The Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition is a partnership of individuals, organizations, and agencies collaborating to restore and protect the Presumpscot River Watershed.  PRWC works to "realize the greatest good for the human and ecological communities that share the river's resources by cooperating on various projects to realize the goals set forth in the  Presumpscot River Management Plan."  Learn more at PRWC's website.

About the River

The largest freshwater source to Casco Bay, the Presumpscot River originates at Sebago Lake, Maine's second largest lake and the source of water supply for Greater Portland.  The river is 27 miles long, stretching from the Eel Weir Dam at the outlet of Sebago Lake to the head-of-tide in Casco Bay.  It presently has eight dams that block the passage of migratory sea-run fish and impound most of its length from the Cumberland Mills Dam in Westbrook to the Eel Weir Dam at Sebago Lake.

History of PRWC

In 2000, the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) initiated a multi-stakeholder planning effort to study restoration of the Presumpscot River.  Interest in the river had grown in response to plans for the removal of the head-of-tide dam (Smelt Hill Dam, later removed in the Fall of 2002), and dramatic improvement in  water quality resulting from the cessation of SAPPI Fine Paper's pulp mill operations in Westbrook.  These two events opened new possibilities for the future of the river. 

To assist with the development of a plan for the future of the Presumpscot River, the CBEP solicited interest from a broad group of stakeholders, including all five municipalities that border the river.  Interested parties were then convened as a steering committee to guide the development of the plan.  The original Presumpscot River Management Plan Steering Committee was composed of representatives of federal, state and local government agencies, businesses, and conservation organizations and interests.  In addition, one municipality actively followed the plan development process.

Accomplishments & Projects

In 2003, a management plan was finalized (Presumpscot River Stakeholders Plan: The Future of a Changing River) and the Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition was formed to pursue implementation of the plan as well as other projects beneficial to the water quality and ecosystem of the Presumpscot River.  Significant progress has been made toward the goals of the Plan and PRWC in general.  Notably, PRWC and CBEP received EPA Targeted Watershed funding totaling $739,942 in 2006 for this work, referred to as the Presumpscot Watershed Initiative, which was completed in 2009.

Currently, PRWC is undertaking a land conservation planning effort in the watershed.  The Presumpscot Land Conservation: Vision, Values, & Priorities project is a collaborative initiative to develop shared vision, values and priorites for land conservation in the lower Presumpscot River watershed. Grant funding and support is provided through CBEP and the Environmental Funders Network's Quality of Place Initiative.  The Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition is the convening entity for this multi-year effort, which grew out of recommendations in the Open Space section of the Presumpscot River Management Plan. More information at PRWC's website.