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, October 14, 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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Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry announces over $500,000 Specialty Crop Block Grants for 2021. Congratulations to BLUET Maine Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine, Pure Maine Maple, and others! The Grants are an important way to strengthen Maine's agricultural sector.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEDACF/bulletins/2a7856f
content.govdelivery.com
AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) has announced the recipients of this year’s Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) awards. Spanning a host of products, from strawberries to mixed vegetables, SCBG grants totaling $534,303.00 are being awarded to: Blue Bar...Hancock County Farmers can receive Emergency Loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency. Our county is contiguous to Penobscot and Washington Counties which are designated primary counties in the drought relief program. For more information contact the local FSA at 947-3555 Ext. 2.
www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/emergency_loan_program-factsheet.pdf
If you missed the public zoom meeting to discuss linking the Down East Sunrise Trail and the Ellsworth Trail, the link is on City of Ellsworth, Maine's web site. Keep updated!
www.ellsworthmaine.gov/government/city-projects/2020-bicycle-pedestrian-trail-connectivity-feasib...
2020 Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail Connectivity Feasibility Study - City of Ellsworth, Maine
www.ellsworthmaine.gov
....Read MoreJoin Downeast Trout Unlimited's (Downeast TU) meeting with speaker and registered Maine Guide Lou Zambello via Zoom on October 21! Please contact Tammy for the Zoom link...
Trenton Community Trail is close by! This loop trail travels through a variety of forest communities and has a trail to a boardwalk and viewing platform that overlooks a native dwarf shrub bog. Friends of Acadia worked with the Town of Trenton to plan and construct the trail from 2009 to 2013. Friends of Acadia placed a conservation easement on the property to restrict development and allow for public recreational use; they subsequently donated the land to the Town of Trenton.
www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/trenton-community-trail
Trenton Community Trail - Maine Trail Finder
www.mainetrailfinder.com
Maine Trail Finder is a free online resource that promotes active outdoor recreation in the state of Maine. Search a growing database of four-season trails to find the right trail for your next adventure. Browse interactive trail maps, trail descriptions, pictures, and trip reports. Find outdoor eve...