RWPA accepts volunteers to assist in our Courtesy Boat Inspections. If you have interest, please email  cbi@raymondwaterways.org

RWPA collaborates with individual lake associations to provide boat inspections at four launch sites in Raymond: Crescent Lake, Panther Pond, Sebago Lake, and Thomas Pond. The CBIs— including paid inspectors and volunteers—inspect boats, trailers, and fishing gear entering and leaving these waters.

Inspectors remove all plant material found, bag it, and turn it in to our CBI manager. Plant materials are reviewed and identified by an expert. This service is the most important step we take to protect our waters.

All of Raymond’s lakes and ponds (with the exception of Sebago Lake) are free of aquatic invasives. CBI is a major reason they have remained so, despite the presence of variable milfoil in surrounding waterbodies such as Sebago Lake, Long Lake, and Thompson Lake.

In recent years, our CBIs have been finding many fewer pieces of the invasive variable milfoil at the Sebago launch site than they did just a few years ago. And that is due to the good work of our DASH crew!

Each lake association may request how much CBI coverage they think their lake requires, and each contributes financially to the entire CBI program. Funds also come from the Town of Raymond, a grant from the Maine DEP, and contributions of RWPA supporters.

In the 2023 season, RWPA had 9 paid inspectors—primarily students—and 5 volunteers, who fill in when staff inspectors are not available, especially early and late in the season.

We are looking for people to join the board of directors, especially from the under-represented lakes (Sebago Lake, Raymond Pond, Notched Pond) and streams (Tenny River, Jordan River). You do not have to own property on a lake or stream to be a director. Board members must be members of the organization, or willing to become members. Meetings are held in the late afternoons, usually on Thursdays. Most of them are through Zoom.

The duties include helping to guide RWPA in its mission of monitoring, protecting, and improving the water quality of the lakes and streams of Raymond. Most Directors also take on other chores, such as crew supervision, fund raising, boat maintenance, etc. 

We are looking for a Treasurer as a Board Member to begin to volunteer near July 1, 2024. Experience in finance and bookkeeping is important, but Marie Connolly, our current Treasurer will help you better understand the work in QuickBooks, UpWorks, Excel, and Constant Contact.

Note: Directorship is a volunteer (unpaid) position. Candidates should have an interest in the functions of RWPA and the time to devote to contribute to the organization. Any skills you can bring to the group will be welcome.

For more information email: info@raymondwaterways.org