BELFAST – The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is the new name for the expanded Passy Coalition.

The name change was prompted by a vote of the coalition, which has met once a month for two years under the auspices of the Coastal Mountain Land Trust, to expand its focus from protecting the Passagassawaukeag River Watershed to the entire Belfast Bay Watershed.

The Belfast Bay Watershed encompasses a total of 69,657 acres and is composed of four smaller watersheds: the Little River, Passagassawaukeag River, Wescott Stream and Goose River. It includes parts or all of the towns of Brooks, Frankfort, Knox, Morrill, Northport, Searsport, Swanville and Waldo as well as the city of Belfast.

In coming years, the group plans to collect ecological and cultural information about the wildlife, natural resources and recreational areas within the watershed. The final step will be to develop a conservation plan for the area.

The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Belfast Historical Society on Market Street in Belfast. Anyone interested in learning more about the coalition and its activities is encouraged to attend.

The coalition publishes a quarterly newsletter and sponsors monthly hikes to promote knowledge of the individual areas within the watershed. For more information, call Molly Schlauffler at 338-6370.