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"For Immediate Release"

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Wetland restoration and improvement projects receive $4.6 million in funding 

 
*AUGUSTA, MAINE, February 10, 2026* — The Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program (MNRCP) awarded over $4.6 million for 10 projects that will restore and enhance freshwater and coastal wetlands and streams, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) announced today.

The projects awarded funding include:


* improving degraded salt marsh around the York River
* restoring eelgrass in the Great Salt Bay
* removing dams on the Royal River in Yarmouth and the Nezinscot River in Buckfield
* reconnecting a side channel and reestablishing wetlands along the Upper Magalloway River
* expanding and enhancing the riparian buffer of a brook in Waldoboro
* upgrading a culvert to a bridge on a tributary to the Aroostook River
* restoring and reconnecting wetlands in Acadia National Park

In total, $4,633,343 was awarded to restore wetlands that will improve water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and mitigate flooding impacts.

MNRCP is one of the most important funding sources for wetland restoration and conservation projects in the state. Since it began in 2008, the program has awarded over $36 million for 183 wetland restoration and conservation projects. Public agencies, municipalities, Tribes, and non-profit conservation organizations are all eligible to apply for funding. MNRCP funding can cover the costs of wetland consultants and engineers who support project design and implementation.

The program provides opportunities for restoration projects that help improve a broad range of critical habitats, both inland and along Maine’s coast.

“Friends of Acadia is incredibly grateful to Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program for supporting this project,” said *Lauren Gibson, Wild Acadia Coordinator for Friends of Acadia*. “This funding will allow us to greatly expand restoration efforts of the Great Meadow, Acadia National Park's largest freshwater wetland. Restoring the flow of water through the wetland to a more natural state will improve habitat for native species, reduce flooding of park infrastructure, and enable the environment to function more effectively in a changing climate. We are so excited to continue this work and to share our learnings with the broader park management and conservation community.”

“Maine is experiencing dramatic declines in eelgrass statewide,” said *Devin Domeyer, Coastal Resiliency Specialist, Maine Coastal Program at Maine Office of Community Affairs*. “We need to act quickly and decisively to restore and protect this essential fish habitat. With this funding, we are investing in Maine’s capacity to expand eelgrass restoration not only in Great Salt Bay, but throughout the state.”

Local communities also benefit, with projects that allow natural functions that also improve safety and long-term cost savings.

“With these funds, the Town of Wade will be able to replace two undersized culverts with a properly designed bridge that allows natural stream flow to pass unimpeded,” said *Donna Turner, Select Board for the Town of Wade*. “This improvement will greatly benefit both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, including the wood turtle populations known to inhabit the area. In addition, the project will provide a substantial improvement to overall safety. Without the support of these funds, achieving this important goal would not be possible.”

MNRCP is part of the state’s In Lieu Fee Compensation Program, whereby developers who are seeking permits for environmental impacts can purchase credits from the program to compensate for those impacts. The required credits are determined by Maine DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) during the permitting process. The money from the sale of credits is pooled in a dedicated fund for each region of the state. MNRCP holds an annual grant cycle and awards funds for wetland restoration, enhancement, or preservation projects that serve as compensation for the development impacts.

The next round of applications for MNRCP funding is expected to begin in spring 2026. MNRCP will be prioritizing projects that actively restore or improve degraded wetlands. MNRCP funding can cover most project costs, including site selection, design, project management, construction, performance monitoring, and long-term stewardship.

MNRCP is administered by The Nature Conservancy in Maine, working in close collaboration with Maine DEP and USACE. For more information about MNRCP, visit [link removed]



"For additional information, contact":

*David Madore*, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, [email protected]

*Jeremy Cluchey*, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, [email protected]

*Tim Dugan*, New England District Corps of Engineers, [email protected]






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