30 mile is a public-private collaboration of seven rural towns, nine lake associations and two land trusts. for the past 15 years, 30 mile has led the effort to protect our waters with a watershed management approach that brings people together to work across political, organizational, social, and economic boundaries. we implement a wide variety of programs and initiatives that could not be done by a single group alone. our lakes and ponds are public treasures that provide valuable economic, recreational, social, and emotional value to visitors and residents. now, more than ever, these fragile places are facing their greatest threats from invasive species, watershed development, and climate change. since 2020, we have already responded to two crises when one of our lakes became infested with an invasive species, then turned green with an algal bloom. to respond to the growing need, 30 mile has embarked on an exciting new project, creating a new center for watershed protection. this int