a collage of fish and other animals represented in the water sampling survey
Species detected in participants’ water samples (not to scale).

2023/24 Program Results

20 schools across the state, as seen on the map below, took water samples from their local waters. Some helped filter the samples. These samples were then processed at the University of Maine’s eDNA CORE Lab in Orono and analyzed by University of Maine bioinformatician Dr. Laura Jackson. The results can be seen in the figure below. Detailed genetic data from the results were also provided to the participating teachers and students.

Figure courtesy of Dr. Laura Jackson

Location

Allagash River 1, FKHS

Location: Allagash River (below Allagash Falls), Northwest Aroostook

47.070400°, -69.076697°

Sampling Date: September 7, 2023

Fish River, FKHS

Location: Fish River, Fort Kent

47.252157°, -68.587012°

Sampling Date: September 7, 2023

Allagash River 2, FKHS

Location: Allagash River (above Allagash Falls), Northwest Aroostook

46.9520001°,

-69.1961462°

Sampling Date: September 10, 2023

Species Identified

Allagash River 1, FKHS

No results at this time

Fish River, FKHS

  • Burbot
  • Creek Chub
  • Lake Chub
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Yellow Perch

Allagash River 2, FKHS

  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Banded Killifish
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Blacknose Shiner
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Burbot
  • Creek Chub
  • Fathead Minnow
  • Finescale Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Striped Shiner
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char

Location

Violette Stream, VBDS

47.127490°, -67.997430°

Sampling Date: September 8, 2023

St. John River, VBDS

St. John River, VBDS

47.158874°, -67.931655°

Sampling Date: September 8, 2023

Species Identified

Violette Steam, VBDS

  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Creek Chub
  • Finescale Dace
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Whitespotted Char

St. John River, VBDS

No results at this time

Location

Portage Lake 1, ADS

Location: Portage Lake boat landing, Portage Lake

46.784290, -68.536220

Sampling Date: September 12, 2023

Portage Lake 2, ADS

Location: Portage Lake beach on southern end of lake, Portage Lake

46.757090°, -68.487481°

Sampling Date: September 12, 2023

Species Identified

Portage Lake 1, ADS

No results at this time

Portage Lake 2, ADS

No results at this time

Location

Prestile Stream 1, CAJHS

Location: Prestile Stream (below dam), Mars Hill

46.514211°, -67.862931°

Sampling Date: September 13, 2023

Prestile Stream 2, CAJHS

Location: Prestile Stream (above dam), Mars Hill

46.523474°, -67.869363°

Sampling Date: September 13, 2023

Species Identified

Prestile Stream 1, CAJHS

No results at this time

Prestile Stream 2, CAJHS

  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Cattle
  • Creek Chub
  • Fathead Minnow
  • Finscale Dace
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char

Location

Penobscot River, IIS

Location: Penobscot River, Indian Island

44.947462°, -68.648435°

Sampling Date: September 20, 2023

Species Identified

Penobscot River, IIS

Results kept private

Location

Penobscot River 1, OTHS

Location: Penobscot River (above dam), Old Town

44.9440°, -68.6571°

Sampling Date: September 22, 2023

Penobscot River 2, OTHS

Location: Penobscot River (below dam), Old Town

44.936795°, -68.645893°

Sampling Date: September 22, 2023

Species Identified

Penobscot River 1, OTHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Burbot
  • Creek Chub
  • Eastern Spot-Billed Duck
  • Finescale Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pearl Dace
  • Pickerel
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char

Penobscot River 2, OTHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Salmon
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Creek Chub
  • Eastern Spot-Billed Duck
  • Finescale Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pickerel
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char
  • Yellow Perch

Location

Machais River 1, MHS

Location: Machais River at Bad Little Falls (1), Machais

44.713248°, -67.459123°

Sampling Date: September 21, 2023

Machais River 2, MHS

Location: Machais River at Bad Little Falls (2), Machais

44.712878°, -67.459611°

Sampling Date: September 21, 2023

Species Identified

Machais River 1, MHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Creek Chub
  • Cunner
  • Golden Shiner
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char
  • Wood Duck
  • Yellow Perch

Machais River 2, MHS

  • Blackfish
  • Rock Gunnel

Location

Webb River 1, DHS

Location: Webb River (1), Dixfield

44.5433°, -70.4598°

Sampling Date: October 12, 2023

Webb River 2, DHS

Location: Webb River (2), Dixfield

44.5433°, -70.4598°

Sampling Date: October 12, 2023

Species Identified

Webb River 1, DHS

  • American Eel
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Common Minnow
  • Creek Chub
  • Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Longnose Dace
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char

Webb River 2, DHS

  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brook Trout
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Creek Chub
  • Golden Shiner
  • Longnose Dace
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char
  • Yellow Perch

Location

Androscoggin River 1, MVMS

Location: Androscoggin River, J. Eugene Boivin Park (below falls), Rumford

44.542085°, -70.547270°

Sampling Date: October 25, 2023

Androscoggin River 2, MVMS

Location: Androscoggin River, Androscoggin River Boat Launch (above falls), Rumford

44.515494°, -70.558860°

Sampling Date: October 25, 2023

Androscoggin River 3, MVMS

Location: Androscoggin River, near paper mill, Mexico

44.552720°, -70.536876°

Sampling Date: October 25, 2023

Species Identified

Androscoggin River 1, MVMS

  • Alewife
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Burbot
  • Creek Chub
  • Crow
  • Fallfish
  • Finescale Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Lake Chub
  • Longnose Dace
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Northern Redbelly Dace
  • Pickerel
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Rock Bass
  • Red-Backed Salamander
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Spottail Shiner
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char

Androscoggin River 2, MVMS

  • Alewife
  • American Beaver
  • Banded Killifish
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Blacknose Shiner
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Brown Trout
  • Burbot
  • Crow
  • Creek Chub
  • Fathead Minnow
  • Finescale Dace
  • Golden Shiner
  • Gudgeon
  • Haddock
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Longnose Dace
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pickerel
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Rock Bass
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Striped Shiner
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char
  • Yellow Perch

Androscoggin River 3, MVMS

  • Alewife
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Brown Trout
  • Burbot
  • Creek Chub
  • Fallfish
  • Finescale Dace
  • Lake Chub
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Longnose Dace
  • Longnose Sucker
  • Northern Redbelly Dace
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Slimy Sculpin
  • Spottail Shiner
  • Striped Shiner
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Sucker
  • Whitespotted Char
  • Wren
  • Yellow Perch

Location

Penobscot Bay 1, SHS

Location: Stockton Harbor, Sears Island, Penobscot Bay, Searsport

 44.456613°, -68.881720°

Sampling Date: September 25, 2023

Penobscot Bay 2, SHS

Location: Searsport Harbor at Mosman Park, Penobscot Bay, Searsport

44.455487°, -68.923365°

Sampling Date: September 25, 2023

Species Identified

Penobscot Bay 1, SHS

No results at this time

Penobscot Bay 2, SHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Blueback Shad
  • Fourspine Stickleback
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Mummichog
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Shorthorn Sculpin
  • Striped Sea-Bass
  • White Catfish
  • Winter Flounder

Location

Sand Beach, LCS 

Location: Sand Beach, Newport Cove, Bar Harbor, MDI

44.329144°, -68.181702°

Sampling Date: October 4, 2023

Seal Harbor, LCS

Location: Seal Harbor, Mt. Desert, MDI

44.295971°, -68.240754°

Sampling Date: October 4, 2023

Species Identified

Sand Beach, LCS

  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Gull
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Saithe
  • Sand Lance
  • Striped Sea-Bass
  • White Hake
  • Windowpane
  • Winter Flounder

Seal Harbor, LCS

  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Herring
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Saithe
  • Sand Lance
  • Windowpane

Location

Androscoggin River 1, LMS

Location: Androscoggin River, Durham Boat Launch, Durham

44.014029°, -70.167822°

Sampling Date: November 7, 2023

Androscoggin River 2, LMS

Location: Androscoggin River (below dam), Auburn

44.096552°, -70.224164°

Sampling Date: November 7, 2023

Species Identified

Androscoggin River 1, LMS

  • American Eel
  • Alewife
  • Black Crappie
  • Burbot
  • Brown Trout
  • Creek Chub
  • Eastern Silvery Minnow
  • Eastern Spot-Billed Duck
  • Fallfish
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Rock Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Spottail Shiner
  • Striped Shiner
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Wood Duck

Androscoggin River 2, LMS

  • Gull
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • White Sucker

Location

St. George River, OMS

Location: St. George River, Public Boat Launch, Thomaston

44.071608°, -69.182429°

Sampling Date: September 25, 2023

Species Identified

St. George River, OMS

No results at this time

Location

Broad Cove, CCS

Location: Broad Cove at Good Neighbors Park, St George River, Cushing

44.017573°, -69.241901°

Sampling Date: September 25, 2023

Species Identified

Broad Cove, CCS

  • Alewife
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Blueback Shad
  • Mummichog
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Winter Flounder

Location

Sheepscot River 1, WMHS

Location: Sheepscot River, Wiscasset waterfront dock, Wiscasset (1)

43.999520°, -69.664290°

Sampling Date: October 2, 2023

Sheepscot River 2, WMHS

Location: Sheepscot River, Wiscasset waterfront dock, Wiscasset (2)

43.999189°, -69.665048°

Sampling Date: October 2, 2023

Sheepscot River 3, WMHS

Location: Sheepscot River, Wiscasset waterfront dock, Wiscasset (3)

43.998947°, -69.665819°

Sampling Date: October 2, 2023

Species Identified

Sheepscot River 1, WMHS

  • Atlantic Herring
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rock Gunnel

Sheepscot River 2, WMHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Blueback Shad
  • Creek Chub
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Mummichog
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Redbreast Sunfish
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • White Perch
  • Winter Flounder
  • Yellow Perch

Sheepscot River 3, WMHS

  • Alewife
  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Blueback Shad
  • Mummichog
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Striped Sea-Bass
  • White Sucker
  • Winter Flounder

Location

Tenants Harbor Marsh 1, SGS

Location: Tenants Harbor Marsh (below beaver dam), St. George

43.967169°, -69.215144°

Sampling Date: September 28, 2023

Tenants Harbor Marsh 2, SGS

Location: Tenants Harbor Marsh (above beaver dam, top of the marsh), St. George

43.973925°, -69.215522°

Sampling Date: September 28, 2023

Species Identified

Tenants Harbor Marsh 1, SGS

No results at this time

Tenants Harbor Marsh 2, SGS

  • Lake Chub
  • Longnose Dace
  • White Perch
  • White Sucker
  • Yellow Perch

Location

Linekin Bay, GSBS

Location: Linekin Bay, East Boothbay

43.860626°, -69.590076°

Sampling Date: October 30, 2023

Damariscotta River, GSBS

Location: Damariscotta River, East Boothbay

43.866617°, -69.582885°

Sampling Date: October 30, 2023

Species Identified

Linekin Bay, GSBS

  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Blacknose Dace
  • Common Minnow
  • Creek Chub
  • Finescale Dace
  • Fourspine Stickleback
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Lake Chub
  • Mummichog
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Sand Lance
  • Shorthorn Sculpin
  • Striped Shiner
  • Whitespotted Char
  • White Hake
  • Winter Flounder

Damariscotta River, GSBS

  • Alewife
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Cunner
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Human
  • Mummichog
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Saithe
  • Winter Flounder
  • Wrymouth

Location

Casco Bay 1, PHS

Location: Fireboat Wharf past ferry terminal, Casco Bay, Portland

43.656366°, -70.247847°

Sampling Date: October 19, 2023

Casco Bay 2, PHS

Location: East End Beach, Casco Bay, Portland

43.6671°, -70.2392°

Sampling Date: October 20, 2023

Casco Bay 3, PHS

Location: Fireboat wharf near shoreline, Casco Bay, Portland

43.657226°, -70.249529°

Sampling Dates: October 19 and 20, 2023

Casco Bay 4, PHS

Location: Fish market dock, Casco Bay, Portland

43.656362°, -70.250804°

Sampling Dates: October 19 and 20, 2023

Species Identified

Casco Bay 1, PHS

  • American Angler
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • American Sole
  • Atlantic Cod
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Redfish
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Longhorn Sculpin
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Mummichog
  • Haddock
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Summer Flounder
  • White Hake
  • Winter Flounder
  • Witch
  • Wrymouth

Casco Bay 2, PHS

  • American Angler
  • American Eel
  • American Sole
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Herring
  • Atlantic Redfish
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Blueback Shad
  • Brown Bullhead
  • Eastern Spot-Billed Duck
  • Fourbeard Rockling
  • Gull
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Hickory Shad
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Mummichog
  • Northern Pipefish
  • Pumpkinseed Sunfish
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Sand Lance
  • Shorthorn Sculpin
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Summer Flounder
  • Shortnose Sturgeon
  • Striped Sea-Bass
  • White Sucker
  • Winter Flounder

Casco Bay 3, PHS

  • American Angler
  • Acadian Redfish
  • American Sole
  • Atlantic Salmon
  • American Eel
  • Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
  • Atlantic Halibut
  • Atlantic Herring
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Redfish
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Bass
  • Bigeye Tuna
  • Blueback Shad
  • Bluefish
  • Catfish
  • Cunner
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Haddock
  • Mummichog
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Ocean Pout
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Saithe
  • Swordfish
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • White Bass
  • White Hake
  • Witch

Casco Bay 4, PHS

  • Acadian Redfish
  • American Angler
  • American Eel
  • American Sole
  • Atlantic Cod
  • Atlantic Halibut
  • Atlantic Herring
  • Atlantic Mackerel
  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Atlantic Redfish
  • Atlantic Silverside
  • Atlantic Tomcod
  • Bass
  • Bigeye Tuna
  • Bluefish
  • Black Seabass
  • Butterfish
  • Char
  • Cusk
  • Grouper
  • Grubby Sculpin
  • Haddock
  • Mummichog
  • Ninespine Stickleback
  • Rainbow Smelt
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Rock Gunnel
  • Shorthorn Sculpin
  • Summer Flounder
  • Saithe
  • Silver Hake
  • Snapper
  • Sunfish
  • Swordfish
  • Three-Spined Stickleback
  • Winter Flounder
  • White Bass
  • White Hake
  • Witch

Location

Kettle Cove, CEHS

Location: Kettle Cove State Park, Casco Bay, Cape Elizabeth

43.560741°, -70.218465°

Sampling Date: October 18, 2023

Ship Cove, CEHS

Location: Ship Cove, Fort Williams Park, Casco Bay, Cape Elizabeth

43.625549°, -70.213187°

Sampling Date: October 18, 2023

Species Identified

Kettle Cove, CEHS

No results at this time

Ship Cove, CEHS

No results at this time

Location

Maple Swamp Brook, NHS

Location: Maple Swamp Brook, North Berwick

43.305658°, -70.785817°

Sampling Date: October 18, 2023

Species Identified

Maple Swamp Brook, NHS

No results at this time