I am really impressed by the work Sebago clean waters is doing. The lakes in our area have never been cleaner! They are making a significant impact on our environment, and their efforts deserve recognition. Thank you for all that you do!
Their commitment to preserving clean water is truly inspiring. I have been a long-time supporter of their cause and am always impressed by their dedication. The work they do makes a real difference in our community. Keep up the great work!
👍 Sebago clean waters has been doing an excellent job in maintaining the quality of the lakes. 😊 I am really happy with their efforts and the positive impact they have on the environment. 🌊💙
👍 Sebago clean waters has been doing an excellent job in maintaining the quality of the lakes. I am really happy with their efforts and the positive impact they have on the environment. 🌊💙
Sebago clean waters has done a fantastic job in preserving the cleanliness of the lakes. I have seen a noticeable improvement in their quality, thanks to their dedicated work. Their commitment to the environment is truly inspiring.
Sebago clean waters has done a phenomenal job in preserving the purity of the lakes in our region. Their dedication and hard work are truly praiseworthy. I am grateful for the positive impact they have on our environment. Keep it up!
I have been supporting a clean water initiative in our area that has been doing an amazing job. Their efforts to protect and preserve the lakes are highly commendable. It's organizations like these that make a real difference in the community.
👏 Sebago clean waters is doing a great job in keeping the lakes clean and safe for everyone. Their commitment to preserving the environment is truly commendable. 🌿💧
Sebago clean waters is doing an amazing job in preserving the purity of the lakes in our area. Being an environmental enthusiast, I really appreciate the efforts they put into keeping the waters clean and safe. Their dedication is truly commendable. I highly recommend supporting Sebago clean waters if you care about the environment. Kudos to the team!
Sebago Clean Waters: Protecting the Sebago Watershed through Voluntary Forestland Conservation
Sebago Clean Waters is a coalition of individuals, organizations, and businesses working together to protect the water quality, community well-being, a vibrant economy, and fish and wildlife habitat in the Sebago watershed. The Sebago watershed is located in southern Maine and covers an area of approximately 1,400 square miles. It includes Lake Sebago, which is the primary source of drinking water for over 200,000 people in Greater Portland.
The mission of Sebago Clean Waters is to promote voluntary forestland conservation as a means to protect the natural resources of the Sebago watershed. The coalition believes that healthy forests are essential for clean water, healthy communities, and thriving economies. By working with landowners to conserve their forestlands through voluntary agreements such as conservation easements or land sales to public agencies or non-profit organizations like Maine Farmland Trust or The Nature Conservancy.
Sebago Clean Waters recognizes that protecting forests requires collaboration among many stakeholders including private landowners who own most of the forested lands within the watershed; state agencies responsible for managing public lands; municipalities responsible for zoning and planning; businesses that rely on clean water resources; recreational users who enjoy hiking trails or fishing spots along streams; environmental groups advocating for protection measures like buffer zones around streams or wetlands.
The coalition works closely with these stakeholders to identify priority areas for conservation based on ecological significance (e.g., rare species habitats), hydrological importance (e.g., headwaters), recreational value (e.g., hiking trails), cultural significance (e.g., historic sites), economic benefits (e.g., timber production) among other factors.
One example of successful collaboration between Sebago Clean Waters and private landowners is Loon Echo Land Trust's Crooked River Forest project. This project involved purchasing a 1,400-acre forested property in the Crooked River watershed, which is a tributary of Sebago Lake. The property was owned by a timber company that had planned to harvest the trees and sell the land for development. However, Loon Echo Land Trust worked with Sebago Clean Waters to secure funding from private donors, state agencies, and foundations to purchase the property and conserve it permanently through a conservation easement.
The Crooked River Forest project not only protected important wildlife habitat but also provided recreational opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. It also supported local businesses such as logging contractors who were hired to selectively harvest timber on the property while maintaining ecological integrity.
Sebago Clean Waters also works with municipalities within the watershed to promote smart growth policies that balance economic development with environmental protection. For example, they advocate for zoning regulations that require buffer zones around streams or wetlands to protect water quality from runoff pollution or erosion caused by development activities.
In addition to promoting voluntary forestland conservation and smart growth policies, Sebago Clean Waters engages in public education and outreach activities such as workshops on sustainable forestry practices or water quality monitoring programs. They also collaborate with schools within the watershed to provide environmental education programs for students.
Overall, Sebago Clean Waters is an essential coalition working tirelessly towards protecting one of Maine's most valuable natural resources - its watersheds. Through their efforts in promoting voluntary forestland conservation practices among private landowners while collaborating with other stakeholders like municipalities or businesses; they are ensuring that future generations can enjoy clean water resources while supporting healthy communities and thriving economies within this region of Maine.
sebagocleanwaters.org
