319 Clean Water Act Grants: Completion of Three Watershed Projects
The District assisted in the completion of three Section 319 Clean Water Act grants in 2018. These grants are awarded through a competitive grant process by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) to protect and improve water quality in their designated Priority Waterbodies. Funding for these projects was provided in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. Highlights are as follows:
Concord Gully Brook Watershed Restoration Project, Phase I
This project was awarded to the District to address two key in-stream habitat sites in the Main Stem and Tributary C of Concord Gully Brook near Concord Road and Casco Street in Freeport. The goal was to help restore stream water quality and to build momentum for continued restoration in the Concord Gully Brook Watershed. Results included the stabilization of 800 feet of heavily eroding stream channel using pools and cascade structures, riffles, and rock vanes. The District estimated that over 68 tons of sediment were prevented from eroding into the stream by addressing these two sites!
Additional highlights included:
Successful collaboration between the Town of Freeport, Freeport Sewer District, MDEP, CCSWCD, Army Corps of Engineers, LL Bean, and contractors in addressing these two sites.
Three options for mitigating stream and channel erosion at the West Street culvert outlet were developed by the Town of Freeport’s Engineer.
Creation of a Concord Gully Brook Watershed NPS Site Tracker.
Over 66% in total project match generated ($51,416), mostly by the Town of Freeport.
Improved stream habitat and associated macroinvertebrate community recovery along and downstream of these restoration sites will likely continue over time attributing to the long-term goal of improving Concord Gully Brook’s aquatic habitat and water quality so that it meets its Class B water quality standard. The Town of Freeport is currently addressing additional sites throughout the watershed to meet action items of the 2015 Concord Gully Brook Watershed Management Plan.
Panther Pond Protection Project, Phase III
This project was awarded to the Town of Raymond with the District acting as the Sub-Grantee and Project Coordinator. This project was highly successful due to an engaged local community striving to do their part in protecting Panther Pond. Ongoing education and future remediation projects are anticipated given the importance of lake protection throughout the watershed’s community.
The following project tasks were completed to meet the action items of the 2015 Panther Pond Watershed-Based Protection Plan:
Outreach and recommendations were provided to 38 properties, of which 17 properties implemented erosion control practices.
Erosion control mulch deliveries were coordinated for ten watershed citizens at-cost with free delivery from the Town of Raymond’s Public Works Department.
Clean water lessons were provided by the District for RSU 14’s Katahdin Program students in 2017 and Boy Scout Troop 73 in 2018.
A review of previously installed 319 BMPs (from Phase I and II) was conducted by the Panther Pond Association.
A residential workshop was held on Ladyslipper Lane in 2018.
Community outreach was conducted through targeted letters, articles, website articles, presentations, one-on-one outreach, and the distribution of an end-of-project factsheet.
By completing these activities, the District estimated over 16 tons of sediment were prevented from washing into the Pond each year.
Sebago Lake Watershed Protection Project, Phase III
This project was awarded to Portland Water District (PWD) with CCSWCD acting as the Sub-Grantee and Project Coordinator. Working with PWD and property owners, technical assistance was provided to 28 sites with 14 large abatement sites being addressed preventing over 28 tons of sediment from entering the Lake each year. Projects were completed in the following locations:
Anderson Road, Sebago
Camp O-AT-Ka, Sebago (7 sites)
Lambs Mill Road, Naples
Sebago Lake State Park, Casco (4 sites)
State Park Road, Naples
This project generated over $80,000 in in-kind and cash match from the local community and revitalized partnerships with local municipal, state, and private campgrounds that are likely to continue with lake protection efforts for many years to come. Additional 319-project work on Sebago Lake will be pursued in 2019 as CCSWCD plans to continue to work with PWD in addressing action items from the 2015 Sebago Lake and Crooked River Watershed-Based Protection Plan.
For more information on 319 Clean Water Act Grants, please contact Heather Huntt at hhuntt@cumberlandswcd.org.
