The Megunticook RiverKeepers (MRK) is to merge with the Megunticook Watershed Association (MWA), an organization with a complementary mission to protect, preserve, and restore the Megunticook River and the Megunticook Watershed.

"The union with MWA demonstrates a combined effort to strengthen local stewardship, improve coordination on watershed priorities, and expand community engagement around the long-term health and resiliency of this vital natural resource," said Megunticook Watershed Association news release.

MRK was formed by a group of volunteers under the nonprofit umbrella of the Downeast Salmon Federation with a goal to mobilize public awareness and private support for improving the environment of the Megunticook River. They were active in advocating for the removal of the Montgomery Dam as the first step toward restoring and ensuring the long-term health of the watershed. Since Camden town residents voted in favor of removing the dam last June, MRK has been considering the mission of the group going forward, according to MWA.

"After many months of meetings and conversations with MWA, it became clear that the overall goals of the two groups are aligned, and joining MWA would expand the resources and reach of both organizations," said the news release.

“Joining MWA reflects a shared dedication to watershed-wide conservation,” says Geoff Scott, board member of MRK. “We are both committed to creating a stronger, more unified voice for science-based stewardship, habitat restoration, water quality protection, climate resilience, and public education so there’s no reason to do that independent of each other.”

The MWA has long worked to protect, preserve and promote the Megunticook Watershed, but has historically focused most of its efforts on the lake and ponds and less on the river.

“There is no river watershed or lake watershed,” said Abby Kidder, MWA’s executive director, “there’s just the Megunticook watershed – it’s all connected and we care deeply about every part of it.” 

With the upcoming removal of Montgomery Dam and plans to remove Knox and Knowlton Dams in the works, the health and protection of the river environment is high on MWA’s agenda. At the same time, MWA will continue to focus on maintaining water quality in the lake and ponds and will advocate for upgrading and improving the operation of the East/West and Seabright Dams, which are scheduled to remain in place as part of the overall river project. 

As MRK joins forces with MWA, they will dissolve their formal group, but two of their board members (Rick Thackeray and Courtney Cease) will join MWA board in June. MRK encourages members of their group and the community to actively engage in, and support, MWA’s efforts going forward.

“We’ve been working on expanding our membership to those who may not own waterfront property, but who live, work, or play on the lake, ponds, and river,” says Kidder. “Hopefully this partnership with MRK will engage more community members who don’t live on the water, but who value this incredible resource.” 

Information about MRK is still available at www.megunticookriverkeepers.org but that website, along with associated social media presence, will soon be archived, according to MWA.

You can learn more about Megunticook Watershed Association at www.megunticook.org.