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Posts from the ‘Community’ Category

May 4

Meet our New Lake Science Manager, Brenda Fekete

After more than twenty years of teaching in the Chemistry Department at Colby College, Brenda is very excited to be a part of the Belgrade Water Quality Initiative!

As Lake Science Manager, she will train student interns in the use of scientific equipment, supervise water column sampling in all seven of the Belgrade Lakes, analyze water samples, organize data and communicate real time and post-collection results. She is eager to present the data to help the community understand the project and the status of the water quality in the Belgrade region.  She will also be working closely with the lake associations to help recruit and train volunteers to assist in the sample collection process.

Brenda lives in Belgrade on the West Road. Her three children grew up on the beautiful Belgrade Lakes, and continues to play on the water and on the trails with her husband, Frank, and her dog, Ellie. She is an avid gardener and loves to play guitar.

Mar 23

Whitney King to give Plenary Address at Maine Sustainability and Water Conference

Whitney King, Miselis Professor of Chemistry at Colby College and member of the MLRC Board will present the plenary address at the 2015 Maine Sustainability and Water Conference.

Professor King’s address is titled “How can we stop loving our lakes to death? Building a Community-Based Action Plan to Keep our Lakes Golden”. The address will focus on the Belgrade Lakes and the declining water quality that is threatening many of our iconic Maine lakes. Professor King will discuss “developing sustainable solutions for the Belgrade Lakes with community partnerships to define the change in lake ecosystem function, agree on a plan for collective action, and implement broad-based watershed restoration projects”.

“The Maine Water Conference was founded in 1994 by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center at the University of Maine as an annual forum for water resource professionals, researchers, consultants, citizens, students, regulators, and planners to exchange information and present new findings on water resource issues in Maine. The conference has grown to become one of the largest environmentally related conferences in Maine attracting over 350 attendees each year.

In 2014, the former Maine Water Conference expanded its focus to become the Maine Sustainability & Water Conference. The conference included several sessions on sustainability science research in Maine as well as sessions with a joint focus on water resources and sustainability”.

The conference will be held on Tuesday, March 31st at Augusta Civic Center. Registration for the conference is still open.

Mar 20

Photo by Logan Parker.

Signs of Spring in the Belgrade Lakes

Though Winter isn’t relinquishing its hold without a fight, there are signs of Spring all throughout the Belgrade Lakes Region. The sunny mornings are full of bird songs, the mouths of streams are ever expanding, and migratory waterfowl are moving northward. Just yesterday, a turkey vulture was spotted soaring in the direction of Kennebec Highlands, where they often roost on the craggy face of French Mountain.

Just as the coming of Spring brings about great changes to the region, the MLRC is undergoing a seasonal transition as well. As the ice recedes, we move all the closer to our buzzing spring and summer seasons. This year promises to be one of the busiest seasons yet as we embark on the water quality initiative and prepare our most robust schedule of community events yet.

Hooded Mergansers gather in the mouth of Bog Stream in Mount Vernon, ME. Photo by Logan Parker.
The ice which covered Mill Stream melts away behind the MLRC Annex. Photo by Logan Parker.
Red Squirrels are emerging from their winter dens to frequent feeders. Photo by Logan Parker.

The staff of the Maine Lakes Resource Center wishes you all a happy first day of Spring!

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