The Clean Water program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension was established in 1988, and provides organizational and technical support to water quality monitoring groups from Kittery to Calais (approximately 1,000 volunteers). The Clean Water program works in partnership with the Maine State Planning Office Partners in Monitoring Program and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Water Quality groups study the health of estuarine water by monitoring for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, and fecal coliform bacteria. As a result of successful monitoring efforts in Maine, thousands of acres of clam flats have been opened. High school students have been inspired to go on to study environmental science in universities and to become involved in community conservation efforts. Various watersheds have begun working together, and hundreds of citizens have become active in environmental education and conservation efforts, and have begun playing an active role in their local schools.