Friends of Monson Pond

01/21/2026

Friends of Monson Pond – 2026 Memberships Now Open!

Many of you know how special Monson Pond is... whether it’s for fishing, paddling, family time, or just enjoying a quiet evening by the water.

Our group has been working behind the scenes on a long-term plan to improve water quality and protect the pond for years to come. The state has identified the pond as “impaired,” but with the right care and community support, it can be restored.

We’re now collecting 2026 memberships to help fund the next phase of this work:

• $25 per year
• Donations of any amount are welcome and tax-deductible

If you’d like to help:

📬 Friends of Monson Pond
P.O. Box 354
Fort Fairfield, ME 04742

Every membership truly makes a difference. Thanks for caring about this little corner of our community as much as we do 💙

Send a message to learn more

07/31/2025

Measuring the health of Monson Pond doesn’t stop at the shoreline! Here, FOMP’s own Steve Towle lends a hand to Environmental Specialist Kirsten Thompson from the Maine DEP as she collects water samples from a stream within the greater Monson Pond watershed. Monitoring these connected waterways helps provide a fuller picture of the pond’s overall health and ensures we’re protecting this ecosystem from source to shore.

07/21/2025

Steve and John participated in the annual loon count this past Saturday. A pair and three adolescents were spotted cavorting around last week, but the kids eluded them Saturday, so they were only able to count the pair.

01/07/2025

Making Monson Pond a healthier body of water. That’s the goal of the Friends of Monson Pond, a group that we first told you about in May of 2023, about a year and a half after the group had formed.

12/31/2024

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine – Friends of Monson Pond is excited to announce the award of a $39,166 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under its

12/19/2024

We’re thrilled to share that we have secured federal grant funding to restore the health of Monson Pond! 🐟💧

With these efforts, we’re tackling key challenges like phosphorus pollution and harmful algal blooms—ensuring Monson Pond stays a pristine spot for fishing, recreation, and clean drinking water for our community.

But the work doesn’t stop here! We need your help to keep the momentum going. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in getting involved! Reach out to learn more, and please share this post to help spread the word.

Together, we can keep Monson Pond healthy and thriving for generations to come.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Elizabeth Brook Friends of Monson Pond Email: [email protected] Press Release Monson Pond Receives Federal Grant to Support Watershed Restoration Fort Fairfield, ME – December 19, 2024 – Friends of Monson Pond (FOMP) is excited to announce the awar...

12/16/2024

Under the glow of the moon, a skater glides across the ice, embracing the serene beauty of a winter evening on Monson Pond. Look closely, and you'll see a moment of quiet joy in motion.
📸 by John Foster

***Minimum recommended ice thickness for skating is 4". Skate carefully and at your own risk! ***

07/13/2024

Greetings, FOMPers!

We are excited to announce two upcoming Live Plant ID classes hosted by Lake Stewards of Maine next week! 🌿

Details:
- New Limerick Town Hall:Thursday, 7/18 from 1 to 4 pm
- Presque Isle Rec Center: Friday, 7/19 from 9 am to 12 pm

These indoor workshops will feature around 40 plants, including invasives and their native look-alikes. You'll learn how to identify them using a field guide, a great step for those interested in deepening their knowledge of invasive species and native flora.

Given the enthusiasm from last year's Plant Paddle trainings, we encourage you to join us and invite your friends and volunteers to participate.

Register for free:
https://www.lakestewardsofmaine.org/online-registration-for-in-person-workshops/

See you there!

05/09/2024

Good morning, FOMPers! Our partners at LSM are offering a unique opportunity this summer to help protect Maine lakes from invasive plant species. This is a chance for community members to engage in ecological preservation, survey lakes, and assist in establishing local plant patrol teams.

📅 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:

𝙈𝙖𝙮 22 - 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙊𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙚, 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙: Help map and remove invasive Swollen Bladderwort. Collaboration includes LSM, DEP, and local volunteers.
𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙮 11 - 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩 𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙚, 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣: Assist in identifying potential Fanwort infestations following a recent discovery during a boat inspection.
𝘼𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩 12-19 - 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙖 𝙇𝙖𝙠𝙚, 𝘼𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠: Engage in a weeklong survey to monitor for zebra mussels and other invasive species. Learn from experienced surveyors and botanists while exploring the northern reaches of Maine.

Learn more about how to get involved by visiting LSM’s website. Whether you can join for one event or more, this is a great way to contribute to Maine lakes’ health and discover new areas!

IPP Travel Team Quick Links The IPP Travel Team The goal of the Invasive Plant Patrol program has always been, and continues to be, the training of volunteers to survey their lakes for aquatic invasive plants. Several years into the program, Lake Stewards of Maine realized that while many lakes had....

08/23/2023

🌿 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝟭𝟬𝟭: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗱! 🛶

Hey everyone!

We're super excited to announce an educational and interactive event coming up that aims to better our community's understanding of our beautiful Monson Pond's ecosystem.

In collaboration with the Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM), Friends of Monson Pond (FOMP) is hosting an Invasive Plant Patrol 101, also known as the Plant Paddle, and you're invited!

📅 When: Saturday, September 2, 2023
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Where: Public boat landing on Monson Pond

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮?
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: On-land training for aquatic plant identification by LSM's technical experts and certified ‘Plant Patrollers’.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: A guided Plant Paddle around Monson Pond for hands-on, on-water identification work.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲?
Learn about aquatic plants and how to identify invasive species.
Become a part of a community focused on protecting and improving the local environment.

Get a hands-on experience with expert guidance from LSM.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴
Your own canoe or kayak 🛶
Personal Flotation Device (PFD) 🦺
Lunch, if you're planning to make it a day outing 🍱

We hope this event will foster a deep interest in aquatic plant science and invasive species identification, which is a regular monitoring effort in our area.

To join us for this educational and enlightening event, please RSVP to Steve Towle (207.227.6908 / [email protected]) or Elizabeth Reed Brook (214.918.5196 / [email protected]) as soon as possible so we can register you with LSM. Your family and friends are welcome too!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

🌿 Let’s make a difference, one paddle at a time! 🌿

05/30/2023

🌿🦆 Nature enthusiasts, rejoice! Monson Pond never fails to amaze with its diverse wildlife! John Foster spotted some Hooded Mergansers this morning, on the pond and flying into the trees.🦆✨ These small ducks boast a distinctive bill, specially designed for underwater hunting adventures, with serrations that help them catch small fish. Although they're not social birds, Hooded Mergansers love the company of their pairs or small flocks. Keep your eyes peeled for these fascinating creatures! 📸👀 Thank you, John, for your unwavering talent of capturing nature's beauty.

05/13/2023

We have successfully completed the initial phase of our watershed survey today! A dedicated team of around 15 volunteers and environmental advisors diligently surveyed the circumference of the pond, carefully identifying areas with visible erosion, which serves as a conduit for the transportation of phosphorus. Our next course of action involves collating all the gathered data, conducting further in-depth inspections of specific areas of concern, and devising effective strategies to address and mitigate these issues. Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions (hey, it wasn't THAT bad), we had an enjoyable time and gained valuable insights throughout the process.