Water Quality Grants Now Available
Apply for water quality grants online.
Now that our EPA grant has been implemented, federal matching funds are no longer available for watershed protection projects. However, camp owners and camp road associations can still apply for cost share funding by the CSCOA. AS before, the grants will be available to help fund the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) designed to protect or improve the water quality of Cold Stream Pond (CSP).
Here’s how the program will work:
Category 1. Shorefront Property Owner Assistance
Funding will be provided for the implementation of approved BMPs on private shorefront properties as follows:
· Only properties that have been evaluated by the CSP LakeSmart program are eligible.
· Proposed BMP projects must have been recommended to the land owner in a LakeSmart report following the evaluation. Eligible BMPs include:
o Erosion control mulching
o Buffer plantings
o Seeding
o Dripline trenches
o Gravel or mulched pathways
o Rip-rap for shoreline stabilization
o Infiltration steps
o Rain gardens
o Rubber razors
o Other practices recommended by LakeSmart
· Total CSCOA Category 1 grant funding per calendar year is limited to $3,000. Additional grants may be approved by the CSCOA Board of Directors.
· Grantee is responsible for a minimum of 40% of the cost of the approved projects through cash, labor, purchases or other in-kind contribution. CSCOA will provide up to 60% of the cost of the projects, not to exceed $600 per grant. Funds are provided to the Grantee upon satisfactory completion of the project.
· Grantees may apply anytime through the CSCOA website (fillable online form).
· Applications will be reviewed and approved by the Water Quality Grant Committee chair on an on-going basis. A LakeSmart evaluator may make additional site visits if necessary prior to approval.
· Grants will be approved and funded allocated in the order that the applications are received until the annual maximum is reached. Projects recommended by the LakeSmart program are assumed to be beneficial to lake water quality and so are not subject to additional review or ranking. (Except that Grantee is responsible for any necessary approvals by the DEP or town Code Enforcement Officer.)
· Water Quality Grant Committee Chair will notify grantee of selection, work with grantee to prepare a signed cost-share agreement, review implementation, and certify satisfactory completion and documentation of expenses before requesting reimbursement to Grantee.
Category 2. Camp Road Projects
Funding will be provided for the implementation of approved BMPs on private camp roads as follows:
· Only road-related projects which benefit the water quality of Cold Stream Pond are eligible. Types of projects include:
o Armoring of ditches or culvert ends with rock
o New or re-designed culverts (other than routine maintenance)
o Plunge pools or other water retention areas
o Storm water turn-outs
o Broad-based road dips
o Road shaping to promote drainage
· Work must be performed according to recommendations in the DEP “Camp Road Maintenance Manual” (available on CSCOA website.)
· Grantee must represent a road association and/or be a CSCOA member.
· Total CSCOA Category 2 grant funding per calendar year is limited to $3,000. Additional grants (with or without cost-sharing) may be approved by the CSCOA Board of Directors.
· Grantee is responsible for a minimum of 40% of the cost of the approved projects through cash, labor, purchases or other in-kind contribution. CSCOA will provide up to 60% of the cost of the projects, not to exceed $1,500 per grant. Funds are provided to the Grantee upon satisfactory completion of the project.
· Grantees may apply anytime through the CSCOA website (fillable online form).
· All applications received by June 1 (extended to June 15, this year only) of each year will be reviewed by the Committee to determine eligibility by June 15 (extended to June 30, this year only).
· All eligible projects will be visited by the committee along with representatives (as available) from the Penobscot County Soil and Water District (PCSWD), Maine DEP, and town code enforcement to review and rank the proposals.
· By July 15(extended to July 30, this year only), grantees will be notified of award status. Water Quality Grant Committee Chair will work with grantee to prepare a signed cost-share agreement, review implementation, and certify satisfactory completion and documentation of expenses before requesting reimbursement to Grantee.
Contact Jim Fenwood, Water Quality Grant Committee Chair for more information (jfenwood@gmail.com).