Friends of the Presumpscot River

Upcoming Events:

Nature, in general, and rivers specifically, hold much potential in supporting our physical, mental & spiritual health. Join us on Zoom to welcome our speaker, Melissa Ceren, a Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) and Fly Fishing Guide based in Colorado. Through her presentation, followed by a Q & A , Melissa, also known as “The Fly Flinging Therapist” will highlight how individuals and communities can promote greater wellbeing through a connection to nature, rivers, and each other through the practice of fly fishing. 

Free on Zoom! Click HERE.

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We heartily thank our 2/26 RiverTalk panelists Heather Huntt, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Senior Project Manager; Toby Jacobs, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s Program Manager & Doug Roncarati, City of Portland’s Stormwater Program Coordinator/FOPR Board Member for the expertise they shared relative to non-source point pollution.

Gratitude to our guests and featured speaker Marsha O’Mahony for such a compelling RiverTalk, held on 1/21, featuring her book River Voices: Extraordinary Stories from the Wye (available here).

For event reminders or info, recorded RiverTalks or to sponsor our RiverTalks Speaker Series, please contact Whitney: foproutreachanded@gmail.com

We are very grateful to MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE ONION FOUNDATION, DAVIS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, WESTBROOK HOUSING, PLUS POWER, CORT & SMALL CPA, and CASCO BAY ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP for their generous support of this year's events. We further extend gratitude to our many donors, supporters and community partners. 

Celebrating More Than 30 Years as the Voice of the Presumpscot

For more than a quarter of a century the Friends of the Presumpscot River has worked passionately to restore and protect the vitality of our small but mighty river. Our efforts have improved water quality, restored migratory fish populations, and increased public awareness of the Presumpscot's economic and recreational potential.

A River of Many Falls & Many Fish 

The Presumpscot River flows from Sebago Lake through woods, towns and cities into the saltwater of Casco Bay, Maine's most densly populated region. The river's name means "many falls" or "many rough places" in the Abanaki language spoken by the first people or the region, who survived on the river's abundance and fertile shore lands for centuries. During this time, vast amounts of spawning Atlantic salmon, shad and alewives swam upriver. The Presumpscot was also home to land-locked salmon, brook trout and the now extinct Presumpscot Jumper.

Picking Up Chief Polin's MantlE: Fighting for Fish Passage Then & Now

In the 1750s Abenaki leader Chief Polin began a struggle to restore fish passage to the Presumpscot. In 1992, more than 250 years later, Friend's picked up Polin's mantle and began fighting for fish passage, improved water quality and restoration of the natural character of the Presumpscot after two and a half centuries of industrialization. Learn more about the successes we've achieved over the last 25 years and about our current initiatives. 

Tales from the Presumpscot: A River of Resilience 

Emma Deans, a multi-media storyteller, present the second in a nine-part series focusing on how our river of “many falls” is making a comeback after two and half centuries of damning, pollution and disregard. Learn how the Presumpscot got its name from the indigenous people who lived here for millennia, depending on its bountiful fish supply as a vital food source, and how today increasing opportunities to enjoy a revitalized river – walking, canoeing and fishing – help us to connect with the importance of keeping it clean.