Clean Water Act Grant Wraps-up
As the colors of fall begin to fade, so do the sounds of summer. Most of the boats and swimming kids are gone and even the loons seem to have gotten quieter in advance of their departure. But above the swoosh of the waves and the wind, a low grumble can still be heard. It’s the sound of excavators and dump trucks working to complete the remaining projects funded by our EPA Watershed Protection Grant.
Our last big project designed to protect the lake by reducing sediment run-off was recently completed by Treeline Inc. Initial work on the Birch Lane Project was done by Gardner and Sons in 2017. Ditches on a seriously eroded stretch of the road now have rock armoring and check dams along with seeding and mulching of bare soil. A new culvert has been installed to help protect the road from future wash-outs.
The Grant has also provided funding for ditch and culvert projects in Lincoln and Enfield and for projects at Morgan’s Beach and the Enfield Town boat landing. The funding comes from a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act grant to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and has been administered by Amy Polyot of the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD).
The CSCOA provided most of the matching funding, either in dollars or in-kind work. Other partners included the Towns of Enfield and Lincoln as well as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), the PCSWCD, KCSWCD, King Brothers, Gardner and Sons, and Treeline Inc.
Of the nine camp owners who applied for grant funds to complete shoreline projects designed to protect the lake, Jim Gregoire; Betty Keller and John Bennett; Kathleen Baynes and Joel Deckler, Ski Winter completed their projects. Charlie and Lynn Frazier plan to have their project done this fall.
When the boats and the swimmers and the loons return next spring, the federal grant funds will no longer be available. That doesn’t mean that you won’t be hearing the sounds of heavy equipment. Although CSCOA grants for road associations and camp owners were replaced by the federal grant process for the last three years, they will be resuming in 2020. Some of the projects that were not completed during the term of the grant may be eligible for funding by the CSCOA. The spring newsletter and the web site will have all the details.
What is a check dam?
This picture shows a road ditch improvement practice designed to slow runoff water. Along a ditch located on a slope, the small rock dams “check” the speed of the flow, allowing sediment to drop out behind the dam. The lower velocity is also easier on the ditch banks. These dams have to be cleaned out periodically to maintain their effectiveness. Notice also that the ditch has vegetation in it. The plants hold the banks and soil of the ditch, preventing erosion and slowing the water. Proper maintenance of roads and ditches helps protect water quality around our lake.