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| Maine Lakes Society | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maine Lakes Society |
| Formation | 1978 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Naples, Maine |
| Region served | Maine |
Maine Lakes Society is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the waters and watersheds of Maine's lakes. Founded in 1978, it works with volunteers, lake associations, and municipal and state entities to address aquatic invasive species, water quality, and shoreline stewardship. The Society collaborates with conservation groups, academic institutions, and federal agencies to implement monitoring, education, and policy initiatives across Maine and New England.
The organization was established in 1978 amid growing concerns about water quality in Maine's lakes such as Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake, Kennebec River tributaries, and Rangeley Lakes. Early efforts paralleled broader conservation movements involving groups like the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and regional entities including Maine Audubon and the Maine Environmental Policy Institute. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Society expanded volunteer monitoring similar to programs at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and adopted invasive species prevention strategies after incidents comparable to infestations in Lake Champlain and Great Lakes. In the 21st century it engaged with state agencies such as the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and federal programs like the Environmental Protection Agency's watershed initiatives, aligning efforts with research from institutions including the University of Maine, Colby College, and Bowdoin College.
The Society's mission emphasizes protection of lake ecology, community engagement, and science-based stewardship across watersheds that include lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands such as those feeding the Penobscot River and Androscoggin River. Core activities mirror practices promoted by organizations like National Audubon Society, Trout Unlimited, and Conservation Law Foundation: volunteer water monitoring, public education, shoreline restoration, and invasive species prevention. Outreach targets stakeholders from municipal boards like Maine Municipal Association to academic partners including the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and national programs such as the Clean Water Act-driven initiatives.
The Society is governed by a volunteer board of directors with committees for science, outreach, and policy, modeled on governance seen at nonprofits like The Trust for Public Land and Mountaineers. Operational staff manage programs from an office in Naples and coordinate with regional chapters and lake associations including groups representing Rangeley Lakes Region and Belgrade Lakes. Partnerships include collaborations with state entities like the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and federal agencies including the United States Geological Survey. Advisory relationships extend to researchers at the University of New Hampshire and extension networks such as the Maine Cooperative Extension.
Signature programs include lake monitoring modeled on the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program frameworks, boat inspection programs to combat invasive species found in places like Lake George and Finger Lakes, and shoreline buffer restoration inspired by projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Educational initiatives draw on curricula similar to Project WET and citizen science platforms like iNaturalist. The Society runs workshops for lake associations, hosts annual conferences comparable to gatherings by the Association of State Wetland Managers, and coordinates summer interns from colleges including University of Maine at Orono and Bates College.
Advocacy efforts focus on state legislative actions, municipal ordinances, and federal funding streams affecting lake protection. The Society engages with the Maine Legislature, submits testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and collaborates with advocacy networks such as the Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Environmental Defense Fund. Policy priorities include support for lake-friendly land use ordinances, funding for invasive species prevention like programs under Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, and alignment with water quality standards under the Clean Water Act and state-level statutes.
The Society partners on applied research projects with institutions like the University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, Colby College, and the United States Geological Survey to study nutrient loading, harmful algal blooms, and invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussel. Conservation actions include riparian buffer restoration, shoreline naturalization modeled on techniques used in Chesapeake Bay Program restorations, and lakewide management plans informed by limnological studies from centers like the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and regional networks such as the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Funding sources include membership contributions, grants from foundations like the Maine Community Foundation and national funders similar to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, state grants through the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and federal support via programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Strategic partnerships span municipal governments, lake associations, academic institutions, and conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Law Foundation, and regional land trusts analogous to the Saco Heath Preserve partners. Collaborative grant projects have been undertaken with agencies such as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the United States Geological Survey.
Category:Environmental organizations based in Maine Category:Water conservation in the United States