Somerset County SWCD

Somerset County SWCD Promoting sustainable land and water use in Somerset County, Maine.

Join us for workshops, resources, and community projects to conserve our natural resources. 🌱💧

Maine’s forests do more than shape our landscape. They support an estimated 33,000 jobs across the state.One simple way ...
09/14/2026

Maine’s forests do more than shape our landscape. They support an estimated 33,000 jobs across the state.

One simple way to support Maine’s forest industry while also protecting our forests is to buy local firewood. Moving firewood long distances can also move invasive forest pests into new areas.

Buy it where you burn it. Support Maine’s forest economy and help keep invasive pests from hitching a ride.

A big congratulations to our neighbors at Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District!They have been named t...
09/10/2026

A big congratulations to our neighbors at Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District!

They have been named the 2026 Maine Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year, recognizing their stewardship of Williamsburg Forest in Williamsburg, Maine.

They'll be honored this Saturday, September 12, at the 71st Annual Forestry Field Day, hosted by the Maine Tree Farm Program and Maine Woodland Owners.

Williamsburg Forest isn't just a working forest. Piscataquis County SWCD uses the property for education, workshops, and tours, while also keeping it open for recreation and wildlife. It's a great example of the kind of hands-on conservation work happening through Soil and Water Conservation Districts across Maine.

Forestry Field Day will include guided tours, forestry demonstrations, walk-and-talk sessions with experts, exhibits, and local food.

Congratulations to the Piscataquis County SWCD team!

https://www.mainetreefarm.org/forestry-field-day

Beech Leaf Disease has been in Maine since 2021 and is now well established in the state. Dark banding between leaf vein...
09/07/2026

Beech Leaf Disease has been in Maine since 2021 and is now well established in the state. Dark banding between leaf veins, curled or deformed leaves, and early leaf drop are all signs that a tree may be affected.

Don’t bring an unwanted guests to your Labor Day Weekend celebration. Invasive forest pests are easily moved when we tra...
09/04/2026

Don’t bring an unwanted guests to your Labor Day Weekend celebration. Invasive forest pests are easily moved when we transport firewood.

A lot of conservation work starts with, "I have no idea who I'm supposed to call about this."And that's okay.One of the ...
09/03/2026

A lot of conservation work starts with, "I have no idea who I'm supposed to call about this."

And that's okay.

One of the most useful things a Conservation District can do is connect people. We work alongside foresters, soil specialists, wildlife biologists, agricultural professionals, NRCS, Extension, state agencies, nonprofits, and other local partners.

If you have a question about your farm, forest, soil, water, or property and don't know where to start, start local. We can help point you in the right direction.

Moving firewood spreads invasive insects and diseasesthat kill our trees. An easy way to prevent the spread of invasive ...
09/01/2026

Moving firewood spreads invasive insects and diseasesthat kill our trees. An easy way to prevent the spread of invasive species is to buy firewood where you plan to burn it!

Find local firewood sellers all over Maine here:
https://firewoodscout.org/resources/ME .

Sometimes conservation work isn't something you planned for.Earlier this summer, extreme heat put a local colony of clif...
08/26/2026

Sometimes conservation work isn't something you planned for.

Earlier this summer, extreme heat put a local colony of cliff swallows in trouble. Young birds were leaving their nests too early, and what followed was a pretty incredible response from wildlife professionals, volunteers, and local partners working together to help the colony through it.

Somerset SWCD was able to lend a hand as part of that effort, from helping cool the nesting area to connecting resources and supporting the people doing the work.

It's a good example of something we don't talk about enough. Local conservation doesn't always fit neatly into a program or project. Sometimes it's simply having the right people connected when something needs attention.

Photo Credit: Linda Merry.

Take a closer look at your trees.One sign of the Asian Longhorned Beetle is a perfectly round exit hole. Adult beetles c...
08/24/2026

Take a closer look at your trees.

One sign of the Asian Longhorned Beetle is a perfectly round exit hole. Adult beetles chew their way out of host trees during the summer, leaving behind holes about ¼ inch across.

Knowing the signs can help us spot an infestation early.
https://youtu.be/Gnh_6zANs5I

Could you tell an invasive beetle from a Maine native?The adult Asian Longhorned Beetle can look surprisingly similar to...
08/20/2026

Could you tell an invasive beetle from a Maine native?

The adult Asian Longhorned Beetle can look surprisingly similar to Maine’s native Whitespotted Sawyer. Knowing the difference is important so we can recognize a potential invasive pest without sounding the alarm over one of our native lookalikes.

Learn how to tell them apart!

Conservation in Somerset County doesn't look like just one thing.It might be a farmer protecting nesting grassland birds...
08/18/2026

Conservation in Somerset County doesn't look like just one thing.

It might be a farmer protecting nesting grassland birds, a woodland owner learning how to manage their forest, a community watching for invasive pests, a landowner dealing with erosion, or someone simply trying to better understand the soil beneath their feet.

Our job is to help support those efforts and connect local people with the resources available to them.

Because good conservation starts with understanding the land, and the people who take care of it.

Address

70 East Madison Road
Skowhegan, ME
04976

Telephone

(207) 474-8323

Website

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