Home of the Casco BAYKEEPER
Founded in 1989 to improve and protect
the environmental health of Casco Bay
A Preview of the Oil Spill Event 
On March 4th, Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne spoke at a press conference explaining the upcoming Spill of National Significance (SONS) simulation that will take place in Portland on March 24-25th. Our primary role will be to evaluate the success of the effort and to provide information for engaging volunteers. After the Cosco Busan spilled 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel into San Francisco Bay in 2007, volunteers tried to help by cleaning oiled beaches, unaware that they were exposing themselves to hazardous materials that should only have been handled by trained personnel who understand the proper procedures to protect to themselves and the environment.
Joe said, “This exercise should scare us to death. It’s a reminder that this event can happen anywhere. The only way we’ll get through an oil spill of this magnitude is to prepare, practice, and partner.”
Joe was invited to speak at the press conference by the Coast Guard, which will be coordinating the exercise along with Shell Oil Company and its oil spill response consultants.
To follow developments, go to www.sons2010.com
Friends of Casco Bay is Hiring a Development and Communications Assistant
Friends of Casco Bay seeks a dynamic, detail and results-oriented Development and Communications Assistant to join our team. Friends of Casco Bay is a community-based, marine environmental nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of Casco Bay by being science-based, locally-focused, pragmatic, collaborative, people-centered, and trusted. Please click here to see the full job description.
Seabird Volunteer Network
Last Thursday, more than 30 prospective volunteers braved gale-force winds to hear Dr. Julie Ellis, SEANET Director, explain how volunteers can monitor beaches for oiled birds. Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET) volunteers patrol a segment of Maine's shoreline collecting data on environmental conditions, beach debris, and both dead and live bird sightings. Their observations document the impact of chronic, low-level oil spills and damage from major spills. Clearly three-quarters of the crowd was affiliated with Friends of Casco Bay, thanks in large part to networking by Citizen Stewards Coordinator Peter Milholland.
“If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” 
Rapid changes in Casco Bay’s water quality this past week can attest to that.
On Monday, February 22nd, our staff scientists Peter Milholland and Mike Doan saw evidence of the winter’s snow drought in the relatively high salinities at our profile sampling sites. Five days later, after a ferocious rainstorm, Peter and Mike motored out to Fort Gorges in Portland Harbor to check the water conditions there. The salinity was drastically lower due to the five - six inches of rainfall contributing to a wedge of fresh water from the Presumpscot River, reaching more than 2 miles out into the Harbor. Unfortunately, the stormwater runoff will also add oil and other chemical pollutants, Styrofoam, and other trash that are ingested by marine life and sea birds. Learn more from this week’s water quality monitoring trips.
You can make a difference! Volunteer with Friends of Casco Bay and discover the many ways you can help protect the bay.
Welcome, Bob Knecht and Dr. John Wise, to our Board of Directors. 
Maine native Bob Knecht is a Principle/Broker
with Town and Shore Associates, LLC. When
they are not aboard their Beal’s Island 22, Bob
and his wife Nan live in a home they built in
South Freeport. Learn More
Dr. John Wise is the Principal Investigator of the Wise Laboratory of Environmental
and Genetic Toxicology. He is especially
noted for his pioneering work in marine cell
culture studying the impact of toxic chemicals
on marine life, including whales, sea lions, fish,
and sea turtles. Learn More