Holiday Office Closure
Our office is closed on December 24 and December 31 and open by appointment from December 27 through December 30.
Bill Rust Retires from District Board
Join us in thanking Bill for his 55 years of service on our District Board.
Now Seeking Abstracts for 2022 MSWC
We’re seeking over 50 presentations to fill the 2022 agenda at the Maine Stormwater Conference. This in-person event will be taking place on November 1 & 2, 2022 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.
Full Steam Ahead for Agriculture Equipment Share Program
On five small farms, Christmas came early this year with the arrival of a new shiny red… soil steamer?
Hear how these farms pooled resources to start an equipment share program with us to gain access to new innovative equipment.
2022 Urban Runoff 5k Registration is Open!
Calling all stormwater heroes, registration for the 2022 virtual Urban Runoff 5k is now open!
The Maine Stormwater Conference Returns 2022
We’re back in person for The Maine Stormwater Conference on November 1 & 2, 2022 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.
Survey for Southern Maine Farmers
Attention Farmers!
Please take a moment to share your thoughts on a potential specialized equipment share program.
We wish Betty a happy retirement!
We want to thank Betty for her 40 years of conservation service and wish her all the best in her retirement. She will be missed!
CCSWCD Awarded Healthy Communities Grant by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the District a second Healthy Communities Grant to continue education to home gardeners in the greater Portland, ME region on the effects of soil lead contamination. The project scope has expanded to include a larger geographic area and additional soil, plant tissue, and chicken egg testing.
Public Notice of Election to the Board of Supervisors
Persons desiring to run for the office of District Supervisor for the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District should contact the District office at 35 Main Street, Suite 3, Windham, Maine (Phone: 892-4700), to obtain nomination papers.
Fall: The Best Time for Lawn Care
Set the stage to grow healthy plants in 2022 by implementing YardScaping tips now through October (or whenever killing frosts occur).
Call for Abstracts Deadline
We’re seeking dynamic presenters to highlight 20 minute case studies using LID, Green Infrastructure, and/or site preservation for our 2021 Webinar Series in October. Presentations will be moderated as part of a lightning round webinar with an open Q & A.
Community Agriculture Planning
The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) worked from February, 2020 through June, 2021 to develop a “Community Agriculture Planning Toolkit”. The project was funded by the National Association of Conservation District’s Urban Agriculture Conservation grant program. The project built on CCSWCD’s previous community agriculture work which began in 2016 with a grant from NACD.
Lead in Portland’s Soil
The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the District a Healthy Communities Grant in 2019. We have been busy developing outreach materials, collecting soil and plant tissue samples, and sharing information on how to garden safely in contaminated soils.
Join us on September 21 at 3pm to learn more about the findings of over 120 soil tests from Portland’s West End, Parkside, Bayside, and East Bayside neighborhoods.
Become a Stream Explorer!
Maine Audubon and the Department of Environmental Protection are recruiting Stream Explorers who can help survey large aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) in streams in southern Maine. Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District has a survey kit available for Stream Explorers to borrow.
Growing Together: A Community Agriculture Planning Toolkit
Jun 22nd | 3:30pm | FREE
This webinar for municipal officials, community leaders, and community development groups will showcase work completed through a grant from the NACD to create a tool kit for Community Agriculture Planning and case studies from 4 communities.
Free Soil Lead Screening
Free soil lead screening is available to Cumberland County residents. Bring your samples (up to 3) to one of five drop-off points. Samples collected will be mailed to the EPA lab for a free lead screening. All results will be analyzed anonymously and individual information will not be visible to the public. Results will be returned with recommendations based on individual results.
Heathy Lawn and Garden Items Available in the Conservation Shop
Composting at home is easy, reduces the amount of trash you have to throw away, and can be used around your yard for lawn and garden care once it’s done! Purchase an Earth Machine Composter to start composting in your backyard and then use your new compost to brew compost tea to feed your lawn and gardens and build healthy soils.
Thank You to Our Stormwater Heroes!
Over the month of April we had stormwater heroes protecting water quality all over the state by removing litter, learning about stormwater best management practices, and supporting clean water education in local schools.