Partners
Working Together to Protect What Matters Most
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Our work at Boothbay Region Water District is not done in a vacuum.
We rely on a broad community of scientists, educators, advocates, engaged landowners, and nonprofit organizations to maintain water quality and conservation value throughout our service area.
Protecting our water resources requires collaboration.
Through strong regional partnerships, we advance conservation, research, education, and stewardship efforts that safeguard the long-term health of Adams Pond, Knickerbocker Lake, and the surrounding watersheds.
We are proud to work alongside the following organizations:
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Land conservation and water quality go hand in hand – protecting both our land and water resources is essential.
Boothbay Region Water District works closely with Boothbay Region Land Trust to expand land conservation through easements and strategic acquisitions, focusing on the two watersheds that supply our water. Residents within the Adams Pond or Knickerbocker Lake watersheds are welcome to contact either BRLT or BRWD to learn how they can help support this mission.
About Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT):
A nationally accredited nonprofit dedicated to conserving the natural habitat, scenic beauty, and working lands of the Boothbay region.
- 30+ miles of public hiking trails
- 100+ educational programs annually
- Nationally accredited land conservation organization
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative
Each year, Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake provide hundreds of millions of gallons of clean drinking water to Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport.
This reliable water supply helps support the peninsula’s year-round businesses, schools, and community institutions. From May through October, seasonal water lines expand the system to serve summer homes and meet the added demand that comes with the region’s tourism season.
Fortunately, these water sources continue to meet all state water quality standards, and much of the land surrounding Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake remains in its natural state. The forested watershed plays an important role by absorbing rainfall, filtering pollutants, and helping prevent erosion before it reaches the lakes. While hundreds of acres are protected, much of the watershed is not. Studies show that conserving more of this land will be critical to protecting water quality in the future.
Recognizing the importance of protecting these water sources, the Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative (BR CDWI) was established in 2020. This regional partnership brings together three towns and several of the region’s leading nonprofit organizations with a shared goal: safeguarding the community’s drinking water for generations to come.
About Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative (BR CDWI):
A regional collaboration focused on protecting watershed lands and supporting the long-term safety of public drinking water across the Boothbay peninsula.
- Hundreds of millions of gallons of drinking water supplied annually
- Regional collaboration formed in 2020
- Protecting critical watershed land for future water quality
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Sciences
Protecting local water resources requires both stewardship and strong scientific understanding.
Since 2023, Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) has partnered with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences to advance monitoring within the Knickerbocker Lake and Adams Pond watersheds. Through this collaboration, scientists study PFAS, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and other indicators that extend beyond state and federal monitoring requirements. The information gathered helps BRWD better understand emerging water quality concerns and prioritize thoughtful, science-based practices that protect the region’s drinking water sources.
About Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Sciences:
An independent nonprofit research institute based in East Boothbay, Maine, advancing global ocean health through innovative scientific discovery.
- More than 50 years of ocean science research
- Global research spanning from the Arctic to the Antarctic
- A world-renowned center for ocean discovery and innovation
Photo by Bigelow Laboratory
Lake Stewards of Maine
Understanding and protecting lake health depends on long-term observation and community involvement.
Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) has participated in Lake Stewards of Maine’s (LSM) voluntary lake monitoring program since 1993. Through this partnership, trained volunteers monitor water quality indicators, assess watershed health, and screen lakes for invasive aquatic plants and animals. The data gathered through this statewide community science network helps BRWD track lake conditions and strengthen stewardship of the waters that supply the region’s drinking water.
About Lake Stewards of Maine:
Works to protect Maine lakes through citizen science and stewardship programs that engage volunteers in gathering credible scientific information about lake health.
- Hundreds of trained lake monitoring volunteers statewide
- Primary source of lake health data across Maine
- Provides training, certification, and technical support to volunteers
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Maine Lakes
Caring for Maine’s lakes requires collaboration across communities and organizations.
Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) works alongside Maine Lakes to support efforts that protect freshwater resources and the landscapes that sustain them. Through shared advocacy, education, and stewardship initiatives, this partnership connects BRWD with a broader network of organizations dedicated to protecting healthy lakes and watersheds across the state. Together, these efforts help promote responsible stewardship of the waters that communities depend on.
About Maine Lakes:
A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting freshwater resources and wildlife habitat while supporting the many communities that rely on healthy lakes.
- Statewide nonprofit advocating for clean lakes
- Supports lake associations and surrounding communities
- Promotes freshwater protection and lake stewardship across Maine
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District
Protecting land and water through local conservation partnerships.
Boothbay Region Water District and Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (KLSWCD) share a commitment to protecting land and water through practical conservation efforts.
BRWD’s Natural Resources Program Manager helped co-develop the Conservation Landscape Certification Program while serving as a Program Manager at KLSWCD and is excited to bring the program to the Boothbay peninsula.
Conservation Landscape Certification Program:
This free certification program helps property owners implement conservation practices in a practical, step-by-step way through one-on-one guidance and ideas tailored to their property.
Five Core Criteria
- Wildlife Habitat
- Soil & Water Conservation Practices
- Invasive Species Management
- Planting for Ecosystem Support
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Interested in participating?
Photo by Rebecca Jacobs
Our Shared Commitment
Protecting our watersheds is central to everything we do at Boothbay Region Water District — from safeguarding natural resources to providing clean, safe drinking water for 3,300 customers across Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport.
We serve over 200 million gallons of water annually while actively protecting Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake. By conserving watershed lands, monitoring water quality, and collaborating with partners, we ensure the long-term health of our water resources and the communities that depend on them.