This cooperative agreement is provided to university of southern maine through the university of maine system to support implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) through the casco BAY…

This cooperative agreement is provided to university of southern maine through the university of maine system to support implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) through the casco BAY estuary partnership (cbep) casco BAY plan, i.e., their comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp). The goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the estuary and support its sustainable human uses through tasks outlined in this bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) workplan of the cbep and its partners. Cbep has designed eight programs that provide structure for the five-to-seven-year spending plan for BIL funding. The eight programs address long-standing and emerging needs for management of casco BAY as identified by cbep, with the advice of partners and members of the management committee. These programs support habitat restoration, resilience and conservation; enhance monitoring and science to guide future management; and assist communities addressing climate resilience and water needs. Activities:update and expand the habitat protection fund; initiate community resilience grants program and increase cbep capacity to assist with on-the-ground projects that integrate infrastructure protection, community resilience, habitat restoration and ecosystem resilience goals; replace a failing culvert under route 216 to reduce vulnerability to sea level rise and ensure project restores tidal flow to adjacent wetlands to enhance habitat quality and potential for marsh migration in response to sea level rise; study methods for enhancement of eelgrass populations using seed with new england NEP and EPA R1 partners; continue to develop, upgrade and extend the casco BAY regional ocean model to meet local needs and identify next steps for developing a robust suite of interconnected casco BAY models; gather region-wide data that can guide future programs and address persistent water quality challenges caused by poor onsite wastewater treatment infrastructure; develop regional mechanisms and tools to speed development of watershed plans; support efforts by local governments to address resilience, water quality, and habitat issues by supporting local planning initiatives; initiate multi-year effort to simplify data sharing among members of the monitoring network and increase availability of casco BAY-related data to academics and the public; subrecipient:subaward to cumberland county soil and water conservation district to 1) assess and report on the location and condition of onsite wastewater treatment systems in the towns of the lower casco BAY watershed, and 2) to develop regional mechanisms and tools to speed development of watershed plans, including a report defining standard practices for watershed plan development in the region and identification of information gaps that slow plan development. Outcomes:anticipated deliverables/outcomes include: five grants issued through the habitat protection fund for permanent protection of habitat; fifty or more acres of habitat protected with partial cbep support; two habitat or community resilience project concepts in development by spring 2024; replacement of vulnerable culvert under route 216, in phippsburg; report documenting flowering and seed production in eelgrass beds in southern casco BAY; strengthen cbep relationships with eelgrass restoration community in new england and surrounding states; fully validated casco BAY hydrodynamic model that serves community needs, with long-term community support and a stable funding source; report on location and condition of onsite wastewater treatment systems in the towns of the lower casco BAY watershed; increased monitoring capabilities in the casco BAY region; improved availability and quality of data about the BAY or the watershed direct beneficiaries of this program include residents of the casco BAY watershed study area in maine and the ecosystems and users of ecosystem services.