Three municipal stream crossing grants awarded by Maine DEP to county projects

Maine voters approved a bond package in 2018 that included $5 million for vital infrastructure improvements at municipal stream crossings. These monies fund competitive grants that match local funding for the upgrade of culverts at stream crossings on municipal roads. 

Among the 40-plus grant recipients projects — each funded for the maximum $125,000 — are the Taylor Road in Blanchard Township, Grove Street in Dover-Foxcroft and Elliotsville Road in Willimantic.

The awarded projects will benefit public infrastructure and safety by replacing failing culverts that are at risk of complete washout or collapse; reduce flooding and increase resiliency with the installation or larger, higher capacity and longer-lived crossings. The upgraded crossings will also benefit fish and wildlife by opening and reconnecting stream habitat fragmented by undersized and impassable culverts, represent a cost-effective and efficient investment and match local funds committed to the project.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection received 47 applications totaling over $5.5 million in funding requests. The 42 stream crossing projects funded this round will result in new or improved fish passage to nearly 100 miles of streams statewide. Previous rounds of culvert grants have resulted in the distribution of $10.7 million in bond funds for 130 infrastructure improvements in Maine communities statewide.

For more information including examples of successful applications and the master score sheet for this round please visit Maine DEP’s website: https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/grants/stream-crossing-upgrade.html.