The Presumpscot River is the backbone of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s service area and Maine’s most urban river. It features over 20 water access points, swimming holes and many great fishing spots. It also runs through or along many of the Land Trust’s conserved lands in the region. It is the largest freshwater input into Casco Bay, and as such, hosts the largest fish migration from Casco Bay.

It is essential for people and wildlife that Presumpscot River waters be clean. This remains the focus of the Land Trust’s water quality program in conjunction with the Maine DEP. Through the program, volunteers collect data that identifiy the general health of the rivers and streams in our region for both wildlife and people.

In a disturbing trend, bacteria levels over the last decade have increased in most tributaries throughout the Presumpscot River watershed. As a result, nearly all tributary sites failed to meet bacteria standards most of the time. In addition, sites on the Stroudwater River rarely meet bacteria standards.

High bacteria is dangerous to humans and is caused by runoff from houses, farms and pet waste. It tends to increase with development. For more detail, please see the annual and historical maps on the Land Trust website: www.prlt.org/water.

Here is how you can help — Dog poop is a serious contributor to bacteria in the rivers and streams in our region. If you have a dog, please:

• keep dog poop bags with you
• pick up your dog’s poop — otherwise, it will eventually end up in the waterways
• bring the dog poop bag home with you and put it in your trash

Keeping your dog on a leash or tight voice control is critical, both in being respectful to other trail users and that you know where the dog poops so you can clean up the waste. Please consider cleaning up any additional dog poops you find along the trail.

New this spring, we will be adding signs at every trailhead highlighting the importance of picking up dog poop for wildlife and clean water. Together we can work toward healthy rivers and streams.

The Land Trust runs the water quality monitoring program for the Presumpscot River watershed and we coordinate the Sebago to the Sea Trail, a 28-mile trail from Standish to Portland. You can also help by becoming a water sample volunteer. The Land Trust is looking for volunteers now for our 2022 water quality monitoring season. If you would like to get involved, please go to www.prlt.org/get-involved.