Upcoming Events
World Fish Migration Day
Join us in celebrating World Fish Migration Day with a family-friendly community art event focused on the incredible connections between alewives, freshwater mussels, and the Sebasticook River. Co-hosted with Sebasticook Regional Land Trust and Unity Public Library.
Live Stakes Event Series
Workshop in partnership with Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District and 30 Mile River Watershed Association. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWZwp3AhUkb51JZ7n-V29JtQ55dOG_10QENlVE80veixYTdQ/viewform
Live Stakes Event Series
Offered in partnership with Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, Boothbay Region Water District, and Boothbay Region Land Trust. Led by MFS District Forester Jared Gregory. Register here: https://bbrlt.org/event/live-staking-demonstration/
Maine's Tree Growth Tax Law Program webinar
Join the Maine Forest Service for a free online webinar on Maine’s tree growth tax law program. Registration ends May 8th.
What will be covered?
Purpose of tree growth
Program eligibility
Common challenges
Available resources
For more information reach out to forestinfo@maine.gov or 207-287-2791
Live Stakes Event Series
This event is offered in partnership with Kennebec Soil & Water Conservation District, Seven Lakes Alliance, and Maine Forest Service. To register for the event click here: https://7lakesalliance.org/event/live-staking-demo-mfs/.
Additional information can be found on Maine Forest Service’s website: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/calendar/cal-results.shtml?id=13345327
Live Stakes Event Series
Join us for another live stakes event in our spring series to learn how live stakes can help reduce erosion and improve habitat and water quality. Live staking uses dormant cuttings from native trees and shrubs that root quickly and stabilize soil — a simple, effective restoration technique you can use at home or in your community. This event is in partnership with Maine Forest Service, Belfast’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the Tree Working Group (TWiG).
Live Stakes Event Series
Offered in partnership with Waldo County Soil & Water Conservation District and Sebasticook Regional Land Trust. Led by Maine Forest Service District Forester Allyssa Gregory.
Live Stakes Event Series
Offered in partnership with Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District and Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust. Led by MFS District Forester Jared Gregory. Register here: https://www.coastalrivers.org/event/partner-event-live-staking-workshop/
Live Stakes Event Series
Join us for our first live stakes event in our spring series to learn how live stakes can help reduce erosion and improve habitat and water quality. Live staking uses dormant cuttings from native trees and shrubs that root quickly and stabilize soil — a simple, effective restoration technique you can use at home or in your community. This event is in partnership with Maine Forest Service and Coastal Mountains Land Trust.
Waldo County SWCD Monthly Board Meeting
Waldo County SWCD monthly meetings are open to the public and usually occur on the third Thursday of each month. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com or 207-218-5311
WATERSHED: Gathering & Game Night
Join local organizations and community members for an informal gathering focused on clean water and watershed health. Learn about upcoming spring and summer events and share your own, make connections, and wrap up the evening with a collaborative watershed board game — no experience needed. This event is co-hosted by the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust and Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Waldo County SWCD Monthly Board Meeting
Waldo County SWCD monthly meetings are open to the public and usually occur on the third Thursday of each month. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com or 207-218-5311
WCSWCD Board Meeting
Waldo County SWCD monthly meetings are open to the public and usually occur on the third Thursday of each month. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com or 207-218-5311
This meeting we will be voting in our board supervisors.
Maine Audubon StreamSmart Phase II Workshop
A two day, hands-on introduction to stream survey techniques and concepts associated with developing ecologically sound road/stream crossings.
October 21- 22, 2025
8:30am- 4:00pm
Day one will include field training on what information to collect and how to collect it.
Day two participants will analyze the data to develop preliminary designs in the classroom.
Tree Talks: Merryspring
Program director John Fromer will provide a history of Merryspring and an overview of current projects. District Forester Allyssa Gregory will host tree id and introduce the Tree Farm program.
Keep posted for the registration link.
FOLW Meeting
Evening Reception and Membership Meeting
June 26th, Begins 5 pm, Meeting 6:30
Stone Tree Farm and Cidery in Unity
Come Learn Our Plan to “Make It Clean, Not Green”
We will hold a Special Membership Meeting to update our By-Laws
Members Door Prizes include:
Inflatable Paddle Board and A Stone Tree Farm Gift Basket
All Interested in the Lake are Welcome!
LakeSmart Conference 2025
Lakes Conference: Lakes at the Edge
The annual lakes conference theme Lakes at the Edge can be interpreted many ways. Many of our lakes are on the edge of rapidly deteriorating health. They are at the tipping point where just a little more phosphorus in the water will tip them toward recurring algal blooms. Many are at the edge of the carrying capacity for development in their watersheds, where runoff from poorly managed roads, roofs and driveways may push their health to, or over, the edge. And of course, much of lake conservation work takes place at the literal lake edge. What can we do in the shoreland zone and surrounding uplands of our lakes that keeps them healthy?
No matter how you interpret “lakes at the edge”, you are sure to find something at the 2025 lakes conference to pique your interest. The conference committee is still working to finalize plans but here are some of the topics and speakers we have so far.
Speakers: Jeremy Deeds, Chad Hammer, Rebecca Jacobs, Cary James, Jen Jespersen, John Maclaine, Sharon Mann, and Brittany Schappach
Hosted By Maine Lakes & Lake Stewards of Maine
For more information visit: https://lakeconferencemaine.org/
StreamSmart Lunch n’ Learn
When: Tuesday, June 10, 12-1 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Free program, pre-registration required
Registration is required to receive the zoom link. Please plan to join 10 minutes before the program start time.
Have you heard about Stream Smart road crossings but haven’t had a chance to attend a workshop yet? Do you or your colleagues want to follow the Stream Smart principles but don’t know where to start? Join us on June 10th at 12pm for a brief, one-hour lecture on the basic principles of Stream Smart. This free online webinar will give you an introduction to the concepts of Stream Smart and where to get additional information for you, your town, or your organization.
For more information visit: https://maineaudubon.org/events/stream-smart-online-lunch-and-learn/
Tree Talks: Viles Arboretum
June 7th, Viles Arboretum, Augusta. 10am.
Viles Arboretum staff will show current and past projects. District Forester Allyssa Gregory will guide participants through tree id, the Tree Farm program, & headstone symbology. Andy Shultz will present on Maine Woodland Owners.
Viles Arboretum, Maine Woodland Owners, & City of Augusta
Tree Talk at Reed Family Forest
AFF Tree Farmer Andy Reed will share current and past woodland projects. Waldo County SWCD will discuss ways to participate. District Forester Allyssa Gregory will lead tree identification & introduce participants to Tree Farm.
Contact allyssa.gregory@maine.gov with questions. Address and additional info will be emailed to those who register.
BMP + Rules & Regulations Workshop - Thorndike
Bureau / Program: Maine Forest Service
Date: April 3, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Thorndike Town Office, 125 Mt View Rd, Thorndike, ME 04986
Event Type: Workshop/Training
Save the Date! Join Waldo County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Maine Forest Service for a FREE Best Management Practices and Rules & Regulations workshop. Participants will have the option to attend the morning BMP session and/or the afternoon Rules & Regulations training. Everyone who attends will receive a copy of Best Management Practices for Forestry: Protecting Maine's Water Quality and The Forestry Rules of Maine 2017: A Practical Guide for Foresters, Loggers and Woodlot Owners.
For more information, please contact Maine Forest Service District Forester Allyssa Gregory allyssa.gregory@maine.gov
Contact Name: Maine Forest Service District Forester Allyssa Gregory
Contact Email: allyssa.gregory@maine.gov
Maine Audobon’s Stream Smart Workshop Phase I for Waldo County Municipalities
Registration is required. This training is free to all Waldo County Municipalities.
Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation district is hosting Maine Audubon’s Stream Smart Training – Phase One for Municipalities in Waldo County on March 26th at Thorndike Town Hall . This training is the first part in a three-part series geared toward Waldo County Municipalities thanks to the generous funding through the Midcoast Council of Governments “Weathering the Storm project.” The training will be held in-person from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Refreshments and resource materials will be provided. The next two trainings in the series, CoastWise and Stream Smart Phase II, will be held later this year.
This half-day introductory workshop provides training for professionals to expand the local knowledge base on how to include aquatic organism passage and higher storm volume capacity when designing stream/road crossings. Applying the Stream Smart principles to road crossings can help connect and maintain fish and wildlife habitat while protecting roads and public safety. Stream Smart crossings can also help towns prepare for the large and frequent storm events that have been washing out roads around the state and the northeast.
Participants will learn about: the value of free-flowing streams; the regulations that are applicable when working on road/stream crossings; the principles of building Stream Smart crossings; the costs and benefits of Stream Smart crossings; and where to look for funding.
These workshops are designed for professionals responsible for road-stream crossings, including municipal leaders, managers, and public works employees. They cover road-stream crossing projects from site assessment to permitting and installation, and emphasize maintaining and restoring aquatic habitat and economic values of the stream. Workshop presenters include professionals from state and federal agencies, as well as, statewide non-profits. Participants can receive recertification credit for Maine DEP’s Voluntary Contractor Certification Program, and information on potential funding sources.
Waldo and Knox County Local Working Group
Waldo County and Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation Districts invite the public to help us identify natural resource priorities for USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The upcoming Local Working Group (LWG) meeting provides an opportunity for local landowners and producers to prioritize recommendations on how to spend USDA Farm Bill funding to improve and protect natural resources on private agricultural and forest lands by implementing NRCS conservation practices. The meeting will be held Tuesday December 10th, 9am-12pm at the Searsmont Town Hall, 37 Main St N South. If you plan to attend any portion of the meeting, please contact your local SWCD office to be placed on a contact list and receive important information in advance of the meeting.
Knox County: Cindy Wright, 207.596.2040, cindy@knox-lincoln.org or register directly on the events and workshops page at www.knox-lincoln.org
Waldo County: Cassidy Gerrish, 207.218.5311, cgerrish@waldoswcd.org or register directly on the LWG page at https://waldocountysoilandwater.org/local-working-group
80th Annual Meeting
The Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting its 80th Annual Meeting Friday, October 25th, at Fair Haven Camps, 81 W. Fairhaven Lane, Brooks, ME. Join us for a spaghetti dinner, for $15, at 6pm or come just for the presentations for free at 7pm. The program includes speakers Peter Abello, NRCS District Conservationist, on a project at Fair Haven Camps and Chuck Hulsey, Wildlife Resource Supervisor, on grassland birds. Please RSVP by 10/21 to cgerrish@waldoswcd.org or call 218-5311. Or you can RSVP here https://forms.gle/QSE7A2itpJPaWZ5f6
Monthly Board Meeting
The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today! Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.
Introduction to Bandsaw Milling
Join professional sawyer Nick Zandstra for a hands-on opportunity to learn about portable bandsaw mills. The course will cover basic mill operation, mill yard layout and techniques to maximize lumber quality while milling logs harvested from the MOFGA woodlot. Please note: Though the course will be taught using a fully-hydraulic Woodmizer mill, the techniques discussed are also helpful for those who plan to use other sawmill brands and more entry-level models.
Questions? Contact forestry@mofga.org
Monthly Board Meeting
The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today! Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.