AUGUSTA — In November, 2014, Maine voters passed the “Clean Water for Maine” bond. As a result, $5,400,000 in funds was earmarked for vital improvement projects including stream crossing and culvert upgrades. The projects awarded will: benefit public infrastructure by replacing several culverts that are currently failing and at risk of complete washouts, open up fish spawning habitat, eliminate undersized and other impassable culverts and reduce some of the worst ongoing erosion impacts to streams, brooks, and lakes.

The DEP received 69 complete applications to review which totaled over five million dollars in fund requests, the Department has issued $800,000 in grant money during the first round of applications. The application for the second round of the 2015 Grants for Stream Crossing Public Infrastructure Improvements will be available beginning October 5, 2015.

Maine DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho is pleased to announce funds for the following 15 projects across the State:

St. Albans – Springer Landing Road $95,000
Litchfield – Jimmy Stream $95,000
Brunswick – River Road $93,800
Woodstock – Concord Pond Road $80,000
Bremen – Heath Road Bridge $95,000
Orland – Happytown Road Crossing $47,496
Ellsworth – Shore Road $89,354
Lower Murray Fitts Mountain Road Association – Fitts Mountain Road $26,300
Monson – Elliotsville Road $10,025
Fort Kent – Black Lake Road $15,000
Fayette – King Brook $65,000
Newcastle – West Old County Road (2) $5,850 and $25,000
Western Foothills Land Trust – Crooked River $25,600
Piscataquis County – Blackstone Brook $31,575