The City of Rockland and the Town of Thomaston are among recipients of municipal stream crossing grants awarded by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in 2021. Maine voters approved a bond package in 2018 that included $5 million dollars 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.

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 (DEP) received 47 applications totaling over $5.5 million dollars in funding requests. The forty-two 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.

Maine DEP announces funds for the following 42 projects across the State:

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