Weekly News & Updates

Inside This Newsletter

January 19, 2026


Office Closed Today



Watershed Survey Grant


2026 Lakes Webinar Series



Attention Lake Associations!


Water Quality Program

New year, New Plan for WQ...


Aquatic Invasive Species Program 

Summer 2026 Internship


Notice from our Partners

DEP Plant Control Cost Sharing Grants


Office Hours


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.


Salts in Our Watersheds

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


Join Karen Wilson, PhD (University of Southern Maine), for a timely look at salt in our watersheds. Learn about current research and insights from more than a decade of data on streams and ponds affected by salt.


Registration: 2/18 at 12 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8SSRcf14QUKnlp_0tIW99Q


Full Webinar Series

https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/2026-lakes-webinar-series/

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.

Water Quality Program

To learn more about LSM's Water Quality Program, please visit our website.

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.

Aquatic Invasive Species Program

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

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.

Notice from our Partners, Colleagues and Collaborators


If you have any questions regarding the information below,

please contact the organization mentioned in post directly.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently released the Request For Application (RFA) for their Plant Control Cost Sharing grants. If your lake group is doing aquatic invasive plant control and management, please visit the Maine DEP website for more information. Application deadline February 13, 2026.


https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/grants/invasive/index.html


Please contact the DEP if you have questions.

Office Hours



Mondays & Wednesday

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

or by appointment.


Our office is closed today

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!

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