Bagaduce Watershed Association
Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Significance
The mission of the Bagaduce Watershed Association is to enhance and promote the diverse ecosystem and environmental health of the Bagaduce River through community awareness, education and involvement.
Tom Adamo, President, Penobscot
Bill McWeeny, Vice President, Brooksville
Karen Adamo, Treasurer, Penobscot
Bridget Saltonstall, Secretary, Penobscot
Jim Saltonstall, Penobscot
Caren Plank, Penobscot
Charlie Rolsky PhD, Ellsworth
Jesse Leach, Penobscot
Jon Albrecht, Penobscot
Tracy Lameyer, Castine
Help protect the health of the Bagaduce Watershed
On June 4, 2025 the seventh and eighth students from the Penobscot Community School boarded the L’ll Toot owned by Castine Cruises for a day trip up the Bagaduce River. The purpose of the experience was to expose the students to the wonders of this important embayment as they age into their role as the stewards of the river. The students were accompanied by Michelle Charrette, classroom teacher, Ed. Tech. Maya Jacques, Marine Biology Professor Sarah O’Malley of Maine Maritime Academy and Tom Adamo, President of the Bagaduce Watershed Association which sponsored the trip. The students were taught navigation skills and conducted marine science by doing salinity testing, temperature readings, depth soundings, and Plankton gathering.
Under the guidance of the school staff additional studies were done for PH, Nitrates and Phosphorus.
During a conversation with staff a desire to compare data from the June trip with the possibility of a fall trip was suggested. All thought it was a great idea and Tom said he would investigate that possibility.
Life can be serendipitous at times, and this was one of those occasions. Mid-summer Tom received a telephone call from Rev. Gary Vencill a member of the Leadership Team of Reversing Fall Sanctuary of Brooksville. RFS was planning its twenty-fifth anniversary celebration and would be sponsoring four gatherings to celebrate its mission. One of its missions is Caring for the Earth. They applied for a grant and offered, if awarded the grant, to pay for another “River Trip” for one of the schools. A perfect fit for Penobscot Community School.
On September 11, 2025, the eighth-grade students once again boarded the L’ll Toot. The previous eighth grade students had graduated so the previous seventh grade was now the eighth grade.
Off we went and Tom suggested that he knew approximately where the previous testing sites were. “No guessing necessary” said Maya Jacques we have GPS coordinates from June. After three hours of sampling, we returned to the Castine Town Dock. Samples in hand, the students loaded the bus back to school to explore their findings.
Now for a process which ends in numerous rewards for all involved. Captain and owner of the boat, Zander Parker, waived his fee for the trip. He said, “getting kids out on the water is most important.”
The students will present their findings at one of the gatherings at RFS. The event is being held on November 9, 2025 @ 2:00 p.m., 818 Bagaduce Road, Brooksville.
As result of the financial support for the trip, the Board of Directors of the Bagaduce Watershed Association has voted to donate $250.00 to PCS to purchase or subsidize the purchase of a piece of equipment to further their marine science curriculum.
It does take a community!
Best,
Tom Adamo, President
Bagaduce Watershed Association
Tom Adamo, President
72 Schooner Point Rd.
Penobscot, ME 04476
Email Address: Radiusmyfairpoint@outlook.com
Telephone: 207-326-8868
Cellular: 207-610-2185
