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Weekly News & Updates

Inside This Newsletter

September 9th, 2024


Welcome Karen!

Protecting Maine's Lakes

I- Water Quality Program

WQ Data Reminder!

Metaphyton

Cyanobacteria Bloom Reports 

II- Aquatic Invasive Species Program 

Travel Team Opportunity

IPP Workshop Evaluation Form

2024 AIS Screening Forms Available

Volunteer Community

Notice from our Partners

IV- Office Hours


We want to highlight YOU! 🌊 If you're a current LSM volunteer and have pictures, stewardship stories, or updates to share, we’d love to feature them. 📸🌿

Reach out to us at stewards@lakestewardsme.org (Email Subject: Volunteer Community) and let’s celebrate your dedication to protecting Maine’s lakes!


Check the featured story below!

Please join us in welcoming Karen Brace, LSM's new Development Coordinator!



Karen brings many years of experience in development and will be instrumental in helping us tackle the fundraising challenges we are facing as lake protection costs increase. We are grateful to have her join our team. 


Karen grew up in Maine and cares deeply about the natural world. She has worked in the fields of development, membership and communications for nonprofits in the midcoast and downeast areas. She's also served in local government as Community Development Director. At this point in her career, she's thrilled to be focusing on conservation and preservation of our pristine lakes. As a volunteer, Karen's active in the Camden Rotary Club, serves on the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and has chaired the Maine Women’s Network and the Dartmouth Club of Maine. In her personal time, Karen enjoys cross-country skiing, alpine touring, paddling and gardening. She looks forward to exploring Maine's lakes with LSM, and, in the years to come, with her new granddaughter.


Please join us in welcoming Karen to the LSM team!

She can be reached at karen@lakestewardsme.org

Protecting Maine's Lakes Together

Thank you and How You Can Help


This summer, LSM has trained hundreds of volunteers to identify aquatic invasive species and to collect critical water quality data to help monitor and protect Maine's lakes.


Thank you to everyone who attended our trainings!


If you're unable to volunteer time, you can still make a difference as a lake steward by donating to help support our workshops, which have always been offered at no cost to the public.


Every dollar donated is matched by volunteer efforts.


Please visit the link below to support our programs.

Thank you!

Donate

Water Quality Program


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

Water Quality Data Reminder

Reminder that we need all data that has been gathered by October 1 at the latest. If you have not already sent us a batch of data this summer, please do so.

METAPHYTON


Did you know that LSM has a dedicated form for documenting metaphyton in our lakes! Your tracking of these filamentous (stringy) algae is important in helping us to better understand waterbody preservation and climate change.


Learn more and access the form here: Lake Stewards of Maine - Metaphyton Program


Help us protect our lakes and track impacts of climate change!


Photo: Metaphyton 2009 (c) Dennis Roberge

EPA BloomWatch


If you spot algae like in the picture (left), please let us know or use the EPA BloomWatch app. Pro Tip: Keep a clear jar on your boat for samples and take photos. 📸 Your help keeps our lakes healthy! 🌊


For more examples of cyanobacteria, check out these resources:




Photo credit: Algae on Watchic 2023 (c) E. Burnell – some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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.

Travel Team Opportunity


Mousam Lake Survey - September 18


Volunteers are invited to join LSM and Mousam Lake Region Association to survey for swollen bladderwort on Mousam Lake on Wednesday, September 18 at 9:00 am.


The next informational meeting for this survey will take place on Monday, September 16 at 12:30 pm.


Those interested in joining can sign up in the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuceCgrDwsGNycfUl7CmRrbcEB9isz74i6


To learn more about how you can help, please email stewards@lakestewardsme.org.

Register Here

IPP Workshop Evaluation Form


Have you taken an Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) workshop this season? Let us know how we did! 

If you have participated in a Plant Paddle or Live Plant ID workshop this summer, please consider filling out our 2024 IPP Workshop Evaluation Form. Your input will help us refine and improve future workshops.


You may find the form at the link below. 


https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfykXRctqwnIH7rDgJdm5t3JDLzFevU9KiFJCeHpdBeUxHjpA/viewform

2024 Invasive Aquatic Plant Screening Forms

Now Available Online


An updated version of the Invasive Aquatic Plant (IAP) Screening Survey Documentation Form is now available on our website. This useful data form is comparable to the updated fields on the 2024 update for Survey123.


Download the PDF of the 2024 Screening Survey form:

2024 IAP Common Name Form
2024 IAP Scientific Name Form

The common name and the Scientific name forms are currently available online.

Volunteer Community

This week's community update

LSM IPP Volunteers Visit Mousam Lake for UROV Training


On a sunny day in August, several IPP volunteers visited Mousam Lake in Shapleigh for a demonstration of an underwater remote-operated vehicle (UROV)


The UROV demonstrated was acquired by York County Invasive Aquatic Species Program to remotely survey for aquatic invasive plants. With a high-definition camera and a robotic arm, the UROV demonstrated by Taylor Ligay is a useful tool for getting an up-close, underwater video of aquatic ecosystems. After a short introduction, Taylor launched the QYSEA brand submersible off the shore of Mousam Lake to show off its capabilities. Volunteers then each got a turn piloting the UROV and captured footage of its dive.


UROVs like the one demonstrated at Mousaum are evolving fast, and such equipment could prove to be an incredibly useful tool in future invasive surveying efforts. In fact, the technology has already been used by IPP volunteers in their efforts monitoring the swollen bladderwort infestation at Mousam Lake.


To view footage of the August demonstration, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3zmckG7l-Y

Notice from our partners, colleagues and collaborators

 

If you have any questions about these notices, please contact them directly.

Important information from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about mosquito-borne disease activity in Maine.

 

From Maine CDC:

Maine, like much of New England, is in the middle of a very active mosquito season. With similar conditions likely through the rest of summer and fall, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases remains high.  Maine has already seen mosquitoes test positive for Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and wild birds test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) this year. Other New England states, including MassachusettsNew Hampshire, and Vermont have also seen increased mosquito-borne disease activity.

 

Maine CDC has resources for municipalities, organizations, and individuals to help protect their communities and families from mosquito-borne diseases. The best way to prevent a mosquito-borne disease is to prevent mosquito bites. Please use and share these resources widely.

 

Available Resources:

 

Maine CDC is available 24/7 at 1-800-821-5821 or at disease.reporting@maine.gov for mosquito-borne disease questions.


Office Hours



Monday - Friday

8:30 AM -4:30 PM



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!

Donate
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