Conserving Forests for Clean Water
Sebago Clean Waters conserves forests to protect water quality, community well-being, a vibrant economy, and fish and wildlife habitat in the Sebago region. The Sebago Lake watershed is 84% forested, but only 15% of it is currently conserved. Our collaborative—comprised of conservation organizations and a regional water utility—is engaging individuals, communities, and businesses in protecting 25 percent (35,000 more acres) of the Sebago Lake watershed in the next 15 years. Our work is critical to keeping Maine’s largest drinking water supply clean and protecting the many other benefits Sebago Lake’s forested watershed provides. Learn why and how in the video below.
How Forests Keep Our Water Clean
FILTER WATER
Forests filter rainfall, removing sediments and pollutants before slowly releasing clean water into streams and rivers.
CONTROL EROSION
Tree roots and decaying leaves and needles keep soil in place, preventing erosion of potentially damaging sediments.
PROVIDE HABITAT
Forested landscapes provide cover and shade for fish species, like trout and salmon that require cool water temperatures to survive.
RELIEVE FLOODING
Forested flood plains provide a place for water to go during heavy rains, reducing the potential for damage to developed areas downstream.
©Nicole Keating/The Nature Conservancy
Sebago Clean Waters News
Learn about all you helped us achieve in our first five years in our 2018-2022 Impact Report!
Press Releases
Sebago Clean Waters announces three new business partnerships (3/2024).
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Sebago Clean Waters partners restore critical fish passageway in Sebago Lake watershed (8/2023)
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Sebago Clean Waters partner Mahoosuc Land Trust announces creation of its first forever-wild preserve (3/2023)
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Sebago Clean Waters announces conservation of 12,000 acres of forestland in Oxford County (12/2021)
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Sebago Clean Waters awarded $8 million USDA grant to protect water quality and other benefits of the Sebago Lake watershed (9/2020)
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Sebago Clean Waters makes significant progress toward 35,000-acre conservation goal with the The Conservation Fund’s purchase of Chadbourne Tree Farms in Western Maine (6/2020)
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Loon Echo Land Trust and the Trust for Public Land announce acquisition of Tiger Hill Community Forest land (1/2020)
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Allagash announces pledge to donate ten cents for every barrel of beer brewed to Sebago Clean Waters (10/2019)
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Foundation Brewing and Orono Brewing collaborate on Earth Day-centered IPAs to benefit clean water efforts in Maine (4/2019)
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News Articles and Broadcasts
Sebago Clean Waters contributes to the protection of 400 acres in Casco (2/2024)
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Sebago Clean Waters partners conserve new property on Sebago Cove (11/2023)
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Western Foothill Land Trust expands Twin Bridges preserve with help from Sebago Clean Waters (10/2023)
Read Portland Press Herald Article
Sebago Clean Waters partners featured in Maine Calling show about the state’s drinking water sources, challenges to their purity, and their importance to Maine’s economy (5/2023)
Listen to Maine Calling show
Sebago Clean Waters partners featured in Allagash Brewing Company’s podcast “From Maine, With Love” in episode about Sebago Lake and the importance of partnerships for land conservation (5/2023)
Listen to Allagash podcast
Sebago Clean Waters contributes funding to partner Mahoosuc Land Trust’s first forever-wild preserve (4/2023)
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Sebago Clean Waters as a case study in connecting upstream and downstream communities to protect a water source (10/2022)
Read Lincoln Institute of Land Policy article
Lakes Environmental Association, Sebago Clean Waters, and partners remove Naples dam restricting fish passage (9/2022)
Read Maine Public story
Read Lakes Environmental Association article
12,000 acres of Oxford County forestland permanently protected (12/2021)
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Woodland Owners Appreciation Day participants feel they are making a difference by keeping their land forested (10/2021)
Read Bridgton News article
University of Maine research team determines benefits and costs of conserving Sebago watershed forestland to protect drinking water and other values (10/2021)
Read Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions newsletter
Portland-area breweries support Sebago Clean Waters forest conservation efforts (5/2021)
Watch News Center Maine broadcast
Loon Echo Land Trust and Sebago Clean Waters protect additional acreage for Sebago’s Tiger Hill Community Forest (3/2021)
Read Portland Press Herald article
Loon Echo Land Trust protects critical part of the Tenny River with help from Sebago Clean Waters (2/2021)
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Sebago Clean Waters gets $8 million federal grant to protect Sebago Lake watershed (9/2020)
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15,000 acres of forestland in Western Maine protected through sale of green bonds (6/2020)
Read Forbes magazine article
1,400 acre Tiger Hill Community Forest near Sebago Lake now officially protected (1/2020)
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History and importance of clean water in Greater Portland (11/2019)
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Loon Echo Land Trust purchases 252 acres in Bridgton area (9/2019)
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Loon Echo Land Trust expands Crooked River Forest (8/2019)
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The importance of forests for clean water and good beer (5/2019)
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Hiking opportunities made possible by Western Foothills Land Trust (1/2019)
Read MaineToday article
Portland Water District honored for protecting Sebago Lake watershed (3/2018)
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Western Foothills Land Trust acquires Crooked River parcel (9/2017)
Read Turner Publishing article