Weekly News & Updates

Inside This Newsletter

January 06, 2026

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Watershed Survey Grant

2026 Lakes Webinar Series

2025 Volunteer Awardees



Attention Lake Associations!

DEP Lake Scorecard

Water Quality Program

New year, New Plan for WQ...

Ice-In Reporting

Aquatic Invasive Species Program 

Summer 2026 Internship

Office Hours

Grateful for Your Support!

Because of the amazing generosity of our community, we reached our $75,000 goal! 

Every gift, of every size, helped us get there.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who supported this year's appeals and contributed to our work throughout the year.

We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to:

• Foundations whose ongoing support strengthens our programs and impact statewide;

• Lake Associations who continue to support our mission, partner with us, and work alongside us throughout the year;

• Towns and municipalities that have begun contributing — your commitment helps sustain this critical work;

• Businesses providing both in-kind and monetary support — we are grateful for your partnership!

We rely on this collective support annually to fund our work, and we are so thankful to each of you for believing in — and investing in — lake stewardship.

With a tremendous amount of gratitude and thanks,

 ~LSM Staff & Board of Directors

Community Watershed Survey

Small Grant Program

Lake Stewards of Maine is, again, partnering with Maine Lakes in 2026 to support organizations around Maine who are conducting watershed surveys. This grant helps lake and watershed groups protect water quality by identifying issues and develop community stewardship.

Watershed surveys rely on trained community volunteers to spot erosion. Sediment phosphorous is the most significant driver of lake heath problems on most lakes. It is critical to investigate not only along shorelines, but throughout the entire watershed. This broad, inclusive approach builds shared understanding of lake health challenges and strengthens long-term stewardship by bringing together people with diverse connections to the lake.

Grant Details:



Typically between $100 and $750.

Supports volunteer-focused expenses such as event food, printing, outreach, meeting space, and other costs not covered by existing grants.

Application deadline: February 9, 2026

Applications will be reviewed jointly by Lake Stewards of Maine and Maine Lakes staff in February, with funding decisions announced in early March. Review considerations include coordination with Maine DEP, prior watershed work, and past funding history.

Please contact us with questions at stewards@lakestewardsme.org or info@lakes.me.

2026 Winter Webinar Series

This series is a collaboration between

Lakes Stewards of Maine and Maine Lakes,

featuring webinars on lake-related topics.

Speak Up for Lakes!

Advocacy Update and Training 

January 13^th and 15^th

(two options, same content)

With your help, we have an incredible opportunity in 2026 to pass a major lake funding bill that will allocate $2 million each year to the Lake Water Quality Protection and Restoration Fund.

The Lake Water Quality Protection and Restoration Fund supports watershed surveys, erosion mitigation, in-lake phosphorus treatments, research, and lake education. If passed, this bill would be funded by unclaimed bottle deposits without drawing from the general fund. This is a rare and sustainable opportunity to invest public dollars in protecting public waters.

Industry opposition will be strong. We need your help!

Join Maine Lakes, and members of the Lake Protection Coalition for one of the Speak Up for Lakes webinars to hear more about the bill, strengthen your advocacy skills, learn how to communicate effectively with legislators, and connect with fellow lake advocates.

Register for one of two January webinars which will give you the tools and confidence to speak up effectively before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and help make this game-changing investment in Maine’s lakes a reality.

Speak Up for Lakes!

Advocacy Update and Training 

Tuesday, January 13 12:00 pm, REGISTER HERE

Thursday, January 15 5:30 pm, REGISTER HERE

Next Winter Webinar (SAVE THE DATE)

Salts in Our Watersheds

Presented by Karen Wilson, PhD, on February 18, at 12:00 PM

Attention Lake Associations!

As we begin planning our 2026 season, we’d love to hear from you. We’re often invited to present at lake association meetings, and having those meetings on our calendar helps us plan ahead.

If you’re willing to share your association’s meeting dates, it allows us to coordinate travel and, when we’re in your area, potentially reach out to see if we might be able to stop by or offer a presentation.

Please consider filling out the form below to share your meeting information. Thank you for helping us plan and stay connected.

New Year, New Plans for Water Quality Trainings Around the State

As we plan for the upcoming season of trainings around the state, please consider acting as a local boat host. It requires:



1. Access to a boat that can safely carry at least seven people and their equipment;
2. Your lake has a deep hole (or other measurement station) that is at least 10 meters (33 feet) in depth;
3. Up to one full day of host availability to take volunteers out over the spring/summer;
4. Some flexibility for schedule changes due to weather; and,
5. Restroom facilities, either in a house or at the boat launch where volunteers attending can park.

Ice-In Reporting

Variability in the weather means that ice may come and go on your lake. We want to know if it breaks up or if it just pockets open, and of course, when it freezes solid again. The changing cover of ice on our lakes provides important climate patterns and helps us understand the consequences for water quality and ecosystem health.

Please fill out our ice reporting form or submit by email to Stewards@lakestewardsme.org.

To learn more about LSM's Aquatic Invasive Species Program, please visit our website.

For any questions related to IPP workshops, registration, or the aquatic invasive species program, please email stewards@lakestewardsme.org.

Summer 2026 Internship.

Now Accepting Applications!

Lake Stewards of Maine is now accepting applicants for summer 2026 interns.

The Lake Programs Field Intern will primarily assist operations of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) team, with additional assistance provided to the Water Quality (WQ) team, as well as general LSM operations. 

Applications are due by February 20, 2026. A full description of the position as well as in information on how to apply are available on our website.

Office Hours

Mondays & Wednesday

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

or by appointment.

Our office will be closed on

Monday, January 19^th

in observance of

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We recommend calling ahead,

(207) 783-7733.

If you would like to support Lake Stewards of Maine,

kindly click on the button below. Thank you!