Our History In 1989, Friends of Casco Bay was organized by concerned citizens in response to "Troubled Waters," an alarming report about pollution in Casco Bay. Within two years the organization hired its first staff person, Joe Payne, as Casco BAYKEEPER®, making him the seventh WATERKEEPER® in the world and founding member of the WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE, an international environmental movement that safeguards our waterways.
Since then, Friends of Casco Bay has grown to be recognized by businesses, environmentalists, government agencies, and community leaders as the pivotal player in seeking collaborative, effective solutions to problems that threaten the health of the Bay. We are recognized locally and nationally for our “work-with” approach to environmental problem solving. 2009 marks our 20th year as the leading environmental organization working to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay.