Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District
Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District provides local conservation leadership, encourages best practices, and helps to plan and implement voluntary programs. We conserve clean water and healthy soil by working alongside willing landowners to implement incentive-based voluntary conservation practices. District programs focus on polluted runoff, habitat restoration, citizen science, and education.
We’ve moved! The District’s new office is located at 192 Main Street in Ellsworth. That’s the large brick building that’s home to Flexit and several other locally-owned businesses. The District office is on the second floor.
Seafood Trade Relief Program
We have had many calls requesting information on the Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP). Though we would like to help, the attached link has the application and other information. The USDA Farm Service Agency in Bangor may also be contacted for more information or...
read moreMaine Greenhouse and Agriculture Infrastructure Program Webinar
Join Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society's (MESAS) upcoming Webinar on September 8th or 10th! Topics will be: Six categories all farm businesses should consider before designing production infrastructure, Presentation on Sustainable Year Round Agriculture's (SYRA)...
read moreWork Progressing on Frenchman Bay Shellfish Project
HCSWCD received a grant from the Maine Community Foundation Broad Reach Fund to investigate potential shellfish management techniques in Frenchman Bay. District staff and volunteers have been working with local contractors to set out spat boxes and seed clams. The...
read moreHancock County Soil and Water Receives $2500 grant from The Onion Foundation for Invasive Species Monitoring
The District recently received a $2500 grant from The Onion Foundation to fund a roving Courtesy Boat Inspector. Invasive plant species can be easily moved between lakes, and boat inspectors inspect boats at the landing for invasive plant material before they enter...
read moreHancock County Conservation District Awarded $10,000 Grant from Fund for Maine Land Conservation
Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD), located in downtown Ellsworth, was recently awarded $10,000 from the Maine Community Foundation (MCF) to assist the District in becoming a local leader in climate adaptation. The award was made through...
read more2019 Local Working Group Meeting
Thursday, November 14, 2019 Local Working Group 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm NRCS Field Office 474 Bucksport Rd. Ellsworth Light Refreshments Will Be Provided. Please Register - Contact Information Below Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District will host their annual...
read moreThe Board of Supervisors meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 8:00 am to 10:00 a.m. at the Moore Community Center’s Board Room, 5 General Moore Way, Ellsworth (125 State Street). The public is welcome to listen in on these meetings, and may request time on the agenda by emailing hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, from 8:00 am – 10:00 am. This will be a remote meeting via Zoom because of the current pandemic. For more information, or if you would like the Zoom link to remotely attend, please email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org .
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The Emerald Ash Borer has been found in seven Maine towns.
You can protect against Invasive forest pests: Use local firewood, use native plants, check trees regularly for signs of pests and diseases, report signs of invasive pests to bugwatch@maine.gov
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Correction: Additional Maine Towns Found to Have Emerald Ash Borer
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Correction: The original press release incorrectly reported the number of additional Maine towns found to have EAB as six. The correct number is seven; South Berwick was excluded from the count.We partner with the Hancock County's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service on projects throughout the year. We'd like to welcome their new State Conservationist, Matt Walker, to Maine! NRCS offers leadership, technical assistance and financial assistance in agriculture and conservation to farmers, landowners and communities.
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New State Conservationist joins USDA in Maine
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BANGOR, Maine -- The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently selected an experienced wildlife biologist and conservationist for its top position in Maine. Matt...Sign up for one or more Educational Opportunities for the Horticulture Industry offered by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens!
Native Plants, Planting for Biodiversity, Growing from Seed, and more topics! Don't miss out...
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Online Educational Opportunities for the Horticulture Industry from CMBG
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Resilient Landscapes in Built Environments: Plants and Practice examines New England native plants for function in the landscape, including their biodiversity and beauty, achieving high performance with minimal input. Additionally, in the final two courses, the instructor will: provide step-by-step....Congratulations Marvin Ellison and Georges Pond Association!
www.facebook.com/GeorgesPondAssociation/posts/2844842395756461Please join us in recognizing Marvin Ellison, treasurer of Georges Pond Association, as this week's Lake Hero! In 2018, Georges Pond experienced its fourth algal bloom since 2012. The small, and relatively inactive, community around the pond needed to come together to study and understand the watershed problems; consider and plan a solution; and then coordinate, communicate and execute the plan. Towards that end and for the last three years, Marvin has helped membership grow 500 percent, published Georges Pond’s informative newsletters, and has helped raise more than $300,000 to fund its efforts. This work has included a year of collecting baseline scientific data, creating a ten year Watershed Based Management Plan (WBMP), completing the first of two alum treatments (the first in May 2020, with the second planned for 2021), and supporting a productive 319 Grant (ME DEP and USEPA).
Marvin has also been integral in the association’s LakeSmart effort that has resulted in the evaluation of more than 70 properties (50 percent of the total properties on Georges Pond) over the last three years. Not only is Marvin remarkably effective, he does so in a manner that is calm, clear, informative and productive. Marvin is successful in part because he seeks advice from other experts and listens carefully to the membership. As confirmation of his effective approach, members consistently rate his Treasurer and Fundraising Report as the best presentation at their Annual Meeting each summer. Behind the scenes, Marvin also personally thanks every member and donor for their annual support; writes and produces (along with Nancy Cooper) the association’s well-received newsletters; is leading a website redesign; is an integral LakeSmart volunteer; and continues to apply for many grant opportunities. Georges Pond enjoyed the best water clarity on record in in 2020 (since 1977), an accomplishment that could not have happened without Marvin's leadership.