Who We Are

The Fish River Watershed Association is being revived with expanded scope as the Upper St. John River Organization. The areas covered will include the St. Francis, Allagash, Fish River Lakes, Aroostook, and Meduxnekeag sub-watersheds, which all drain to the St. John River. The Upper St. John River Organization will strive to promote sustainable management of our forests, and promote natural science education through development of a nature center, local data repository, and astronomical observatory. Communities will be encouraged to maintain their community-owned properties, and establish multi-use trails with interpretive signage and nature monitoring. Monitoring programs will be developed so that they can be carried out in one day per site per year by a wide range of participants.

This non-profit will also promote sustainable Valley businesses and activities, and will pursue development of a cooperative to provide forest cruising, GIS-based forest planning, wood harvesting, marketing, and wood delivery services for local land owners with a desire to conduct sustainable management, while providing Valley customers with wood from sustainably managed forest land. The non-profit will actively seek grant and other funding sources.

Producers of local finished products utilizing wood from sustainably-managed forest will be able to utilize the "brand" of the Upper St. John River Organization.

Funding

The USJRO will seek funding through charitable donations, grants, sponsorship and advertising by Valley-owned sustainable businesses, and from income earned through goods and services of the organization. Income generated by the organization will be used to expand operations and fund staffing, and/or to purchase land for public access to be managed for even-flow sustainability.

Meetings

Meetings will be held semi-annually or as special opportunities or needs arise. A brief newsletter containing updates of organization activities will be circulated to members quarterly via email. The Directors of the Organization may be employed for pay in project activities as long as these activities are pre-approved by 2/3rds of voting members.

Vision & Mission • Core Beliefs