MPBN recently produced an excellent series “In Hot Water”, outlining the risks to lake health from climate change. The four-part series covers issues with invasives aquatic species (and costs to prevent spread and remove existing infestations), the challenges of more frequent and intense rainstorms on nutrient loading and algae growth, and what water quality data is telling us about trends and the future of our lake health. We want to thank Peter McGuire at MPBN for doing a great job with this series, and Ron Armontrout and Cary Phoenix, LakeSmart volunteers from Thompson Lake, for spending a morning with Peter and sharing some excellent insight into and motivation for LakeSmart participation.

The stories are highlighted on our new Lakes and Climate Change webpage, which is also a clearinghouse for resources and more information. Or visit the In Hot Water home page directly at MPBN. 

Healthy lakes for you means healthy habitats for wildlife too

It has been a busy, productive, and impactful year at Maine Lakes. We are grateful for all the ways you have supported our work to keep Maine’s lake healthy, whether as a donor, a volunteer, an advocate or a conference participant. Working with you, and with your community, Maine Lakes has made remarkable progress in 2024 towards a healthy future for our vital lakes.

We close our year asking for a donation to support Maine Lakes’ efforts to continue the important work we do, and to help us to expand in 2025 with more programming, volunteer support, geographic reach, and critical advocacy work.

You can click HERE to make a donation online, or send a check to Maine Lakes, P.O. Box 91, Yarmouth, ME 04096.

Thank you for considering Maine Lakes for your end-of-year giving, and for all you do to support our collective work to keep Maine’s treasured lakes healthy.

look out for loons volunteers spread out across the state

 As Maine’s common loon chicks begin to hatch on ponds and lakes across the state volunteers for Look Out for Loons are spreading out to share how lake residents and visitors can avoid disturbing these new families and increase the chance that the chicks reach maturity. Look Out for Loons (LOFL) is the outreach and education arm of the Maine Loon Restoration Project. Close to 60 volunteers have completed the LOFL training and are distributing digital and print materials, holding informal discussion, staffing information tables at festivals and farmers markets, and providing information sessions to lakes associations, libraries, and other community groups. If you would like to become a Look Out for Loons volunteer reach out to James Reddoch. It is fun and makes a difference for one of our lake’s favorite residents!