History of the Megunticook Watershed Association

On August 27, 1969, a group of concerned citizens held an organizational meeting at the Legion Hall in Camden, and on September 23, 1969, official papers were filed with the Knox County Registry of Deeds to create the Megunticook Lake Association.

The official filing with the Maine Secretary of State gave the following as the purposes of this new Association:

“The purposes of said corporation are scientific, educational and agricultural, and to improve and preserve the environment and the quality of Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond in Knox County and Waldo County in the State of Maine, and to conserve the natural resources in the watershed of said Norton Pond and Megunticook Lake so that such natural resources may be devoted to the scientific and social use of the residents of said watershed; to test the waters of said Pond and Lake, to discourage pollution thereof, to disseminate information about safety in boating and other water sports and to circulate printed information about the laws of Maine concerning sanitation and safety. To acquire and hold real estate for the purpose of preserving same in its natural state, maintaining the same for nature study.”

The original trustees/directors signing the state certificate were: A. H. Chatfield, Jr., E. Clifford Ladd, Carlton F. Dougherty, Bernard Frankel, A. Margaret Bok, Lester Meyerhoff, Charles W. Chatfield, Arthur E. Spellissy, and Stillman F. Kelley.

In 1985, the organization changed its name to the Megunticook Watershed Association, realizing that along with Megunticook Lake, the Megunticook River, Norton Pond, Moody Pond, Levenseller Pond and the entire 32-square-mile watershed were of equal importance and should be included in all activities.

MWA has been testing water clarity in Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond since 1975 for the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program.

Timeline

Below is a historical timeline as best as anyone can remember:

  • 1969: Megunticook Lake Association founded

  • 1974: Les Fleck hired as Lake Warden

  • 1975: MWA begins monitoring water quality in partnership with what is now the Lake Stewards of Maine.

  • 1984: Ken Bailey hired as Lake Warden

  • 1984-1985: Association purchased the two outlet dams for Megunticook Lake (East and West Dams) and donated them and a $20,000 endowment fund to the Town of Camden

  • 1985: Name changed to Megunticook Watershed Association

  • 1990: Partners in Monitoring bacteria monitoring program begins

  • 2001: Courtesy Boat Inspection program for invasive plants begins

  • 2004: Ken Bailey’s position was updated to be the first full time employee as the Executive Director and Lake Warden

  • 2012: Longtime board member Paul Leeper becomes Executive Director.

  • 2021: Aaron Bailey, Ken Bailey’s son, hired as Executive Director and Watershed Patrol.

  • 2023: Tim Trumbauer, a former Waterkeeper and water quality advocate in the Chesapeake region, named Executive Director and Watershed Patrol.

  • 2024: The Executive Director and Lake Patrol positions are separated and Abby Kidder is hired as the new Executive Director while Justin Twitchell is brought on as Lake Patrol.

Today, the Megunticook Watershed Association is a forward-thinking organization with approximately 300 active members and dozens of volunteers that represent a diverse set of watershed stakeholders. Our environmental stewardship program includes water quality monitoring, invasive species monitoring and eradication, loon and wildlife evaluations, pollution prevention, outreach and education, and advocacy. Our Watershed Patrol program focuses on water-based safety and recreation and includes safety patrols, buoy placement, and other services.