MAINE PUBLIC • September 20, 2020
Sebago Clean Waters, a coalition of nine Maine conservation organizations, has been awarded $8 million from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to preserve forestland in the Sebago Lake watershed, the largest source of drinking water in greater Portland. The Portland Water District will manage the funds to support land stewardship, aquatic invasive control, stream connectivity and landowner outreach. Paul Hunt, the environmental manager for the Portland Water District, said the grant will offer vital help with forest conservation. “Over the last of the subsequent 20 years, we've conserved 6,000 acres of forest. And this grant will allow us to conserve 10,000 in the next five years.” Currently, only 11 percent of the forests in the watershed are protected.