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Shore and Harbor Grants Awarded

June 23, 2009
Conservation

Dan Prichard, (207) 287-4919

Jeanne Curran (207) 287-3156

AUGUSTA, Maine – Eleven coastal communities have been awarded 12 new Shore and Harbor Planning Grants, totaling more than $140,000, according to Maine Department of Conservation officials.

The grant program is administered by the Maine Coastal Program at the State Planning Office, with funding support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Submerged Lands Program at the Maine Department of Conservation. Under the terms of the grants, communities also provide at least 25 percent of the project costs through funding or in-kind services.

Shore and Harbor Planning grants are designed to promote sound waterfront planning, harbor management and balanced development of shore and harbor areas to improve marine infrastructure and to assure access to the shore. Funds can be used for harbor planning, planning studies, planning for harbor improvements and management plans for municipal facilities.

“The Maine Coastal Program has operated a municipal grant program for many years, and the Maine Department of Conservation is happy to support these community efforts to improve public use and access in coastal areas,” Dan Prichard, Submerged Lands Program director, said.

The departmental funding comes from the leasing of public submerged lands for private uses such as private piers, marinas, and boatyards. These funds are then returned to benefit the public through grants for public access facilities and planning efforts such as the 12 projects recently approved.

Publicly owned submerged lands include tidal waters beyond the mean low water line, lakes and ponds larger than 10 acres, and boundary rivers with Canada.

The following grants were awarded:

  • Freeport -- Harraseeket River Shellfish Management Plan, $8,800;
  • Freeport -- Winslow Park Erosion Control Plan, $17,000;
  • Harpswell -- Harbor Management Plans, $20,000;
  • Kennebunkport -- Mooring Plan, $5,000;
  • Kittery -- Harbor Development Economic Feasibility Study, $8,918;
  • Machias -- Machias River Walkway Project, $20,000;
  • Mount Desert -- N.E. Harbor Waterfront Redevelopment Project, $20,000;
  • Rockland -- Public Landing Engineering Study and Design Project, $11,100;
  • Stonington -- Mooring Field Project, $5,200;
  • Topsham -- Lower Village Public Access and Redevelopment Project, $20,000;
  • Vinalhaven -- Carver’s Harbor Mooring Project,$3,750;
  • Wiscasset -- Mooring Removal Project, $2,250;
  • Total: $142,018

For more information, contact Dan Prichard, Submerged Lands Program director, at (207) 287-4919

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