Ogunquit River watershed monitoring in 2016 demonstrated that fecal contamination is persistent in the known “hotspot” areas, particularly during wet weather across all seasons. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative and the Great Works Regional Land Trust.Įxpanded an existing septic and sewer database to include all properties within the watershed and prioritized high risk areas for targeted outreach.Įxpanded the annual baseline water quality monitoring program to 1) identify and bracket potential sources of and changes in bacteria across seasons in “hotspot” areas 2) investigate the upstream freshwater portion of the watershed (OR-06 subwatershed) for potential nonpoint source pollution sites and 3) analyze a subset of samples for source-specific DNA markers (human, dog, and bird). Coastal Community Grantįunds awarded for this project in 2015-16 via the Maine Coastal Communities Grant aided in the following for the Ogunquit River watershed:īroadened the scope of work beyond Ogunquit’s municipal borders to include the other watershed towns of Wells, South Berwick, and York, as well as regional land trusts, the Mt. The funding is administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with the EPA. Completed a pre-project intercept survey, along with other outreach activities such as public presentations, a residential social, a garden tour, and two NPS workshops (on proper organic lawn care)įunding for this project, in part, was provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.Investigated possible sewer line leaks and septic system malfunctions by smoke testing sewer lines and storm drain systems near three bacteria hotspots (no issues found) and by updating a septic system database for the watershed.Treated polluted stormwater runoff from residential, commercial, and town-owned properties using best management practices (BMPs), including an infiltration trench, buffer plantings, and rain barrels at two residential properties, two FocalPoint bioretention cells at the Lower Lot parking area, and rain gardens at the Dunaway Community Center and Town Lyne Motel.The project addressed several key problems related to fecal indicator bacteria contamination: The purpose of the Ogunquit River Watershed Restoration Project (ORWRP) Phase I was to reduce bacteria levels in the Ogunquit River to improve the existing water quality impairment and help the River attain Class SB water quality standards, and reduce the number of beach closures near the outlet. Ogunquit River Restoration Project Phase I As a prominent coastal community, the Town of Ogunquit recognized these bacteria impairments in their waterways as a threat to public health and their economic well-being and has since taken action. The Ogunquit River (Class B) and its estuary (Class SB) have experienced persistent bacteria contamination from unidentified sources attributed to nonpoint source pollution from the watershed. The river is tidally-influenced downstream of the Route 1 crossing and flows through salt marshes before emptying into the Gulf of Maine behind Ogunquit’s 3.5- mile barrier beach. The Ogunquit River watershed is an approximately 21 square mile coastal southern Maine watershed located in Ogunquit, South Berwick, York, and Wells, Maine. The Ogunquit River watershed is rich in diverse, rare and endangered plant and animal species documented by the Maine DIFW and the Maine Natural Areas Program. The public beaches in Ogunquit experience heavy recreational use, including swimming, boating, fishing, and recreational clamming, by well over a million residents and visitors each year. The estuary is listed as one of Maine’s impaired waterbodies due to high levels of fecal indicator bacteria from pet, wildlife, or human waste, which can enter the river in stormwater runoff or from malfunctioning septic systems and leaky sewer lines. The Ogunquit River Watershed Restoration Project aims to improve and protect water quality in the Ogunquit River and its estuary. The Ogunquit Conservation Commission, the Town of Ogunquit, FB Environmental Associates, and Maine DEP are working together on continual water quality initiatives, including the Ogunquit River Restoration Project Phase I, Phase II and Coastal Communities Grant, to improve water quality and reduce bacteria levels in the Ogunquit River watershed and at its public beaches.
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