This year, 7 Lakes Alliance  conserved 171 acres on the eastern shore of lower Long Pond, protecting 1,250 feet of shoreline, old growth hemlock and  pine forest, 25 acres of wetlands and exemplary vernal pools.  We are so appreciative of  all 7 Lakes Alliance supporters who made this project possible.  We have several land conservation projects in the works and look forward to sharing more with you in the new year!

2025 was quite a year: we hosted a steward from the inaugural Shore Corps class; the Youth Conservation Corps installed over 130 erosion control BMPs; we had four active 319 grants and are preparing to launch two new 319 Grants in 2026. A huge thank you to the Lake Associations, LakeSmart volunteers, Gravel Road Associations, local contractors, and community members, without whom we would not exist.  Your generous support allows us to continue protecting our lakes.

We recently concluded gathering 2025 open water data and will soon start under-ice projects once we can safely access frozen lakes.  Be on the lookout in the new year as we embark on new and innovative ways to share data and interpretations.  With generous support from you and collaborative work with our partners and volunteers, 7 Lakes will continue to be a leader in water quality monitoring best practices!

As of November 10th, we wrapped up one of our busiest and most impactful seasons yet. Our crew logged over 5,000 dive hours managing infestations—from taking on Messalonskee Lake to launching rapid response on North Pond—while volunteers and Adopt-A-Shoreline surveyors searched for new threats. Together, staff and volunteers inspected a record 15,500 boats and stopped 14 invasive fragments from spreading. Thank you to everyone who supports this work—more volunteer events and workshops are coming in 2026!

We had an amazing summer full of outstanding outdoor education programs. For example, in only our second year of hosting Floating Classroom learning opportunities, we increased total boat program attendees by more than 100 participants. We will continue to work with all 7 Lakes Alliance programs to expand the reach of our educational boat tours in the 2026 summer season. Thank you for supporting these educational experiences!