Forming a Coastal Watershed District: Protecting Coastal Ecosystems Through Community Partnership
Penobscot Narrows - Image by Peter via Adobe Stock
Any Hancock County municipality or unorganized territory is eligible to form or join a Coastal Watershed District with other municipalities or territories. This is possible with voter approval under Maine law 38 M.R.S. § 2002, linked below.
Title 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION
Chapter 23: COASTAL AND LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICTS
Watershed Districts may be created to protect, restore, and maintain the natural functions and values of coastal wetlands, including:
Freshwater wetlands
Rivers
Streams
Great ponds
Coastal harbors
Bays
Estuaries
Marine waters
Hancock County Watersheds Map imagery ©Google Earth
How to set up a Coastal Watershed District
Under the Statute, the steps for creating a Watershed District in Hancock County are as follows:
The municipal officers or residents who want to form a Watershed District file a statement of intent with the DEP commissioner providing details about the proposed District.
Residents can petition to initiate the process by referendum if 10% of voters in the proposed District area sign the petition.
The commissioner convenes a joint meeting of the municipal officers and/or residents of the unorganized territories involved to develop a Declaration of District Responsibilities and determine the Board of Trustees’ representation.
The commissioner then orders the question of forming the proposed District to be voted on by the residents of the municipalities and/or unorganized territories involved.
The ballot questions cover incorporating the Watershed District, approving the trustee representation, choosing the trustees, and adopting the declaration of responsibilities.
If approved, trustees are elected to represent each municipality/unorganized territory on the watershed District's board per the approved allocation.
What does a Watershed District Do?
Once the Watershed District is formed, it is responsible for maintaining water quality, floodwater management, habitat management, and scenic quality. Each interested municipality chooses a trustee to meet with those from other towns and manage the Watershed District's staff.
Watershed Districts enable coordinated management and conservation of land and water resources across multiple jurisdictions within a shared watershed area. To find out more, contact us at Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District:
Ph: 207-667-8663
Email: hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org
Contributor: Ant Blasi, Board of Supervisors, Hancock County Soil & Water District