While dams can benefit society, they also cause considerable harm to rivers. Dams have depleted fisheries, degraded river ecosystems, and altered recreational opportunities on nearly all of our nation’s rivers.

Today, many dams that were once at the epicenter of a community’s livelihood are now old, unsafe or no longer serving their intended purposes.

Join us HERE on Zoom for a conversation with Andy Fisk about American Rivers national campaign to remove 30,000 dams by 2050 in partnership and collaboration with river advocates around the country.

To learn more about Andy’s work and American Rivers, please click here!

For event reminders, recorded RiverTalks or to sponsor our free events, please contact Whitney: foproutreachanded@gmail.com

or

Sponsor Us Here!

Click here fmi. We hope to see you Dec. 10!

Celebrating life, community and the river running through us~

This is an opportunity to gather around the fire and create joyful sound. Any donations made will contribute to the restoration and preservation of the Presumpscot River. Bring a drum or rattle. Jen has extras to share if needed. No experience necessary. Celebrate sound and community around the fire & under the light of the FULL MOON!

Email questions to our facilitator Jen Deraspe: spiralsofwellbeing@gmail.com
No reservations needed. If raining—cancelled.

Join us for this; one of our most powerful and beautiful events. Meet us at the Polin Memorial for a brief gathering talk. This memorial honors Chief Polin of the Abenaki Nation, who, in the mid-1700's, led the first documented dam protest in New England, advocating for fish passage to protect a vital food source for his people of the “Dawn-Land”. Tragically, he was shot and killed for having done so. We will then take a 10 min walk to the river to touch the waters.

Free and open to the public. No registration required. Sturdy footwear for traversing wet and uneven surfaces is suggested. Stay for coffee at the Conant Farmhouse if you can.

There is plenty of on-street parking on Conant St.

We’ll greet you street-side near Ernie’s Bicycle Shop.

This Sunday we will walk along an intact section of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal where remnants of locks, turning basins & sluiceways can be seen. We will explore the foundations of a 19th century farmhouse & barn and explore what once were fields & woods long silenced by still waters, which are returning with the reopening of the Dam & re-filling of Dundee Pond beginning 9/12.

The walk is about 2.5 miles round trip, on mostly flat surfaces, but there is no obligation to walk the full distance as much can be seen with a short walk. Please wear sturdy shoes that can withstand some potentially muddy areas.

To park & meet, turn left off Dundee Rd @ the fork before the Dundee Dam Powerhouse (98 Dundee Rd, Gorham) near the Cummings Preserve trailhead. You may park on the road; just be sure the road is passable please. Additional parking can be found closer to the Powerhouse. Please note, you may continue to follow Hurricane Rd past the Detour sign to find us. That road closure is beyond our meeting spot.

This Sunday we will walk along an intact section of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal where remnants of locks, turning basins & sluiceways can be seen. We will explore the foundations of a 19th century farmhouse & barn and explore what once were fields & woods long silenced by still waters, which are returning with the reopening of the Dam & reflling of Dundee Pond beginning 9/12.

The walk is about 2.5 miles round trip, on mostly flat surfaces, but there is no obligation to walk the full distance as much can be seen with a short walk. Please wear sturdy shoes. There may be some wet areas. 

To park & meet, turn left off Dundee Rd @ the fork before the Dundee Dam Powerhouse (98 Dundee Rd, Gorham) near the Cummings Preserve trailhead. You may park on the road; just be sure the road is passable please. Additional parking can be found closer to the Powerhouse. Please note, you may continue to follow Hurricane Rd past the Detour sign to find us. That road closure is beyond our meeting spot.

"A PRESUMPSCOT RIVER WALK & TALK: The River Beneath the Lake" @ Dundee Dam, Gorham

Join us for our wildly popular FIFTH Guided Walk! Thank you for your continued interest! We will take a 2.5-mile walk along the tow path of the Cumberland Oxford Canal. Please meet off of Dundee Road just up from the parking area by the dam. The walk will include some slight wet areas and stream hopping, so walking sticks and sturdy shoes are recommended. (Also if you have water shoes it is wonderful to Wade in. Or dress for a refreshing dip)

We will see the canal, island falls, the mystery holes, and some of Whitney's Falls. We don't know when it will begin to refill, so we'll do this as much as possible. It's a stunning sight.

Be prepared to fall in love with a river!

Click here for info! Amazing films. Bring a chair or blanket and your friends for a night under the stars. By donation; pay what you can.

For our fourth gathering we will be exploring the lands across the river. Here we will walk along an intact section of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal where remnants of locks, turning basins & sluiceways can be seen. We will explore the foundations of a 19th century farmhouse & barn. We will walk what once were fields & woods long silenced by still waters.  

We will walk about 2.5 miles round trip, on mostly flat surfaces, but there is no obligation to walk the full distance as much can be seen with a short walk. Please wear sturdy shoes. There may be some wet areas. 

*Let’s gather at 3 p in Dundee Park parking lot. Sorry there are no toilets. 

*Please note; if you saw this post earlier, we have changed the meeting location to Dundee Park, as the park will remain open for our visit.

"A PRESUMPSCOT RIVER WALK & TALK: The River Beneath the Lake" @ DUNDEE PARK, WINDHAM

Join us for our wildly popular THIRD Guided Walk! Thank you for your interest!

"A PRESUMPSCOT RIVER WALK & TALK: The River Beneath the Lake" @ DUNDEE PARK, WINDHAM

Please note we have added a clean up beginning at 1:30. Guided Walk & Talk runs 3:30-5. Come for as much or as little as you can. Must be seen!

Info here!

Info here!

Join us for Fish Migration Tales, where Michael Shaughnessy and other storytellers will share stories about sea-run fish in partnership with Maine Audubon and the Nature Conservancy.

FMI and to register, please click here.

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!

Join us at Portland Yacht Club Wed., 4/3 @ 6-7:30 pm as Michael Shaughnessy, FOPR Board President and Co-Founder, speaks about the Friends efforts ~ past, current & future ~ to restore the health & public access to the Presumpscot River, as part of the Sebago Lake to Casco Bay Waterway Series. Free & open to the public; no registration necessary.

Did you know that stormwater runoff accounts for the majority of pollution to our lakes, rivers, streams, springs and bays?  As development continues and storms intensify, our waters are at great risk.

Join us here for a panel discussion to learn more about non-source point pollution (‘runoff’) and what actions can be taken to prevent and mitigate it. Panelists will include 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.

Following talks will touch upon river restoration and the health & regenerative effects of free-flowing rivers on individuals and communities. Check back soon for more info!

We thank 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, recorded RiverTalks or to sponsor our free events, please contact Whitney: foproutreachanded@gmail.com or

Sponsor Us Here!

Join us for FOPR’s major celebration of the river, the year’s events, and all those that are a part of this voyage, this year taking place at Westbrook on Tap! It is a time to gather and feast while connecting and sharing in the spirit of the Abenaki who lived along this river for a millennium. Food will be seasonally based; primarily consisting of beans, corn, squash, and berries. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be served along with beer, wine and soft drinks available for purchase. Enjoy live music and the Presentation of the Annual Chief Polin Awards for River Advocacy. Register here!

Though advance registration is not required, for planning purposes we’d appreciate knowing to expect you. As such, please email foproutreachanded@gmail.com with your name & number of attending guests if you are not pre-registering via the Eventbrite link above. You may pay by cash, check or credit card at the event check-in. We hope to celebrate in your company on Sunday, Nov 5!

This is a paddle at the height of Fall foliage. The Presumpscot, with its ample foliage and relatively narrow channel, creates an experience where one can find great solitude while enveloped in autumnal color. Watercraft and PFD’s generously provided by Portland Paddle (or bring your own)! Free! No registration required. Meet @ Gambo Boat Launch, Gambo Fields, Windham.

Events are open & free to the public unless otherwise noted. At times, space may be limited. FMI or to reserve a spot, please reach Whitney @ foproutreachanded@gmail.com

Join us for this; one of our most powerful and beautiful events. Meet us at the Polin Memorial for a brief gathering talk. This memorial honors Chief Polin of the Abenaki Nation, who, in the mid-1700's, led the first documented dam protest in New England, advocating for fish passage to protect a vital food source for his people of the “Dawn-Land”. Tragically, he was shot and killed for having done so. We will then take a 10 min walk to the river to touch the waters.

This is free and open to the public. No registration required. Sturdy footwear for traversing wet and uneven surfaces is suggested.

When dams were put in place, much of the Presumpscot River was submerged below man-made impoundments. Beneath some of those can be found the remnants of human activities. These include parts of the old canal system, buildings, walls, cribbings and general remains. North Gorham Pond is one such location. This is a first time exploration so come prepared to discover aspects of the Presumpscot River rarely, if ever, seen. 

PFD’s, snorkels and masks generously provided in part by Dicks Sporting Goods (or byo).

$20pp paid by cash or cheque at the start of the event will help support the cost of equipment, an Italian sub, chips and a drink! 

Meet @ 103 Middle Jam Road Gorham. Parking available on site.

Please register by emailing foproutreachanded@gmail.com or calling Whitney, Outreach and Education Coordinator @207.650.3136, indicating any dietary preferences.

Due to forecasted rain, the 7-9p Saccarappa Concert Series featuring Green Heron will be relocated to Westbrook on Tap @ 1 Westbook Common, Unit 5.

These Paddles are an opportunity for the public to experience the fun of paddling, some for the first time, on the Presumpscot River in Downtown Westbrook. Come meet neighbors and enjoy a barbeque. All is free and open to the public. Kayaks, paddle boards, PFDs and instruction are generously provided by Portland Paddle. We thank our collaborative partners; Westbrook Community Policing and Discover Downtown Westbrook. No need to register! Find us here!

No registration necessary. In conjunction with the Saccarappa Concert Series, FOPR will offer a free 45 minute half mile Walk & Talk from the Polin Memorial to Saccarappa Falls. This will provide a brief introduction to the river, its history, restoration and challenges along with opportunities for the future. Any interested  participants will then return to enjoy the concert @ the Conant Homestead (a very short walk from the Polin Memorial) from 7-9 p. $10-15 suggested donation for concert only. Please BYOEverything (Food, Drink, Friends & Chairs)

This is a driving tour. We will gather at the Polin Memorial as the first site. From there we will head to the top of the river and wind our way down stopping at various sites that tell the story of the Presumpscot River. These include the Gambo Powder mills, dams, natural riverways, fishing locations, industrial areas and the restored falls and fish ladders. We will travel by carpool with maps. Registration not required. Join us for a drink to follow!

This is a driving tour. We will gather at the Polin Memorial as the first site. From there we will head to the top of the river and wind our way down stopping at various sites that tell the story of the Presumpscot River. These include the Gambo Powder mills, dams, natural riverways, fishing locations, industrial areas and the restored falls and fish ladders. We will travel by carpool with maps. Registration not required.

Join us for a paddle up river from the Riverton Trolley Park.  Along the way we will look at the River conditions and pick up trash. Canoes and PFDs will be provided by Maine Path and Paddle. From the Trolly Park we will go past the site of the recent landslide and toward Cumberland Mills.The most industrialized section of the river.  Space is limited.

* SIGN UP: All events are open to the public. In some cases space may be limited. To reserve a spot contact Taryn Walker at foproutreachanded@gmail.com for more information and to let us know what you are interested in.

WaterTalk & Celebration in partnership with Friends of Casco Bay. Join us to celebrate the recent enactment of a 4 year moratorium on new discharges into the river. At 4 pm, we’ll begin with our talk @ Riverton Trolley Park, Westbrook. Celebration will continue @ Allagash Brewing, Portland.

These Paddles are an opportunity for the public to experience the fun of paddling, some for the first time, on the Presumpscot River in Downtown Westbrook. It is also is an opportunity to meet neighbors and enjoy a barbeque. All is free and open to the public. Kayaks, paddle boards,  PFDs and instruction is provided by Portland Paddle. These are done in collaboration with Westbrook Community Policing, and Discover Downtown Westbrook.