Medomak Project/ Medomak River Watershed Based Plan Development

12/07/2022

Waldoboro Clams, the best around!

07/19/2022

Our Shellfish Committee member, and proud Grandpa, Chuck Reed showing the next generation of clammers (AKA his grandkids Kaiden Reed, Ayla Reed and Chase Reed) how to dig clams on the Medomak! This is what it is all about folks, sustaining our beautiful Medomak River for the next generation and beyond!

04/27/2022

11/29/2021

Our own Glen Melvin talking with Midcoast Conservancy!

11/29/2021

What helps the local economy, improves water quality in the Medomak River, and saves you money? That’s right…septic system maintenance!!
Join Midcoast Conservancy, the Town of Waldoboro, and FB Environmental for an informative information session on septic system maintenance. We will cover: general septic system functionality, septic system impacts on water quality , the connection between water quality and the local economy,
best maintenance practices that save you money and more!
This meeting will be held virtually on Zoom at the following link:
us02web.zoom.us/j/4591883154
We will be recording the presentation and sharing on the Midcoast Conservancy website, the Town of Waldoboro website, and distributing via email and social media.

05/18/2021

Zak Melvin looks like he could be a member of one of his favorite rock bands. But he’s not. He’s an educator and a clammer, both in equal measure.

04/25/2021

UPDATE: The clams were placed in their cages and into the upweller today! A great big thank you to Gabby Hillyer from UMO who came down to assist Abden Simmons and Glen Melvin of the Waldoboro Shellfish Committee stock the upweller! Gabby is responsible for the siting of the upweller. Her research on the Medomak with her drifters will ensure the seed is spread to where it is needed! Good things happening on the Medomak!

04/23/2021

Making things happen..

The wind is cold, but the water is colder. A small skiff skims across the surface while another tugs a sluggish structure through the low waves of the Medomak River.

04/18/2021

WALDOBORO'S CLAM UPWELLER LAUNCHED!

The Waldoboro Shellfish Committee launched their clam upweller on April 15th. Chair Abden Simmons along with Vice Chair Glen Melvin towed the upweller down river to its mooring just below Mink's Point.

What is an upweller? Typically it is used to grow out shellfish in open water, but this upweller is being used as a floating seed spreader! Why you ask? The Waldoboro Shellfish Committee is constantly seeking ways to keep the wild soft shell clam fishery in the Medomak River healthy and sustainable. Some years ago a clam upweller was located in the Medomak, during that time there were parts of the river that saw unprecedented seed spread,. The harvesters over the years have come to believe that upweller was the source of the seed. In an effort to prove that theory, the Shellfish Committee constructed a upweller. Their design is essentially a float, with wells that will hold cages, Medomak clams will be placed in those cages, and when the water warms the clams will spawn sending hundreds of millions of seeds into the river. One, 2 inch female clam may produce up to 2 million eggs! Thanks to the work of Gabrielle Hillyer of the University of Maine Orono and her work with drifters in the Medomak the Shellfish Committee was able to place the upweller in a location that the seed will disperse to flats where seed is needed. Stay tuned for more information as this project progresses!

04/15/2021

The upweller is launched! Now on to putting in the cages! Stay tuned, great things happening on the Medomak!

04/15/2021

Waldoboro Shellfish Upweller making its way down river! Exciting things happening in Waldoboro! Chairman Abden Simmons and Vice Chair Glen Melvin in charge of the tow!

01/25/2021