Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District

10/14/2026

Why is certified heat-treated firewood safe against invasive pests? It has been heated to 160 degrees for 75 minutes to kill any potential diseases or insects hiding in the wood. Properly treated firewood will have a state agency or USDA certification on the packaging. Find local sources of firewood at the link in the comments

10/07/2026

We helped the Sabattus Pond Watershed Project conduct a survey of the land around Sabattus Pond over the weekend.

13 teams of volunteers and professionals went out to document the erosion around the pond. This is one part of a larger effort to make improvements to the pond and apply for grants to make big changes!!

We found some erosion but we also found some beautiful spots around the water!! It was a lovely weekend to be walking around the shoreline and we had some nice conversations with neighbors around the pond.

We were warned but lucky we didn’t encounter any 🐊 (scroll to the last 📸)

Have more questions? Feel free to reach out!! The survey results will take a little while to be processed but we’ll be coming out with a report of the findings by next spring.

10/07/2026

Protect the trees you love! Research shows it is best to move firewood less than 10 miles from where it was harvested to prevent the spread of invasive forest pests

10/06/2026

Live Stake Planting Party! Thanks to our volunteers who helped us improve a buffer at a culvert outlet to benefit the Taylor Pond watershed. A crew of 9 volunteers worked on making holes for 24 live stakes, 3 shrubs, as well as watering and mulching. Many hands make light work!!

We’re excited to see how this project grows over the next few years!!

Curious about live staking? We love this inexpensive strategy that will stabilize a shoreline without any soil disturbance! And you don’t need a permit for it! Head to our website for more info 🤗

10/01/2026

Listed on FirewoodScout.org, there are over 200 firewood retailers located all over Maine. Using local firewood helps prevent the spread of invasive forest pests that are already in the state and from new ones arriving. Find local sources of firewood at
https://firewoodscout.org/resources/ME

09/23/2026

Keep an eye out for the egg masses of the Spotted Lanternfly. They look like gray putty or brown cracked mud. You might see them on a smooth surface like your car or even stuck to your grill.

09/22/2026

Join us for a fall walk around Mount Auburn Cemetery next month! Enjoy the crunch of leaves under your feet and learn about common symbols found on headstones 🪦 We’ll identify the trees we find there discuss easy identification techniques and discuss why certain trees were often planted in cemeteries. History buffs, nature nerds, goths, and leaf peepers will all find something interesting at this unique event!
$5 per person - head to our website to sign up 🪦🪦🪦

09/16/2026

Did you catch our last post? We’ve recently completed a couple of gravel road projects in our ongoing 319 Clean Water Act grants.

Want to help our project on Taywood Rd do more for the Taylor Pond Watershed?? Help us plant some live stakes and shrubs on October 1st!

We’ll be planting a mix of arrowwood, meadowsweet, serviceberry, ninebark, and highbush cranberry.

Let us know you’re coming by filling out the form on our events page 🌸✨

09/16/2026

09/16/2026

One Oak Tree: The Ultimate Wildlife Neighborhood 🌳

From chickadees in the canopy to foxes at the base, every layer of an oak is alive. Plant one, and you plant a neighborhood. 🐿️🦊🦉