Carbon Credit Program of Maine

AVSWCD is now implementing Phase 2 of the Carbon Credit Program of Maine.  For more complete background of this program you can look at the Carbon Credit Program page, see pdf files for the brochure, presentations at the Delta Institute training,  Farm Energy Workshop and Risk Management Agency video training.   AVSWCD gave a presentation at the Ag Trade Show in Augusta.  Click on this link to view: Maine Carbon Credit Program

Farm Energy Partners is a network of providers who promote access to and coordiantion among programs designed to assist farmers with achieving energy efficiency savings and development of farm-grown energy sources. Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is a partner of FEPN, (a program of Maine rural Partners) collaborating to provide services to farmers within Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties, serves on the management team and is the lead for the agricultural carbon sequestration protion of a USDA Risk Management Agency grant received by Maine Rural Partners on behalf of the FEPN. See http://www.mainerural.org/energy/.

EPA Funded Grant Projects

Sabattus Pond Watershed Implementation Grant Phase 3

AVSWCD is now beginning a new 319 Clean Water Act grant obtained through funding from Enivronmental Protection and administered by Maine Department of Environmental Protection.  The project will use volunteers from the Sabattus Pond Watershed Partnership to serve on a steering committee, who will  provide guidance for the implementation of the work to be don through this grant project.  Free technical assistance is available to those living in the Sabattus Pond Watershed.   If you live in the watershed and are interested in this project please contact Susan Gammon at the district office to set up a site visit by phoning 753-9400 extension 404 or email her at susan.gammon@me.nacdnet.net.  When emailing, please note in the subject "Sabattus Pond Interest".

The next step in the Sabattus Pond Watershed Implementaton Grant - Phase 3 is to hold a public meeting on May 5, 2010. Click this link to read the press release. To see the flyer with meeting time, location and agenda, click here.  To learn more go to "Sabattus Pond Project" page.

Sabattus Pond Watershed Project-Phase 2 (WIFAP grant) has wrapped up its final year. Technical Assistance has been given to those who requested it and construction projects have been completed.  

Nequasset Lake Watershed Improvement Project-Phase 1 (319 grant)
This project is in its final years.  Technical assistance has been given to those who requested it and two final construction projects will be completed.   Click here (pdf) to see a slide show of some projects completed this past season!  

Click here (pdf) to read the latest press release on the Nequasset Lake project or go to our News link on the sidebar to the left.

The Nequasset Lake project is in response to a watershed survey that was done in 2006. Results of that watershed survey can be viewed by the links below.

Nequasset Lake Watershed Survey:  Summary Sheet (pdf) or  Full Report (pdf)

What is 319?
Section 319 was added to the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1987 to establish a national program to address nonpoint sources of water pollution. The leading cause of water quality degradation in the United States, nonpoint source pollution originates from diffuse or scattered sources rather than a defined point like a pipe outlet. Click Here to go to the EPA site for further explanation.

Contact your local soil and water conservation district if you have a project you would like our help with or interested in applying for a 319 grant. A meeting can be set up to further discuss applying for this grant. To read the current request for proposal click Here. This link will connect you to the Maine DEP website who is responsible for administering the grant.  

Groundwater and Drinking Water Protection Program

Groundwater and Drinking Water Protection Program  Clicking on the this link will take you to the menu for self assessment tools. The assessment tools are now complete and planning is research for funding that will make it possible to complete the assessments online is in process.

Hart Brook Urban Stream Watershed Survey

AVSWCD has worked with the city of Lewiston and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct an urban stream watershed survey. This survey was a piece of a larger project and AVSWCD was happy to be involved. To learn more about what the City of Lewiston and Maine DEP are working on go to the following site: http://www.ci.lewiston.me.us/stormwater/hartbrook/index.htm

Rain Barrel Promotional Program

AVSWCD has worked with the City of Lewiston to provide technical assistance to residents needing help with roof water runoff issues as another phase for stormwater management in the Hart Brook Watershed.  The promotion of using rain barrels to collect roof water runoff was one solution offered.  AVSWCD sold the rain barrels.  Call the AVSWCD Office Manager Jane Heikkinen for more information on the cost and for ordering rain barrels at 753-9400 ext 400 or email her at jane.heikkinen@me.nacdnet.net.

We continually try to help people make connections and decisions in the name of conservation.

Below are photos of a camp road owner who had his road re-graded with Front Runner.