Medomak Project
The Waldoboro Shellfish Committee together with the assistance of the Town of Waldoboro petitioned the state to commit staff and resources to address the fecal bacteria pollution on the Medomak River which has led to closure of clam flats. The efforts of the Shellfish Committee in 2013 created a strong inter-agency collaboration called the Medomak Task Force. This task force includes representatives from the Midcoast Conservancy, Maine DMR, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF). This successful collaboration has worked tirelessly to eliminate sources of fecal bacteria from entering the river. This includes investigation and remediation of sources from agriculture, residential septic systems, industrial pollutants, and waterfowl.
The Task Force worked to increase sampling of the river by DMR from the regularly scheduled 6 times per year to 9 times per year at 16 village stataion sites and 11 upstream sites by the end of 2013. They took on a sanitary sewer survey and addressed areas of concern and fixed leaking sewers. The Task Force also addressed issues of contamination by animal sources including beavers, dogs and water fowl.
Thanks to the efforts of the Task Force over 300 acres of clam flats have been re-opened on the Medomak!
