There is still time to sign up for either of these two workshops that will help you prevent erosion and keep sediment and pollutants out of our lakes and streams.

On Tuesday, July 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Rebecca Jacobs, education coordinator with Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (KLSWCD), will present “Beef Up Your Buffer – Bigger IS Better.” Her talk will detail the hows and whys of using plants to reduce erosion and run-off along your waterfront. Participants will learn how vegetated buffers absorb water and nutrients, trap excess soil, and improve wildlife habitat. Rebecca will provide tips on choosing plants and answer questions about individual sites. The fee for this program is $5/person (payable at the door).

“Non-Traditional Solutions to Gravel Road Problems” will be held on Wednesday, July 24 from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The workshop will begin with two morning sessions on how to evaluate a gravel road and effective repair practices by Bill Laflamme, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and David Rocque, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. After lunch, the class will visit two sites to see in practice what they have learned in the morning training.

Recertification credits (4 contact hours) are available for Code Enforcement Officers and Certified Contractors. The fee for this course is $15, which includes morning coffee break and lunch. Registration deadline is July 19.

Both programs will be held at the Midcoast Friends Meeting at 77 Belvedere Road, just off Rt 1 in Damariscotta. To register for either program, call KLSWCD at 207-596-2040 or email info@knox-lincoln.org. To register and pay online for the gravel road workshop, go to www.knox-lincoln.org/gravel-road-wkshp_2013/.