There is good news for people in the area who swim, boat, fish, or enjoy the Presumpscot River in many other ways. The 2017 Water Quality report shows that E. coli bacteria levels were below the state threshold at the majority of the top recreational spots along the Presumpscot River, all the way from Sebago Lake through Standish, Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Falmouth and Portland.
Rachelle Curran-Apse, Executive Director of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, said, “Recreational use of the river has increased as our region has grown. There are now over 20 water access points for paddling the river, several swimming holes, and numerous great fishing spots.” While this is good news for these top spots along the river itself, the news for many of the Presumpscot River tributaries, is less positive. Many of them exceeded the state standards for bacteria levels multiple times last summer.
The Presumpscot River watershed drains a big area. As the largest fresh water input into Casco Bay, it makes a sizable impact on the health of the bay. Clean water should not be taken for granted. Curran-Apse added, “Clean water is critical for safe recreation, for healthy wildlife habitat in the watershed, and for commerce in Casco Bay.”
Photo credit PRLTA group of 36 volunteer citizen scientists recently spent a morning receiving training to become Water Stewards as part of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust program. Their job of monitoring the water quality at one of 40 specific sites along the Presumpscot River or one of its tributaries is a key to keeping the river clean and safe for humans and for wildlife.
The 2017 report on the health of the river was made possible by the efforts of volunteer citizen scientists who are part of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s Water Steward Program. Every other Saturday from May through September, 36 dedicated citizen scientists collected water quality samples from 35 sites along the river and it tributaries. They measured a variety of factors which contribute to a healthy waterway: the water temperature, the amount of dissolved oxygen, and the bacteria level. The data they collected is used by the State to identify rivers and streams that do not meet water quality standards and to work with partners to develop restoration plans that address potential water quality problems in the watershed.
This important function became part of the Land Trust’s responsibilities when they merged last year with the Presumpscot River Watch program who had been running the program for ten years. The Water Stewards program works in collaboration with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Volunteer River Monitoring Program. Support is also received from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, the Town of Windham Watershed Protection Fund, USM’s Environmental Science and Policy Department, IDEXX Laboratories, and by Land Trust Business members and Individual members.
The results from the 2017 water quality sampling season can be viewed in an interactive map with a four tier rating system for water quality throughout the watershed at www.prlt.org/water.