York River Study Committee

The York River Study Committee was formed in late 2015. Volunteers for the Study Committee were sought from Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and York through a public application process open to all communities’ residents. Town officials appointed committee members from their respective towns. The Study Committee includes voting members (individuals appointed by towns) and non-voting members (representatives of public agencies). Committee members represent a broad range of expertise and interests related to the York River watershed. The Committee hired a Study Coordinator in early 2016.

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve serves as fiscal agent for the York River Study Committee. Money from the National Park Service Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers Program (about $60,000 per year for the three-year York River Study) was awarded through a Cooperative Agreement with the Wells Reserve.

York River Study Committee members:

Voting Members

  • Karen Arsenault, York
  • Stefan Claesson, Eliot
  • Jean Demetracopoulos, South Berwick
  • Cindy Donnell, York
  • Thom Kearns, York
  • Joan LeBlanc, York
  • Mike Masi, York
  • Jack Murphy, Eliot
  • Chuck Ott, York
  • Judy Spiller, Kittery (Committee Chair)
  • Beth Walter, York (active 2016-2017)

Non-voting Members

  • Paul Dest, Wells Reserve (Committee Vice Chair and Treasurer)
  • Jamie Fosburgh, National Park Service
  • Jim MacCartney, National Park Service
  • Judy Gates, Maine DOT (active 2016-2018)
  • David Gardner, Maine DOT
  • Claire Enterline, Maine Coastal Program

York River Study Coordinator (from February 2016 through January 2023): Jennifer Hunter

From late 2015 to early 2020, the York River Study Committee met monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month (third Tuesday in December) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Grant House in York. From mid 2020 to early 2023, meetings were much less frequent and primarily conducted via Zoom.

All meetings are open to the public. Meeting notices are sent to town administrative staff in York, Eliot, Kittery and South Berwick and posted through towns’ meeting calendars.

To contact the York River Study Committee, email Chair Judy Spiller or Vice Chair Paul Dest.