Definitely Swimmable
The Clean Water Act of 1972 promised that the nation's waters would become "fishable, swimmable, and drinkable." That Casco Bay is swimmable, at least, was proven by Geoff Shallard and Pat Charette, who is preparing to swim the English Chanel in 2011. Geoff had contacted Friends of Casco Bay with questions about the currents and we put him in touch with a colleague who applies his mathematical teaching at Norwich University to current modeling and POOF! a swim route was plotted from Eagle Island to Freeport.
Geoff reported, "Conditions were perfect and everything went off without a hitch. Part of the reason for that was you putting me in contact with Ernie True for currents and modeling." Currents were measured up to 3 knots at times, but Geoff and Pat were able to stay on course thanks to pre-planning and model results.
Well done and welcome home, Geoff and Pat!
Back Cove Cleanup!
Representatives from Friends of Casco Bay, Portland Greendrinks, the Back Cove Neighborhood Association, and Allagash Brewing Company tackled low tide to clean up Back Cove on Thursday the 12th. Even runners and dog walkers stopped to grab bags and gloves and picked up coveside garbage during their 3.2 mile Back Cove circle!
See more photos from the cleanup and the Bay on our Facebook Page!
We hope you'll join us for the next Casco Bay Cleanup! Email or call Citizen Stewards Coordinator, Peter Milholland to get the latest on the next event!
pmilholland@cascobay.org or 207-799-8574
Gulf Coast Spill Victims Travel to Maine, join Casco Baykeeper to talk about the need to reduce our dependency on oil 
Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne was one of five local people invited to join community representatives from across the Gulf Coast at a press conference in Portland on July 14th to discuss the economic, social, personal, and community effects of the devastating oil spill and what a similar catastrophe would mean to the Maine coast. The press conference was organized by Repower Maine and the Maine Federal Climate Coalition, as a way to highlight the need for prompt action to invest in clean energy and reduce our dependence on oil.
Portland Daily Sun Article
MPBN Story
WCSH 6 Story
Casco Bay Curriculum -- July 2010
Fourteen teachers combined science and literature with a coastal focus as they t
ried collecting water quality data, lobstering aboard the Lucky Catch, launching grapefruit drifters, and cleaning up an oil spill. They will be working with Friends of
Casco Bay during the coming school year to implement the Casco Bay Curriculum in their classrooms.
Press Herald, 07/05/10: When pumping out boats' toilets on Casco Bay, beware of the geysers-- Maine at work: Jim Splude spends his days on the water, enjoying the view of Portland, and deterring those that might dump By Ray Routhier
Click here for Full Article
Meet Our Summer Intern!
Meghan Mette of Cape Elizabeth is a rising senior at Waynflete School in Portland. She has a passion for marine biology and environmental conservation, reinforced by a week at the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences this past spring studying ocean ecology, specifically corals. As a 2010 summer intern at Friends of Casco Bay, Meghan has been assisting with algae studies, collecting water quality samples, helping in the preparation and support of a three-day teacher workshop on the Casco Bay Curriculum (which included three of her former teachers!), and researching information on environmental issues for Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne.
"Meghan is a wonderfully bright and cheerful addition to our team this summer."
Peter Milholland ~ Friends of Casco Bay Citizen Stewards Coordinator
PLEASE DONATE TO THE SAVE OUR GULF FUND! RESOURCES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED BY GULF OF MEXICO WATERKEEPERS. WWW.SAVEOURGULF.ORG |
Scarborough Leader, 05/14/10:
Baykeeper plays support role in Gulf oil spill cleanup -- "When Joe Payne and Matt Quinn participated in a mock oil spill two months ago, they never expected the skills they learned would be needed so soon for the real thing – an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the April 20 explosion of an offshore oil rig...
Portland Daily Sun, 05/04/10:
Local Waterkeeper active in Gulf Spill