Fifteen watershed property owners will receive letters from the Boothbay Region Water District inviting them to participate in the district’s first ever landscaping grant program. The program will help to eliminate erosion and runoff into Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake, the primary drinking water sources for the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport.

Susan Mello, water resources manager for the district, received financial approval for the program from the district’s trustees at their meeting last Tuesday. The first letters were sent to residents on Friday, May 15.

The letters offer grants to homeowners who might want to make their properties more “lake friendly” by making small changes to control runoff and erosion. The concern is that contaminants entering the watershed via runoff or erosion may include phosphorous, which promotes the growth of algae and affects the quality of the water. Protecting the water supply also helps to keep water treatment costs — and water bills — lower.

In June 2014, a watershed team of 12 volunteers and 6 water district employees surveyed the developed areas along Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake and found 46 erosion sites that were deemed likely to contribute sediments to the watershed. Of these, 22 percent were residential and the others were identified as commercial, state roads, town roads and other non-residential sites.

The survey showed a need for residents to become aware of ways to manage runoff and erosion. The water district established the landscaping grant program so that it could help property owners by providing technical and financial assistance.

Grant monies are limited to $1,000 per property and will be provided from the water district directly to the property owner to fund projects that will significantly reduce erosion and runoff. These may include rain gutters, rain barrels, runoff diverters and mulching or planting bare soil, and experts are available to provide advice to homeowners. The grants will be offered on a 50/50 basis with the water district funding up to $1,000 for half of the cost and the homeowners funding the other half. The homeowners’ portion of the funds may be used for materials, contractor’s fees or labor.

The first step for those wishing to accept the grant program offer is to contact Mello at 207-633-4723, ext. 111. A site visit will then be scheduled with an expert who can review the project and provide recommendations. There is no charge for the visit or recommendations and those who receive letters are not obligated to accept the district’s grant offer.

The program is entirely voluntary and the water district hopes that residents will become more aware of ways to manage runoff and erosion. 

“Little things can mean a lot,” Mello said.