The town of Boothbay is seeking a federal Clean Water Act grant in conjunction with the Boothbay Region Water District. The grant is a 40/60 percent cost split between the applicant and Environmental Protection Agency.

The selectmen agreed to become a co-applicant after hearing a presentation from BRWD Watershed program director Sue Mello. During the June 10 board meeting, Mello explained the grant would address erosion and run-off issues associated with town roads in the Knickerbocker Lake and Adams Pond watersheds.

The EPA will provide 60 percent of all project funding. The applicant is responsible for the rest. According to Mello, the 40 percent local match can be “in-kind’ services. Mello explained the Boothbay Public Works Department could account for the largest part of the local contribution.

She advised the department could provide manpower for fixing washed out culverts. The grant would fund projects on both private- and public-owned land. Mello said the BRWD needs to partner with the town because a large number of the problem sites are municipally owned.

“At this point, we haven’t even applied. So I can not guarantee our application would be approved,” she said. “But, we can’t go forward without the town because so many of the sites in need of significant work are (owned by the town).”

Town Manager Dan Bryer assured selectmen that the public works crew could handle the additional work. He previously spoke to Public Works Director Mike Alley about the department’s capacity next summer to absorb an increased work load.

“Public works may have to shift a few projects around, but Mike is confident that it’s all attainable. His only concern is some projects are on private property,” Bryer said.

Mello said a survey completed last year identified about 50 run-off sites. This year, the district is trying to address the most serious ones. The district has offered 15 grants to local homeowners to repair problem sites.

The BRWD is also hoping to receive a Clean Water grant next year to fund more work.

The selectmen agreed the grant would benefit all parties.

“I only have two concerns,” Selectman Steve Lewis said. “One is the cost. And it appears there is no cost to the town. Second is if the public works (dept.) has the time. And it appears they do. So I don’t see a problem with partnering with the water district on this.”

The BRWD and Knickerbocker Lake Association received a similar grant in 2004. They were awarded a $70,000 grant, but the town didn’t accept the money.

“We didn’t ask the town to partner with us before submitting the application. So it was suddenly, here the money is,” Mello said. “We asked the town what they wanted to do, but we didn’t follow the right process. So it didn’t happen.”

Mello said many of the projects slated for work would have been completed using the funds approved 10 years ago.

Mello told the selectmen that the BRWD would be responsible for submitting the application.