Fact Sheet/Spring 2005
The Targeted Watershed
Grants program started in
2002 to encourage commu-
nity-based approaches to
protect and restore the
program emphasizes that
strong partnerships lead to
resources and build on the
successes of strong public and
private partnerships already
working hard to improve their
waterways. Nominees for the
Targeted Watershed Grants
program were required to set
monitoring
components.
Watershed plans and projec
environmental results, broad
support, outreach, and
»> EPA Contact
Steven Winnett
(617)918-1687
winnelt.steven@epa.gov
»> Houlton Band of
Maliseet Indians
Contact
Sharri Venno
(207) 532-4273
envpianner@maliseets.com
&EFA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
888-372-7341
www.epa.gov/region1
Meduxnekeas River
Why Does the Watershed Need Special
Attention?
Hhe Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, use the
river and its watershed to sustain their cultural
heritage as a riverine tribe.
Mt contains over 200 farms whose 20,000 acres of
potato fields drain into the river and its tributaries.
The drainage water contains sediment, fertilizer
and pesticide residues.
*The Town of Houlton has several issues of
urban and residential runoff that may be affecting
the river, including bacterial contamination.
^Fish habitat is significantly degraded.
^Amunicipal wastewater treatment plant and a
starch factory discharge into the Meduxnekeag.
* During periods of low flow in the summer, algae
clogs the river. Currently, the river does not meet
its state water quality classification for dissolved
oxygen during low flow periods.
What are the Long Term Goals?
*-To promote the use of agricultural winter cover
conservation practices on potato fields, and re-
duce soil loss and runoff of agricultural chemicals.
With long-term, widespread use of these practices,
up to 60,000 tons of soil and 99,000 Ibs. of phos-
phorus annually can be kept on potato fields.
*-To raise the awareness of river issues with the resi-
dents of the watershed and promote other envi-
ronmental projects which will further the health
and welfare of the river system and its users.
Progress/Goals for the Future
What Partnership Progress has Been Made?
>-The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI) and
project partners worked with the potato farming
community to test innovative techniques designed
to reduce runoff losses of soil and agricultural
chemicals. In 2004,1808 acres from 15 farmers
used winter cover crop and mulching techniques.
The Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conserva-
tion District USDA's Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS) and the Maine Cooperative Extension
Service and Maine DEP are overseeing the project
*-The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians with Houlton
Water Company, the Town of Houlton and Indian
Health Service, identified and fixed a sewer pipe
connection to a municipal storm drain allowing
untreated sewage to the river.
*-The Houlton Band and its partners have identified for
EPAother projects to further river and watershed health
What Major Actions/Goals are Planned for
2006?
* Agricultural "winter cover" conservation practices
applied on 10,000 acres and adopted by 33 potato
farmers. Sediment and phosphorus loads in the
watershed reduced by 30,000 tons and 49,500
pounds per year.
*-Fix a sewage leak into the Houlton town
stormwater system that causes bacterial contami-
nation of the river, (contonback)
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Meduxnekeag River
Here's what Christie Fitzpatrick, cooperating farmer, says after trying out the spring
rain winter cover practice last year: "Watching the field which had the cover crop on it during
the winter, Iwasable to see how effective it was, Therewasno blowingsoil, no standing water or ice
and this spring thereisanicecatchoforganicmattertoincorporate, I hope that we'll be able to
involve many more farms in this program,"
"lean definitely see the many benefits in thesmallgrain application of a winter cover crop" says
Albert Fitzpatrick, another cooperating farmer; "Preventing soil loss and increased soil health
willboth be beneficialto our operation."
Danny Cory says "This conservation practice (mulching) is the most "makes sense" program we've
doneinyears, I've even applied it on my own -on afarmnextto the river but outside the project area,"
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
What Major Actions/Goals are Planned
for 2006?
Hhe partnership plans to sign up additional
farm acreage to demonstrate the use of the
innovative agricultrual conservation prac-
tices, and hold winter workshops and open
farm days to promote them.
HffiMI will continue to monitor bacteria levels
in and around the Town of Houlton.
HffiMI is also working with partners to
develop education and outreach projects,
watershed assessments and studies and other
efforts to promote watershed stewardship.
Who are the Partners?
EPANew England The Houlton Band of Maliseet
Indians The Town of Houlton, Maine Houlton
Water Company Maine Department of Environ-
mental Protection (ME DEP) USDANaturalRe-
sources Conservation Service (NRCS) Southern
Aroostook Soil& Water Conservation District
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Customer Call Center
888-372-7341
www.epa.gov/region1
Note: EPA JN ew England otters Businesses ana mumcip
local environment. Please call to learn how EPA can help.
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