Watershed Stewards Class to Meet in Auburn
Contact: Laura Wilson, Cooperative Extension, 207-581-2971, lwilson@umext.maine.edu; Nick Houtman, Dept. of Public Affairs, 207-581-3777, houtman@maine.edu
ORONO, Maine – Auburn and Lewiston area residents will have the opportunity to learn about their lakes and the watersheds that feed them this spring. For eight weeks starting April 13, the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer the Watershed Stewards Program at the Brackett Environmental Center in Auburn.
The program provides 25 hours of training in a wide range of lake-related topics, including watershed assessment and non-point source pollution abatement. The class also covers watershed stewardship initiatives to protect water quality, lake water quality dynamics, data interpretation and invasive aquatic species.
In return for instruction, attendees are asked to commit a minimum of 25 hours of service to their watershed. The cost is $20 (waived under special circumstances) for individuals or couples.
Sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. For registration or additional information, contact Cooperative Extension, 800-870-7270 (toll free in Maine only), or the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, 207-783-7733.
Extension’s Watershed Stewards Program is in its ninth year. In more than 15 communities, 282 volunteers have taken the course and implemented steps to protect lake water quality. They have racked up about 5,600 hours of work in the watersheds of 19 priority lakes (as defined by Maine Department of Environmental Protection).