-lake basis twice per year — so the location depends on the interested participants and where they are located.

Volunteer Experiences can include:

Some of the Watershed Stewards projects are:

• Ellsworth area Watershed Stewards are currently conducting a Watershed Survey of Branch Lake.
• In 2007, volunteers conducted a watershed survey of the Coleman Pond watershed in Lincolnville.
• Other ongoing projects include
  • the revitalization of the Greater Pushaw Lake Association;
  • the initiation of a Watershed Management Plan on Sebasticook Lake in Newport; and
  • the initiation of a LakeSmart Program on Green Lake in Ellsworth/Dedham.

For more information, view the Watershed Steward Role Description

How to apply:

Work with our UMaine Extension professional to invite lakefront residents to participate. If enough residents commit to the program, we’ll organize and run the program for you!

Contact:

Laura Wilson

UMaine Extension Water Quality Professional

(207) 581-2971

laura.wilson@maine.edu