ABOUT US
Upstream Watch is a group of small business owners, educators, scientists, farmers, artists, historians, civil servants and citizen activists who have come together to advocate for the health of Midcoast Maine's rivers and watersheds through science, education, advocacy and public action.
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Together, we are monitoring activity in our rivers and watersheds, ensuring rigorous and accurate scientific review of significant projects and disseminating the resulting technical information to educate the public and officials about their potential impact. Longterm, Upstream Watch will provide guardianship of these areas and advocate for responsible watershed care and restoration.
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We seek a vibrant, diverse and sustainable economy for the Midcoast, and all of, Maine. Healthy fresh and saltwater ecosystems are an indispensable part of this goal.
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Upstream Watch is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

OUR TEAM
Our Executive Director and Board of Directors work closely with our volunteer network of small business owners, educators, scientists, farmers, artists, historians, civil servants and community activists.

PETE NICHOLS
Interim Executive Director
Originally inspired by the lakes, rivers, and costal waters of his childhood home in Maine, Pete has always been a committed advocate for the environment.
Shortly after graduating high school in the early 1980’s, Pete joined the U.S. Coast Guard. During this time, he was stationed on Governor’s Island in New York Harbor, the receiving waters of the Hudson River, and quickly became aware of the many issues facing our coastal waterways. After leaving the Coast Guard, Pete headed west to northern California and became deeply involved in the struggle to protect the last remnants of the region’s ancient redwood forests and has been active in local, national, and international conservation efforts ever since.
In 2004, after recognizing the threats to Humboldt Bay in northern California, Pete co-founded Humboldt Baykeeper to protect the coastal waters and ecology of the region, where he acted as the Baykeeper and Executive Director for 8 years. In July of 2011, Pete joined the staff of Waterkeeper Alliance as National Director after serving on the Alliance’s Board of Directors for 3 years as Pacific Regional Representative.
At Waterkeeper Alliance, Pete led a team of Regional Organizers to coordinate with over 350 individual Waterkeeper organizations in 46 countries to advocate for clean water in their local communities through training, capacity building, advocacy, and education.
In 2021, Pete returned home to Maine where he served as the Executive Director of Midcoast Conservancy where he spearheaded a region-wide, habitat based conservation planning effort. He also served as the state Chapter Director for Sierra Club Maine until late 2024.
Pete obtained a degree in Conservation Biology from Cal Poly Humboldt, and developed landscape-level conservation planning projects in the Sierra Nevada and Central Coast regions of California with the University of California, Davis. He has worked on regional efforts to identify and protect the biodiversity of key ocean habitats, and was recognized as a National Geographic Explorer in 2018 for work related to the impacts of plastics on the world’s waterways, and has been involved in environmental advocacy efforts throughout the United States, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
In addition to his role as a conservation professional, Pete was also the founder and President of the Fertile Crescent Foundation, a philanthropic charity dedicated to protecting the environment of the Middle East. He sits on the Boards of many environmental and social justice non-profit organizations, is an avid outdoorsman and backpacker, and enjoys skiing, cooking, and playing music with family and the friends he has encountered throughout his life experiences and travels.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AMY GRANT
Treasurer
Amy is a founding member of Upstream Watch and is strongly committed to the organization’s purpose of advocating for clean watersheds in Midcoast Maine. She is an experienced business owner/manager and has served on the board of the nonprofit corporation Come Boating!

TANYA LUBANSKY
Secretary
Tanya is currently the Director of Photo-Identification Research with Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic. She is passionate about both scientific research and education, particularly in making both accessible for anyone. Much of her professional career has been focused on bringing her enthusiasm and skillset to diverse learning platforms, from working with tourists on whale watch vessels to mentoring high school student research and now to the new frontier of distance education. Tanya has spent over a decade exploring the waters of Penobscot Bay through rowing and sailing. She currently lives on the Penobscot River in the “old river town” of Winterport.

Leigh Dorsey
Board Member
The throughline of Leigh’s varied careers has always been water. After serving as a Coast Guard officer in Alaska and Maine, she worked as an environmental consultant helping Maine farms keep nutrients out of streams and rivers. She is a Registered Maine Guide and holds a USCG 100-ton masters license. She loves rowing long distances across cold coastal waters and delights in helping others connect to the sea (and each other) through rowing.

ETHAN SHAW
President
Ethan is a reformed attorney with a demonstrated commitment to public service, environmental justice, and protection of our natural resources. In his free time he can often be found rowing in beautiful Belfast Bay.

JONATHAN FULFORD
Vice President
Jonathan is a retired owner/manager/carpenter of the construction business Artisan Builders, Inc. Having campaigned for state and federal office, he has experience with education and advocacy as well as government process.

In Loving Memory of Sally Lynn Brophy
Artist, photographer, educator, environmentalist and friend. Sally profoundly loved the Little River and spent almost every day walking and photographing there with her partner of 30 years, Conny Hatch, and their dog, Buzz. She was a fierce and courageous defender of both the Little River and the Penobscot Bay and fought valiantly for their protection.