Beech Hill Pond Watershed Project
Our Purpose
Beech Hill Pond (BHP), Otis, Maine has been identified by Maine Depart of Environ. Prot. (MDEP) as a Nonpoint Source (NPS) Priority watershed, a Threatened Lake in need of protection. In 2021, a steering committee organized for the purposes of preserving and protecting the natural resources of the watershed, central to the lives and local economy of a small rural community. In June 2022, supported by MDEP and partners, community members completed a watershed survey. The survey identified 116 NPS pollution sites influencing the health/welfare of the lake, and subsequent community. Survey data and feedback from community forums (2023) guided the development of a Watershed-Based Protection Plan (WBPP), approved by US-EPA and MDEP in Jan 2024. A MDEP 319 Grant Proposal (MDEP319) was submitted (May 2024), intending to provide match for local financial contributions, funding for technical assistance and implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) to remediate identified sites. In September 2024, the steering committee was notified that the grant proposal scored high enough for the grant award, but was “bumped” in favor of a lower scoring application representing the needs of an Impaired Lake. The purpose of this NEGEF grant application is to seek funding to continue our work and forward progress within the community. A grant award would support continued community outreach, increase water quality testing and provide technical assistance to stakeholders.