JAY — Paddlers of the 16th annual Source to the Sea Trek took a break at Pine Island on July 24, where they talked with Androscoggin Mill Environmental Manager Ken Gallant about the science of the river.

Gallant discussed the leaps the water has made in quality over the past generation, now providing a clean resource for fishing, boating and other recreation.

He told them about the recent work the mill’s owner, Verso Paper Corp., is doing with Androscoggin Land Trust and the town of Jay to donate part of and conserve 1,200 acres of forested lands in Canton and Jay that are within the Androscoggin River watershed.

Paddlers also learned about a recent study Verso was part of that shows the eagle population along the river has gone from near extinction 23 years ago to 25 pairs in 2009, including removal from the endangered species list.

Verso supplied transportation to paddlers and lunchtime refreshments at the Otis Mill where that leg of the trek ended July 24. The 19-day event began July 7 on the Maine-New Hampshire border, with paddlers traveling nearly the entire 170-mile stretch of the Androscoggin River, ending in Brunswick on Aug. 7.

Paddlers can register for any section of the trek at www.androscogginwatershed.org or call 207-754-8158.