Branch Lake Watershed Improvement Project- Phase II

 The Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce that is has been awarded a second “319” grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to help reduce nonpoint source pollution issues in the Branch Lake watershed.

This grant will help to fix erosion problems on roadways and at residences in the northwestern section of the watershed which will reduce NPS pollution by decreasing the amount of sediment and phosphorus entering the lake.  The grant will start in the spring of 2010 and will continue through the fall of 2011.  This grant will complement work that was accomplished in the Phase I “319” grant which focused on the northeastern section of the watershed.

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is stormwater that washes off of driveways, roofs, parking lots, roads, agricultural fields, construction sites, forestry operations, and other surfaces carrying with it contaminants to our streams, lakes, oceans, and groundwater.  NPS pollution is the number one threat to the waters of the state of Maine and the nation.  It causes increased algae blooms, reduced water clarity, reduced dissolved oxygen, and decreased habitats for fish and other aquatic organisms.  It can also cause beach closures and swimming bans, contaminates drinking water sources, and can lead to declines in shoreline property values.  NPS pollution harms the recreational appeal and beauty of a waterbody.

For more information contact Megan Facciolo at the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District at 667-8663 or megan.facciolo@me.nacdnet.net