Watershed Protection Grant - 2008 Projects
2008 Stream Assessment and Buffer Planting- Bowdoin Central School
Fourth grade students at Bowdoin Central School their librarian, Marianne Haughwout, and teachers, Christine Egan and David Hammond, along with Denise Blanchette, DEP educator, were involved in an exciting project that involves the monitoring and evaluation of the stream that flows in front of their school. This stream serves as a unique learning environment since it is a small part of the Cathance River Watershed and Merrymeeting Bay drainage.
During several months the students researched extensively into watersheds, ecology, processes, sources of pollution and its effects, as well as methods to control erosion. Then with the help of Project Learning Tree, and wildlife biologist, Steve Pelletier, the students designed and planned several ways to reduce runoff and improve their school's watershed. The students planted trees and shrubs along the shoreline to increase filtering of runoff and provide habitat for wildlife.
The culmination of the student's efforts was presented to the community at an Educational Fair in June of 2008. The students' work researching and planning during the school year and a day of physical labor have made a real difference in the quality of their local stream for all to enjoy!
2008 Pattee's Pond Buffer Project- Winslow Junior High School
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Ginny Brackett's seventh grade students wanted to address the recent impacts of development along Pattee Pond's shoreline. Their project focused on creating attractive vegetative buffers and defined parking areas to protect water quality. They selected a site along the shores near a local boat launch and beach area. This site was ideal; not only is it visable to the public and needed some attention, there was a lot of erosion from foot traffic, and road run off that was polluting the lake.
The students from Winslow Jr. High were joined by members of the Pattee's Pond Association and lake residents to implement their project. The students worked with the Maine DEP and Pattee's Pond Association to select plants appropriate for the soil and location and to develop a landscape plan. An overview of the erosion issues at the site was presented along with plans to restore the shoreline adjacent to the beach. Equipped with spades and shovels students teamed up and planted plants and spead an estimated 400 cubic yards of erosion control mix. Students presented their project at the annual meeting for Pattee's Pond on the values of vegatative buffers in water quality protection.
2008 Cobbossee Stream Buffer Planting -
Gardiner High School
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Sharon Gallant's Environmental Studies class at Gardiner High School wanted to culminate their studies with an action project. The students elected to work on a vegetative buffer and some erosion control berms near the newly built tennis courts on the school grounds. The courts were creating a large amount of stormwater runoff into Cobbosseee Stream. The buffer planting the students completed will slow the flow of stormwater to reduce the amount of pollution coming from the parking area and tennis courts.
The Maine DEP partnered up with 20 high school students to make this project happen. Students worked to map the area and plan out what plants would be appropriate given the site conditions and how to install and create berms. Native plants were predominately utilized.
To complete their service project the students then presented a watershed model to younger students and taught about the benifits of vegitative buffers in protecting water quality.
