View as Webpage

Weekly News & Updates

Inside This Newsletter

July 15th, 2024

New: Volunteers Community✨

I- Water Quality Program

Upcoming WQ Workshops

Cyanobacteria bloom reports 

II- Aquatic Invasive Species Program 

Upcoming AIS Workshops

IPP Workshop Evaluation Form

AIS Tech Session

IPP Travel Team Opportunity

Field Guide Supplemental Booklet

2024 AIS Screening Forms Available

AIS Recordings Available

III- Partners, Colleagues and Collaborators

WILDFIRE SMOKE SURVEY✨

IV- Office Hours

Volunteer Community

This week's community update

IPP Volunteer Patricia Brace Debuts Art Exhibition, Raises Awareness of Aquatic Invasive Species

Patricia Brace, an Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) volunteer based in Waterboro, debuted a solo art exhibition “In Search Of Miracles” at 82 Parris Street, an art space and gallery in Portland, on July 5.

The work exhibited was in part influenced by her work as an IPPer as a member of the Patrollers of Arrowhead’s Littoral Zone (PALZ.) During the opening, Lake Stewards of Maine made available information related to its AIS program.

You can learn more about Patricia’s work inspired by aquatic invasives and the exhibition in this article from the Waterboro Reporter.

https://www.waterbororeporter.com/IMAGES_reporter/REP_7-11-24.pdf



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!

Upcoming Water Quality Workshops

We have a few spaces still available in our upcoming water quality workshops, please contact Jonnie to schedule your participation.

📍Long Pond in Princeton -- 7/22/24 - Morning

📍Crescent in Raymond -- 7/23 - Morning

📍Crescent in Raymond -- 7/23 - Late Morning

📍Georges Pond in Franklin -- 7/25 - Late Morning

📍Auburn in Auburn -- 8/10/24 - Early Afternoon

Our complete list of 2024 Water Quality Workshops is available on our website!

As a current volunteer that is interested in participating, please send an email to stewards@lakestewardsme.org, or call to speak with Jonnie at 207-783-7733.

As a completely new volunteer, please contact us using this form.

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

Aphanizomenon flosaquae (c) Ryan Bart–some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

For any questions related to IPP workshops, registration, or the aquatic invasive species program, please email stewards@lakestewardsme.org.

Upcoming AIS Workshops



📍 7/16 - Live Plant ID

New Gloucester, 9 am - 12 pm

📍 7/18 - Live Plant ID, New Limerick,

1 pm - 4 pm

📍 7/19 - Live Plant ID, Presque Isle,

9 am - 12 pm

📍 7/23 - Live Plant ID, Meddybemps, 1pm - 4pm

📍 7/24 - Plant Paddle, Princeton,

9am - 12pm

For a full schedule visit our website!

AIS Tech Sessions

Have a question about aquatic invasive species? Want to learn more about volunteer opportunities? Want to check in about how your IPP team is doing?

Join us for AIS Tech sessions in July and August.

Upcoming AIS Tech Sessions

July 25 at 1:00 pm

August 28 at 1:00 pm

Travel Team Opportunity

Wesserunsett Survey RESCHEDULED for August 2.

If you would like to assist with this survey, please email stewards@lakestewardsme.org.

Travel Team Information

Field Guide Supplemental Booklet now available

The Supplemental Booklet for the Maine Field Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants is now available.

This resource features detailed information and photos of the four new aquatic invasive species which were added to Maine's watch-list in 2023: giant salvinia, swollen bladderwort, starry stonewort, and water soldier. The Supplemental Booklet also features an updated key, which corresponds to the rest of the field guide.

The Supplemental Booklet can be purchased for $10 on its own, or as a complete set with the Maine Field Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants for $45. This publication is printed on waterproof paper, and can be inserted into the original guide.

Anybody completing a new Tier 2 IPP Certification will receive a complimentary copy of the Maine Field Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants and the Supplemental Booklet. Those who are re-certifying for Tier 2 will also receive a complimentary Supplemental Booklet. Bulk orders of 25 Supplemental Booklets or more are eligible for a 10% discount.

Please contact 207-783-7733 or stewards@lakestewardsme.org to order copies. 

For a PDF download of the Supplemental Booklet, click in the button below.

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:

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

Recordings Available!

🌿 Survey123 for IPPers

🌿 IPP 101 - Completion of an accompanying Review Quiz is required for those seeking Tier 2 IPP Certification. The quiz is available HERE.

Notice from our Partners, Colleagues and Collaborators

If you have any questions regarding these notices, please reach out to them directly.

Help Track Wildfire Smoke in Maine!

Maine’s Air Quality Meteorologists need your help to understand how wildfire smoke affects our region. In 2023, smoke lingered in low-lying areas like lakes, ponds, and valleys, but we only learned about it in autumn.

How You Can Help:

• If you observe smoke this summer, please fill out the brief Smoke Survey.
• The survey can be completed multiple times and will be open through autumn.

Your input is crucial for protecting our air quality. Thank you for your support!

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!