Home
About Us
Our Programs
Casco BAYKEEPER
Donate
Casco Bay
Resources & Publications
Events Calendar
Newsroom: For the Media
Wild & Scenic Film Fest
Help Protect the Bay
Report Pollution
Volunteer
Contact Us
Friends of Casco Bay

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

 

How Healthy is the Bay?
We have developed a "health index" for Casco Bay, based on years of water quality data.  This easy-to-use tool gives a snapshot of the Bay's healthiest areas and most impaired regions.  Learn about the index here.

 

Donate Your Boat

Donating your boat can give you a great tax break and benefit the Bay.  To learn more about our boat donation program and how it could work for you, click here.  You can also contact Will Everitt at 207-799-8574.
 
 
Our Mission
Friends of Casco Bay is the leading environmental organization working to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay.  Our work involves education, advocacy, water quality monitoring programs, and collaborative partnerships. Learn more about our work here.

 

Baykeeper Wins Award for His Eloquence

The Maine Public Relations Council presented the Lightship Award to Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne on October 15th. The annual Lightship Award is presented to an individual outside the public relations industry who represents the ideals of what makes an outstanding public relations professional.  The Casco Baykeeper joins the ranks of such luminaries as Joan Benoit Samuelson, Angus King, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, and Kim Block.

 

Speakers Bureau

Looking for a speaker to talk about Casco Bay and how to protect it?  Email us at keeper(at)cascobay.org or call 799-8574 and we'll let you know the presentations we offer in the Casco Bay region.
 
Support Friends of Casco Bay
You can help protect Casco Bay by making a secure online donation.

 

 
 
 
 
Casco Bay Tide Charts
Click here to access tide charts for the Bay.