Hosted by Maine Lakes and Lake Stewards of Maine
Join us on the beautiful University of Maine Farmington campus for a full day of learning about the legacy and value of Maine’s lakes and ponds. Speakers and panels throughout the day will address a variety of topics around lake value and legacy, with many opportunities for networking with fellow lake advocates and connecting with those both near and far who share your passion for lake protection.
Keynote speakers Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor, and Melissa Genoter, recent UMaine graduate, will present the results of a three-year study evaluating the role of our lakes in our state’s economy. Plenary speaker Matt Scott, retired fisheries biologist and long-time clean water advocate, will speak about the recent history of our lakes and the ways we can “love them to death”. Other topics include panels around invasive species and lake volunteer opportunities, and speakers about managing trees in the shoreland zone, working with municipalities to improve lake stewardship, a new Maine lake “scorecard” and news about invasive species.
Registration
Registration is now open!
We strive to keep the lake conference registration affordable and accessible to everyone. Due primarily to increased food costs in 2024, we have had to increase registration fees this year.
Registration Cost and Deadlines:
Early Bird Registration now until April 30th.
- Public Attendee: $45 (not a member of groups listed below)
- LSM Volunteers: $20 (Certified volunteer Water Quality monitor or Invasive Plant Patroller who is actively collecting 2024 data or collected data in 2023)
- LakeSmart Volunteer: $20 (Active coordinator or evaluator in 2024, or attending LakeSmart training in 2024).
- LSM & LakeSmart Volunteer: $20
- A limited number of reduced registration fees are available if hardship would otherwise prevent you from joining us. Please email us to make arrangements.
Register early as registration will be limited. After April 30th, Public Attendee registration rate will increase by $10. Online registration closes on June 7th.
IMPORTANT: If paying online, please note that the payment processor is Paypal. You will receive 3 emails after payment.
- Your registration with ticket information.
- Your payment receipt from Paypal.
- Promotional invitation to activate a Paypal account (Optional, it does not impact your registration.)
Cancellation Policy:
- Full refunds until April 30th.
- Refund of 50% of registration fee from May 1st to May 31st.
- No refunds for cancellations after June 1st.
Speakers
Speakers Information Coming Soon
Conference T-shirts
We are partnering with Custom Ink to provide attendees a variety of options for purchasing a sustainable cotton t-shirt with the beautiful conference logo on the front. Proceeds from t-shirt sales go directly to cover conference expenses. Order by May 21st to have your t-shirt delivered in time for the conference. Click here to order
Sponsorship Opportunities
Do you have a business that would benefit from connections to lake enthusiasts? Sponsoring the Lakes Conference is a great way to connect directly with over 250 conference attendees as well as more than 5,000 others who see conference advertising, read about the conference in our two organizational e-news, and follow our organizations on social media. It is also a great way to help reduce conference expenses, keeping the conference more affordable for all who would like to attend. Click here for more information, and to fill out our sponsor form.
In Kind Donations
We will once again have an amazing assortment of silent auction items for conference attendees to bid on, including native plants, lake décor, books, art, references, and more. If you would like to donate an item to our silent auction, or know of a business that might consider a donation, check out and share our donation form here.
Conference Schedule
Tentative Conference Schedule
8:00 – Registration and Breakfast Mixer
Come early to find friends and network at different stations focused on invasives, loons, LakeSmart, water quality, and other topics of interest to attendees.
9:10 – Welcome
9:30
Keynote Speakers: Adam Daignault and Melissa Genoter
University of Maine
Valuing the Economic Benefits of Maine’s Great Ponds in the 21st Century
10:30 – Break
10:50 – The Latest from Lake Volunteers: A Panel Discussion
Hear from volunteers active with Lake Stewards of Maine’s and Maine Lakes’ signature programs: Water Quality Monitoring, Invasive Aquatic Species Prevention, LakeSmart, and Look Out for Loons. Panel participants will describe their experiences as program volunteers including their primary duties, training requirements, time commitments, challenges they face, and the rewards from their volunteer efforts. Ask questions and find out more about these programs, how they work, and how to get involved.
11:50 – Lunch, with a Lakes Advocacy Update and Volunteer Recognition and Awards
1:10
Plenary Speaker: Matt Scott
Retired Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist
Loving Our Lakes to Death
2:00 – AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSIONS (times and details TBD)
Jeremy Deeds, Department of Environmental Protection, will discuss the new “Lake Scorecard” project.
John Daigle, University of Maine, will discuss the Emerald Ash Borer Collaborative and the implications for lakeshores around the state.
Julie Davenport, District Forester for Franklin County, will discuss the management of trees in the shoreland zone, especially after storms and blowdown events.
Gary Fish, State Horticulturalist, will discuss ways to strengthen Maine’s resilience to invasive species
Lloyd Irland, The Irland Group, will discuss the ways in which municipalities can overcome barriers to water quality protection.
Bill Monagle, Cobbossee Watershed District, will discuss the long history of CWD and their unique relationships with towns and organizations in the region.
Christopher Packard, Maine author of Mythical Creatures of Maine, will discuss folklore, the natural sciences, and outdoor education and how they weave together.
And more to be scheduled, check back for an updated schedule and more details!
4:00 – Raffle Drawing, Silent Auction Wrap Up, and Closing Remarks
Contact Us!
Please email us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you on June 21st!