The Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program has awarded over $4.6 million for 10 projects to restore and enhance freshwater and coastal wetlands and streams, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said Feb. 10. Among those project is the Alford Brook Preserve Restoration in Waldoboro.

The Georges River Land Trust is leading the effort there to expand and enhance the riparian buffer of a brook in Waldoboro. The project site encompasses approximately 8.5 acres of forested wetlands and uplands in the Alford Brook Preserve, adjacent to Alford Brook. It is an area home existing and diverse array of species present at the site, including an active beaver population, wild brook trout, and other wildlife, according to the project application.

According to the work plan, the area is currently a hayfield and has historically been tilled to grow various crops.

"The site has a few wetland areas that look to be previously ditched or disturbed that cut through the field and drain down into Alford Brook," wrote the GRLT, in its grant application. "Hydric soil occurs within the ditched and disturbed areas. There are also wetlands within the riparian buffer adjacent to Alford Brook. A large portion of the riparian buffer to the brook has been cleared and disturbed over time for the historic farming practices."

"Site work will likely include pulling back some of the soil bermed up on the edges for the field from historic tilling, reconnecting ditches and creating pit and mound microtopography to restore hydrology, and managing invasives," the application said. "Few invasive plants have been identified in the project area. Honey suckle, autumn olive and multiflora rose occur along the edges of the field. GRLT is committed to assisting with long-term monitoring and adaptive management, including management for invasive species."

The hayfield drains into Alford Brook, which drains into Fuller Brook, then into the St. George River, and eventually reaches the ocean. The field is being hayed by a local farmer who benefits from the hay, said GRLT.

The land trust intends to maintain the upland part of the hayfield adjacent to Old Augusta Road for grassland birds. It also intends to plant trees at the site, "matching the variety of trees that currently exist within the wetlands and forested area adjacent to the field."

No timber harvesting is proposed.

The property is now part of the Georges River Land Trust's Alford Brook Preserve, an area that includes 72.5 acres of forest, wetlands and streams. The Alford Brook Preserve is also a short distance from Midcoast Conservancy's Clarry Hill Preserve of approximately 740 contiguous total acres of conserved land.

It is also part of a, "250-acre undeveloped block that also provides a connecting area to other larger blocks of undeveloped land for wildlife to travel through," the land trust said.

"The proposed forested riparian buffer area will provide shade to Alford Brook, which will create colder water for fish and provide a more ideal habitat for other species that live within riparian zones," the application said. "An additional benefit of this project will be its education and public outreach potential. GRLT has an existing relationship with the Miller School in Waldoboro and received a letter of support for this project from the Medomak Valley Middle and High Schools, which are roughly three miles down the road from the proposed project."

The estimated project cost is $472,700, with $464,880 coming from the state.

Other projects funded by the most recent round of grants administered by the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program include:

Improving degraded salt marsh around the York River;

restoring eelgrass in the Great Salt Bay;

removing dams on the Royal River in Yarmouth and the Nezinscot River in Buckfield;

reconnecting a side channel and reestablishing wetlands along the Upper Magalloway River;

upgrading a culvert to a bridge on a tributary to the Aroostook River; and

restoring and reconnecting wetlands in Acadia National Park.

In total, $4,633,343 was awarded to restore wetlands that will improve water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and mitigate flooding impacts.

MNRCP is one of the most funding sources for wetland restoration and conservation projects in the state. Since it began in 2008, the program has awarded over $36 million for 183 wetland restoration and conservation projects. Public agencies, municipalities, Tribes, and non-profit conservation organizations are all eligible to apply for funding. MNRCP funding can cover the costs of wetland consultants and engineers who support project design and implementation.

The program provides opportunities for restoration projects that help improve a broad range of critical habitats, both inland and along Maine’s coast.

MNRCP is part of the state’s In Lieu Fee Compensation Program, whereby developers who are seeking permits for environmental impacts can purchase credits from the program to compensate for those impacts. The required credits are determined by Maine DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) during the permitting process. The money from the sale of credits is pooled in a dedicated fund for each region of the state. MNRCP holds an annual grant cycle and awards funds for wetland restoration, enhancement, or preservation projects that serve as compensation for the development impacts.

The next round of applications for MNRCP funding is expected to begin in spring 2026. MNRCP will be prioritizing projects that actively restore or improve degraded wetlands. MNRCP funding can cover most project costs, including site selection, design, project management, construction, performance monitoring, and long-term stewardship.

MNRCP is administered by The Nature Conservancy in Maine, working in close collaboration with Maine DEP and USACE.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657