New video series showcases Forestry for Maine Birds program

Maine Audubon, the Forest Stewards Guild, Maine Forest Service, and Maine Tree Farm have created a series of videos filmed in the woods that walk you through some interesting topics including an introduction to Forestry for Maine Birds and why Maine is so important for birds; an introduction to the habitat features birds need; a conversation with a Maine Forest Service forester and private consulting forester; and links to more resources and funding opportunities to help you manage your woodland “with birds in mind.”

Click here to watch the video series.

Help your local NRCS office determine how to spend USDA Farm Bill money: Attend Local Working Group Meetings!

Waldo and Knox County Conservation Districts, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), invite the public to attend the USDA Local Working Group meeting on Tuesday, Jan 12 from 10am – noon. Local Working Group meetings will be held virtually for FY 2021.  The Local Working Group will provide recommendations for the 2021 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to their local USDA/NRCS for local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs. Topics of discussion will include: Ag Waste, Forestry, Pastureland, Cropland, and Blueberry Fields. Other issues and areas of concern can be discussed as well, and a list will be compiled of priorities recognized by this group.

If you are an agricultural producer; forester, logger or private woodland owner; member of an environmental or watershed organization or land trust; knowledgeable in soil, water, plant, wetland or wildlife sciences; and/or are familiar with local agricultural and natural resource concerns, we invite you to attend this meeting to help 1) identify and prioritize conservation concerns in our region; and 2) recommend how local funds for USDA conservation programs will be distributed by NRCS to alleviate problems.

 If you would like to attend this virtual meeting please contact us for a link to the meeting or for more information.

Watch Our Presentation on Planting for a Changing World

Our Technical Director Aleta McKeage gives a fascinating and far reaching talk on climate change, loss of biodiversity and the hopeful actions that all growers, planters and gardeners can engage in to help living systems survive and thrive in the future. Click here to watch the presentation.

Watch our Annual Gathering and Drone Presentation

A family visits the Wales Park Community Garden, one of the projects the District was instrumental in bringing to fruition this year.

We held our 2020 Annual Gathering on December 4th, which included Dr. Jim Killarney’s excellent presentation on using drones to assess water quality on Lake Winnecook (Unity Pond), slides and an update on our work this year, a meet and greet with Ron Desrosiers of the Waldo NRCS office and our new staff member Tom Mullin, as well as our Conservationist of the Year award.

Click here to view the event.

Don’t miss our Dec. 4th presentation: Water Quality, Lake Sedimentation and Drones: New Technology for Old Challenges

Dr. James Killarney will share his insights and expertise on how water quality monitoring and research have incorporated new technologies to expand our knowledge of the health of Maine’s lakes and ponds. Along with his colleagues in the Center for Wildlife Studies and with the support of foundations and NASA grants, he has incorporated the use of drones into the research methods for assessing the water quality and lake sedimentation of Lake Winnecook in Unity. Maine. He will share the successes, challenges and stories of how this and other new technologies are being added to the scientist’s tool bag.

This presentation will be offered at our Annual Gathering Friday, December 4th at 3pm. The event will be held virtually. We hope you will join us for this fascinating presentation and our annual gathering!

Register here (this event is free).