Lake Monitoring Conference

Register now for the 2011 Conference >>

On July 30, the VLMP will celebrate 40 years of successfully monitoring Maine’s lakes at our Annual Lake Monitoring Conference. This event will focus on the history of the VLMP, the thousands of individuals who have made a commitment to helping us learn more about Maine lakes, a discussion about what we have learned during the past four decades, and an opportunity to socialize with people who have truly made a difference in through their efforts to understand and protect Maine’s clear, clean lakes!

2011 Conference Agenda:

8:00AM – 9:00AM       Registration and refreshments
9:00AM – 9:15AM        Welcome and Opening Remarks:  Scott Williams, Executive Director
9:15AM – 10:15AM       A Historical Retrospective of the VLMP:  Matt Scott, former Director of the Maine DEP Lakes Section, and the VLMP’s “Founding Father”
10:00AM – 10:15AM    Audience Participation:  Historical Q&A
10:15AM – 10:45AM     Break
10:45 – 11:30AM           “Oops Award”: An Opportunity to Share Your Most Memorable – or Disastrous – Lake Monitoring Experience
11:30AM – 12:15PM      Recognizing Maine’s Exceptional Lake Monitors
12:15PM – 12:30PM      Closing remarks:  Scott Williams
12:30PM – 1:30PM        Lunch
1:30PM                             Plant Paddle and Secchi & D.O. re-certification workshops*

* Volunteer water quality monitors can fulfill their re-certification requirements at the conference.  Sessions will be scheduled during the morning session, at lunch, and immediately following lunch.  Please let us know in advance if you plan to attend a re-certification session at the conference.

2010 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 2010 Presentation Slides
Presented by David Littell, Commissioner, Maine DEP	Presented by Don Hayes, VLMP Plant Patroller & Branch Lake Milfoil Rangers Team Leader
Ann Speers & Bessie Wright, University of Maine Sustainability Science Initiative, with Roberta Hill, Program Director, VLMP’s Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants	Maine and the National Lakes Assessment Roy Bouchard, Biologist, Maine DEP

We thank the following for their generous support of the conference

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Clark Marine
Maine Bucket Company
Portland Water District
Roopers Redemption & Beverage Center
The Great Outdoors

2010 Conference Activities

Plant Identification Quiz—Test your plant ID skills during registration, breaks and lunch.

Plant Paddle on Pleasant Pond—Help conduct a limited invasive aquatic plant screening survey in this guided excursion. Certified IPP Monitors can fulfill their re-certification requirements. Bring your own kayak or canoe. A limited number will also be available to rent for $25.

Re-certification for Secchi & D.O. Monitors—Meet on the dock after lunch to update your certification.

2009 Conference Highlights

Thanks to all who participated in the Conference! We had a great turn out, great presentations and the sun actually shined!

We had many requests for copies of the presentations and will be posting them here as they become available.

2009 Presentation Slides
Presented by Kathleen P. Bell and Jessica E. Leahy	Presented by Roberta Hill

2008 Conference Highlights

At the 2008 Conference we had a panel discussion, including state and local agencies, sharing perspectives on the value of volunteer lake monitors and their data.

2008 Video Highlights

2008 Video Table Of Contents select a chapter to view 1 – Introduction By Video Producer Peter Sirois 4 – Maine DEP Staff Perspective By Roy Bouchard & John McPhedran 2 – VLMP Receives Award from Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute By Shippen Bright 5 – Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District Perspective By Jami Fitch 3 – Overview of the VLMP With Scott Williams, Roberta Hill & Jim Entwood 6 – Cobbossee Watershed District Perspective By Wendy Dennis