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Inside This Newsletter
April 14, 2025
2025 Lake Conference Registration is Open!
Welcome Wes Barry to the LSM Board!
Water Quality Program
Community WQ Technical Discussions
MeterFest
Ice-Out is coming!
Join Us!
Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Maine AIS Summit
Recording Available: Manual Control Methods
IPP 101
2025 AIS In-Person Workshops
Internship Application
Support LSM
Notices from our Partners
Office Hours
| | Early Bird Registration is Open! | | |
Welcome Wes Barry to the LSM Board!
Wesley Barry lives with his wife and dogs in Kingston, NH and works as Vice President for Retail Banking at Institution for Savings in Newburyport, MA.
In 2022 they bought a property on Lake Anasagunticook in Hartford, ME. Having a strong interest in science and nature, Wesley jumped at the chance to become a water quality monitor and has also been active in the Lake Anasagunticook Association.
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Water Quality Program
To learn more about LSM's Water Quality Program, please visit our website.
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Community Water Quality Technical Discussions
Please join Tristan, our Water Quality Director and volunteers and other community members about the changes you are seeing on your lake and the field season ahead.
🗓️ Mark your calendars: Our next session will be on April 25th, 2025, at 12:00 PM.
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MeterFest
Last week Tristan met with DEP staff at the lab in Augusta and together we checked and certified multiple dozen meters!
Did you miss MeterFest this year?
Don't worry, please reach out to stewards@lakestewardsme.org to schedule an alternative time to have your meter checked. It takes longer when not participating in MeterFest, but we want to make sure all DO monitors have the chance to have their meters inspected.
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Ice-Out is Coming!
As temperatures rising, lakes across Maine begin to lose their ice cover. These “ice-out” events provide valuable insights into lake health, including potential impacts on anoxia levels, cyanobacteria blooms, watershed snowpack reserves, and maximum summer temperatures.
Tracking ice-out is essential, and you can help by reporting your observations to LSM through:
✅ Our online submission form
✅ Email: stewards@lakestewardsme.org
✅ Phone: (207) 783-7733
If calling or emailing, please include:
- Your name
- The lake name (MIDAS number, if available)
- The town and county where the lake is located
- The date of ice-out
- Your email (kept private, used only for follow-up)
To view current ice cover reports visit: Ice-In/Ice-Out Tracking Map
If you need help determining ice-out please check out our guide: Ice-In/Ice-Out Tracking
Thank you for contributing to this important effort!
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Join us!
Get involved by becoming a certified LSM water quality monitor! It’s a great way to spend time on the water while collecting important data to protect Maine’s lakes. Trainings are available this spring and summer—learn more and sign up today!
Current volunteers, please check out the website for in-person recertification sessions happening across Maine and keep an eye out for the spring mailing.
Join us and turn your time on the water into meaningful action!
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Aquatic Invasive Species Program
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. | | |
Maine AIS Summit
Friday, April 18
USM Lewiston/Auburn,
8:30 am - 12:00pm.
Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will present the 23rd Annual Maine Aquatic Invasive Species Summit at Friday, April 18 at University of Southern Maine - Lewiston/Auburn.
The Maine AIS Summit will feature presentations from professionals, experts, and volunteers on current AIS issues affecting the State of Maine, including a talk by LSM AIS Program Director Brett Willard on LSM's IPP Travel Team initiative. The program is an excellent opportunity for networking and discussion for volunteers and professionals alike. A Courtesy Boat Inspector training will follow the event.
Photo: Dakota Stankowski of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) at the AIS Summit in 2024. Photo credit Lakes Environmental Association.
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Recording Available:
Manual Control
Methods Training Pt 1
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Invasive Plant Patrol
(IPP) 101 Webinar
In this 3-hour online class, beginner invasive plant patrollers will learn about how to survey for aquatic invasive species (AIS).
Date: April 30th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
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2025 In-Person IPP Workshop Registrations Now Open
Plant Paddle workshops and Live Plant ID workshops make up Lake Stewards of Maine's in-person Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) workshops for 2025.
Plant Paddle workshops are 3-hour, on-water programs. In these volunteer trainings, guests learn basic survey methods, how to collect plant samples, how to rule out possible invasives and suspicious plants using a Quick Key, how to properly collect and submit survey data, and how to report occurrences of suspicious plants.
Live Plant ID workshops are 3-hour, indoor programs. In these volunteer trainings, guests learn how to use a Field Guide to identify around 40 native and invasive plants. Volunteers handle live plants, use tools to determine their identities, and determine whether they are invasive or not.
LSM will hold 15 total workshops in 2025 at lake communities across the state between June and August. There is no cost to volunteers for workshops, but volunteers MUST pre-register for workshops to attend.
After registration, guests will receive an automated email confirming their selected workshop registration. A follow-up email with more information about workshop locations and logistics will be provided ahead of each workshop during field season.
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Internship Application
Lake Stewards of Maine is now accepting applicants on a Rolling Basis for the summer 2025 internship.
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.
A full description of the position as well as information on how to apply are available on our website.
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Notice from our Partners, Colleagues and Collaborators
If you have any questions regarding the information below,
please contact the organization mentioned in post directly.
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Help Monitor for Zebra Mussels in Maine Waters
Our partners at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife are doing important work to track the spread of invasive zebra mussels—and they need your help!
Volunteers are needed for the Zebra Mussel Settling Plate Project, which involves placing and monitoring simple tools called settling plates in lakes across the state. These plates help detect zebra mussels early, before they can spread and cause major harm.
If you live near or frequently visit Maine lakes, you may be able to participate. Volunteers check the plates every 2–3 weeks from May through October. Individuals, lake associations, businesses, and local groups are all welcome to join.
Priority lakes are located in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties—with a few others across the state. Visit the MDIFW website for full details and to sign up.
We encourage all who care about Maine’s lakes to get involved. Just like plants, early detection is key—and you can make a difference.
Link to register to help: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=q6g_QX0gYkubzeoajy-GTsfKXei8wzZMibW5IE57cbxUMzNTMUhUUU84SDAxUEpYSVU4STkxOUw4VS4u&route=shorturl
Link to learn more about the project: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/fisheries/aquatic-invasive-species/zebra-mussel-monitoring.html
| | Maine DEP is pleased to announce the NPS Program will be releasing Requests for Applications (RFAs) for Planning Grants and Implementation Grants for the next project cycle (October 2025 start for Planning projects and January 2026 start for Implementation projects). | | |
Please be advised that once the RFA’s are released, all questions regarding applications must be submitted through the formal question process.
If you have general questions about this process please contact Alex Wong, alex.wong@maine.gov.
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The State of Maine is hiring a full-time Environmental Technician for the Department of Environmental Protection in Augusta. This role supports marine vegetation mapping and monitoring programs, involving fieldwork, small boat operation, GIS tasks, and equipment maintenance. The job requires seasonal in-state travel and offers some remote work flexibility. Candidates should have four years of relevant experience or an associate degree in environmental science.
Apply by April 25, 2025 at: https://mainebhr.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0ptef/
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Watershed Friends - formerly known as the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed - has seasonal positions open.
Please note that they are currently transitioning to their new name, so you might still see their former name on their website or materials.
| | Our colleagues at Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance in New Hampshire are seeking an Executive Director. | | |
Monday - Thursday
8:30 AM -4:30 PM
Closed Fridays
(staff working remotely)
The office will, be closed on April 21 due to Patriots Day.
We recommend calling ahead,
(207) 783-7733.
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If you would like to support Lake Stewards of Maine,
kindly click on the button below. Thank you!
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