One quarter of Maine's population lives in the Casco Bay watershed.  As watershed residents, we are each intimately connected to the environment around us in both visible and invisible ways.  A dramatic oil spill clearly sends the message that we are damaging our resources.  When we leave pet wastes on sidewalks and beaches or pour waste oil down a storm drain, it is less obvious that these pollutants will flow eventually to streams and the bay.  Damage to the environment from human activities is evident in the closure of shellfish beds and beaches, the presence of toxic chemicals in the sediments and animals of the bay, in the decline in oxygen levels in parts of the bay and in the failure of some of our rivers and streams to meet water quality standards.

If all members of the Casco Bay community act as esponsible stewards, we can preserve and protect the resources of the watershed and the bay for future generations.  We can accomplish this by changing individual behaviors that are detrimental to the bay and by raising awareness of the importance of protecting the bay and its weatershed.  Responsible stewardship depends on residents cultivating an awareness of Casco Bay the permeates their everyday actions--making purchases, running errantds, casting ballots, serving on town boards, tending gardens and lawns, maintaining cars, and building houses.  Only by recoming stewards of Casco Bay, caring for it consistently and managing its resources responsibly, can we preserve it for generations to come.

All over the watershed, volunteer groups are collecting water quality samples, sponsoring clean-up days, protecting sensitive habitats through voluntary land conservation, advocating for environmental protection, helping to prevent erosion and sedimentation, and educating the public about sound stewardship.  Local businesses and industry are promoting stewardship through, for example, reduced reliance on hazardous chemicals and responsible practices in site development and farming.  The stewardship efforts of municipal officials include eliminating combined sewer overflows, reducing stormwater pollution, managing shellfishing areas, promoting waste recycling and protecting open space.

Click here or on the Current Projects button to the right for examples of the stewardship activities that CBEP and our partner organizations are supporting.