Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance…

The University of Maine System, through its University of Southern Maine division, received a $1.7M Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. The award, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, funds ecosystem-based management activities designed to protect and restore water quality, habitats, and natural resources in this nationally significant estuary. Key deliverables include advancing habitat restoration initiatives (eelgrass, tidal wetland, and dam removal projects), assessing trends in water quality and natural resources, coordinating CCMP implementation among federal, state, local, and non-governmental stakeholders, and monitoring the effectiveness of management activities.

The grant supports regional coordination and community engagement to address cumulative water quality impacts and mobilize resources for watershed protection. Sub-awards have been issued to the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust for freshwater monitoring and fish migration stewardship activities (March 2026) and to Friends of Casco Bay for continuous water quality monitoring programs (January 2026). These collaborative efforts align with the National Estuary Program's ecosystem-based approach to restoring chemical, physical, and biological conditions while maintaining shellfish populations, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational activities in the Casco Bay watershed.

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to the casco BAY estuary partnership through the university of maine system for national estuary program (NEP) to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological condition of the estuary, including restoration and maintenance of water quality, a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities in the estuary, and assure that the designated uses of the estuary are protected. Workplan goals include: protect, restore, and enhance the key habitats that sustain ecosystem health of casco BAY and its watershed for now and the future; address the cumulative water quality impacts of human activity in the casco BAY watershed; engage communities and provide information and tools to support decisions to protect and restore casco BAY; mobilize knowledge and resources to support regional collaboration and action on behalf of casco BAY, the watershed, and our communities.activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the CCMP by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved CCMP and annual workplan. Specific planned activities include: advancing regionally significant habitat restoration initiatives, including eelgrass, tidal wetland, and DAM removal projects; supporting state efforts to protect water quality; expanding cbep efforts to broaden connections with and better serve the communities within the watershed; and preparing the 2026 'state of casco BAY' report and plan state of the BAY rollout events.subrecipient:continuous water quality monitoring in casco BAY, led by friends of casco BAY freshwater monitoring, led presumpscot regional land trust outcomes:primary deliverable will the 2026 state of the BAY report. The expected outcomes include habitat protected and restored, water quality improvements, increased public access to natural areas, data acquisition, and provision of technical assistance to municipalities and other partners. The intended beneficiaries of this work include the casco BAY estuary itself, as well as the constituents who reside within the casco BAY estuary partnership planning area, and all others who recreate there.