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MAINE
Maine's overall NPS control program goal is to develop local support and
capabilities for planning and implementing actions to prevent or abate water
pollution caused by nonpoint sources. Section 319 funds are used to support
State Water Quality Agency NPS program staff and Maine's NPS Implementation
Grants Program. Statewide programs include a technical assistance program that
provides clear guidance and technical support to state and regional agencies,
local governments, business and individuals; and an information and education
programs - targeted to groups, the general public, and school children. The
implementation grant program provides financial and technical assistance for
comprehensive watershed protection projects. The watershed projects are
typically carried out by resource specialists under contract with soil and
water conservation districts. Activities usually include technical assistance
to landowners and towns, information and education delivery to targeted groups,
- installation of BMP demonstration projects, and support of local government
inspection/enforcement. The Sebago Lake Project is an example of one of Maine's
watershed projects.
Saving Sebago Lake Watershed
Over the last 20 years, the beautiful, high quality lakes of the Sebago
Lake watershed have attracted significant - residential and commercial growth.
But with this growth has come subtle declines in lake water quality and -
increasing concern about how to protect these waters.
Sebago Lake is the largest public drinking water supply in the state and
furnishes Portland, the state's largest metropolitan area, with drinking water.
The lake drains to the Casco Bay estuary, designated as a National Estuary
Project. Since 1908, the Portland Water District (PWD) has been responsible for
protecting and preserving Sebago Lake's water quality. In an effort to broaden
the watershed protection program, PWD joined with the local soil and water
conservation district to publicize and promote the use of nonpoint source water
pollution control measures in the 440- square-mile watershed. From 1990 through
1993, PWD used two section 319 grants totaling $75,000. The local soil and
water conservation district hired a resource specialist to work with PWD staff
to provide direct technical assistance, information, education, and training to
the many individuals, targeted groups, and general publics in the watershed's
16 towns. Technical assistance came in many forms. Individuals received help in
solving chronic erosion problems, implementing phosphorus control measures, and
repairing and maintaining private roads and driveways. Program staff helped
developers and contractors install required phosphorus controls and prepared
development site plan review comments. The program staff also helped towns
establish local phosphorus control ordinances.
Throughout the program, PWD staff developed and implemented a shorefront
lot audit program, identified solutions for priority shoreline erosion
problems, and assisted in demonstration projects. In addition, staff evaluated
and prioritized road and ditch maintenance problems and helped towns design and
implement repair and maintenance. The program also supported a menu of
information and education activities. The program sponsored BMP and road ditch
seminars for local contractors and seminars and direct education for local code
enforcement officers. Public information included speaking engagements,
preparation and distribution of NPS brochures, press - releases, contributions
to the Sebago Lake Watershed Newsletter, and materials for a display booth at a
local shopping mall. The program also promoted a low-cost planting project and
sponsored a conservation tour, activities in local schools, and mailings to
local hunting and fishing organizations.
The watershed program produced many lasting achievements. Public education
significantly raised the public's interest and understanding of watershed
protection and lake water quality and sparked a new lake association to foster
protection activities. Six towns have adopted local phosphorus control
ordinances.
Where PWD formerly offered its public education program to local schools,
it can no longer satisfy school requests and has sought assistance from the
Gulf of Maine Aquarium to meet the demand. Shorefront owners have shown
interest in planting on their properties, and brochures and other literature
are widely circulated inside and outside the watershed. The program has
increased the awareness of local code enforcement officers about watershed and
lake protection concerns, and road maintenance crews more frequently use BMPs
in road ditch improvements and maintenance. Only continued nurturing will
ensure that these successes protect future local water resources. The primary
demonstration of the project's success is that, since the 319 funding ended,
the PWD now supports a full-time soil scientist/educator to continue to promote
and improve PWD's watershed protection program.
Ditch of the Year Contest Tenders Technology Transfer
Municipal road crews constructed prize-winning ditches and learned erosion
control techniques at the same time by competing in Maine's 1992 Ditch of the
Year contest. Road crews used BMPs in daily ditching activities while vying for
locally donated prizes.
Most towns in the Sebago Lake and Casco Bay estuary watersheds sponsored
teams. Participating towns sent team representatives to a training session to
learn about Sebago Lake and Casco Bay, erosion control BMPs, the cost of
erosion compared to erosion control, ditching and culvert installation, and
basic grading. Field sessions allowed participants to watch grading techniques
and practice stabilizing new ditches. To enter a ditch in the contest, road
crews merely notified the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conserva- tion
District (CCSWCD) when they began work. CCSWCD took pictures of the work and
offered advice as requested. Judging was based on the shape of ditch,
successful erosion control measures used (such as seeding), reaction to
rainfall conditions, and project planning. Crews received special awards for
the best "bang for the buck" ditch and for innovative ideas. The Ditch of the
Year contest was sponsored by Maine's Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) section 319 program and Department of Transportation, Portland Water
District, Casco Bay Estuary Project, and CCSWCD. Section 319 funds included
$10,000 for the CCSWCD to provide technical assistance. In addition, 319
partially supported a DEP staff position that provided technical support. In
general, sponsors worked together to provide technical assistance--for example,
the CCSWCD district engineer coached the road crews on using BMPs. Road crews
competed both individually and on behalf of their towns. Municipal prizes
included hosting the local roads center grading seminar--which translated into
free grading services valued at some $30,000-one-day use of a hydroseeder, and
various erosion control materials. Individual donated prizes included ski
passes, a rafting trip, free bowling, a Casco Bay Islands boat trip, a Sebago
Lake fishing trip, and a one-hour plane ride for two.
The favorable publicity generated by the contest further highlighted the
importance of erosion control to avoid sedimentation of streams and minimize
cost of ditch repairs. It also gave municipalities a new and more helpful image
of the environmental resource agencies and developed new working relationships
with land use groups. Most importantly, road crews and town managers saw that
using good design and stabilizing road ditches need not take much additional
time or money and that a little planning and simple erosion control will save
both. Since the contest, public works crews have installed many more erosion
control measures. Occasional direct contact and technical assistance will do
much to ensure that road crews continue using BMPs.
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