Several towns, two islands, and the two cities on Penobscot Bay have received state grants in varying amounts Jan. 29 to improve harbors for fishermen, ferries and recreational boaters. This includes building a new wave screen at Lincolnville Beach to calm waters, installing a fishermen’s hoist in Camden Harbor, adding floats and providing power to boats at Searsport Harbor, and adding skiff and dinghy dock space in Rockport, which will enable sinking 25 new moorings, which, in turn, is to drive more traffic to Rockport Village restaurants and stores.
Lincolnville is receiving $106,000, half of the $212,000 project to better protect its exposed harbor.
“The match is in hand through years of savings and appropriations at the last town meeting,” said Lincolnville Town Administrator David Kinney.
The grant money is distributed through Maine’s Department of Transportation Small Harbor Improvement Program. The program’s mission is to promote “economic development, public access, improved commercial fishing opportunities and works to preserve, and create, infrastructure at facilities in tidewater and coastal municipalities.”
SHIP helps communities build wharves, piers, landings and boat ramps, and distributed annually. The funds derive from a state transportation bond approved last November by Maine voters. Last year, more than $1.4 million was distributed through the program; this year, the grants total approximately $1.9 million.
The grants are made contingent on a 50-percent matching capacity from the communities.
“If not for the wave screen, Lincolnville Harbor would be a relatively exposed harbor to wind and wave action over a long fetch,” wrote Kinney, in the town’s grant application submitted last December. “The existing wave screen had previously provided satisfactory protection to a portion of the mooring area, the transient boater, work boat, and water taxi float system, commercial fishing float system, recreational boater float system, the dinghy dock, the municipal fish pier and associated lifts, and the public boat launching ramp.”
In 2012, it was noted in harbor committee minutes that when the wind was blowing 12 knots and creating chop on the bay, Lincolnville waters behind the screen remained calm.
In 2010, the town had rebuilt the outer section of the wave screen, and this new grant will be used to finish the project. The town has been saving to pay for this last portion of the project through harbor fees and budget appropriations.
Kinney anticipates the work will be begin in September. According to grant specifications outlined by the Maine Department of Transportation, the projects, or the design work for the projects, are to be completed by June.
Other SHIP grants awarded Jan. 29 include:
BELFAST: $25,000 (total project cost, $50,000). Replace five floats, measuring 8 x 20 feet; add one 12-foot by 20-foot float with a steel bracket, and install one three-pin dolphin at the Public Landing.
CAMDEN: $68,500 (total project cost, $137,000), to expand access to the harbor wharf, driving pilings along a distance of approximately 300 feet, and installing a fishermen’s hoist
Last year, Camden commissioned TY Lin International to produce design concepts for the overhaul of its Public Landing. Part of the goal was to enhance its working waterfront; consequently, the SHIP grant application asks for help in installing a $20,000 fishermen’s hoist with extension, and spending $113,600 to widen the boardwalk along the harbor to 12 feet at the north end and 16 feet at the east end.
The project also includes installing cable railing in some areas to support pedestrian/visitor safety. Construction also includes using 18 piling posts and 32 steel posts for the cable railings.
The hoist would include building a 12-foot by 12-foot stub pier.
Camden Development Director Brian Hodges wrote in his application to the Maine Department of Transportation: “The current pier is too small and quickly becomes congested with visitors and residents wanting to enjoy the beauty of Camden Harbor and patronize the commercial opportunities associated with Camden Harbor.”
He said the economic impact on fisheries and commercial charters would be positive, and would increase downtown economic activity.
“The town of Camden will benefit through increased foot traffic and therefore increased activity throughout the whole downtown,” he wrote, thus facilitating “true economic, business and community development.”
NORTH HAVEN: $7,500 (total project price $15,000), Add a fourth 10-foot by 30-foot float, including new mooring to secure at town float system at the state ferry pier.
ROCKLAND: $22,500 (total project price $45,000), purchase and install an 80-foot ADA-compliant ramp to the Rockland Public Pier in Harbor Park.
ROCKPORT: $26,700 (total project price $53,400). Install four new 10-foot by 20-foot floats, associated dolphins and pilings at Rockport Harbor Park and marina.
Rockport wants to build new docks for skiffs and dinghies.The four new floats are necessary because the town lacks sufficient float space, the application said.
The two existing floats currently used by commercial operators will remain for that purpose.
“We also have additional mooring capacity to attract new boaters but lack space for dinghy tie-ups,” the grant application said. “The new floats will provide at least space for 25 dinghies, which would mean 25 new mooring spaces. This will greatly expand the use of the harbor.”
The new floats will decrease competition between commercial and recreational users and “ease some tensions among all users in the marina,” Rockport said. “The addition of new boaters at the harbor will also improve the economic activity in our downtown and increase patronage at local restaurants and stores.”
SEARSPORT: $250,000 (total project price $855,000; Searsport is kicking in $605,000). Reconstruct a section of the town pier, add floats, and run electrical, lighting, water and power to floats.
Searsport is rebuilding Hamilton Wharf at the end of Steamboat Ave., which was originally constructed in 1973. Over the decades it has suffered storm damage and decay. The town approved spending $475,000 to spend on the rebuild project, and have applied for other DOT grants to complete it.
VINALHAVEN: $87,500 (total project price $175,000). Replace 59 pilings and caps in at parking lot wharf.
