FREEPORT
Results of a survey to be revealed in December will be used to develop a watershed wide restoration plan for Concord Gully Brook, the town has announced.
Concord Gully Brook, located in Freeport, drains approximately 600 acres, including about half of downtown Freeport, before discharging into Allen Pond and the Harraseeket River at Porter’s Landing.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has identified the brook as an urban impaired stream due to degraded aquatic life and habitat.
The Concord Gully Brook Watershed Survey documented erosion problems and polluted runoff issues throughout the 600-acre watershed. Survey results will be used to develop a watershed-wide restoration plan, which will be published next June.
The project is a collaborative effort among the town, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, the state Department of Transportation, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, committed watershed residents and businesses and the DEP.
Beginning last year, the town was awarded funds through DEP’s Nonpoint Source Grants program. The first phase of funding was dedicated to identifying areas of nonpoint source pollution such as nutrients, sediment and other polluted runoff; and sections of the stream where funds could be directed to stabilize the stream banks, provide habitat for aquatic life and reduce the impacts of storm water flow.
To develop the survey, volunteers were divided into groups and assigned a section of the watershed to survey on foot.
Stream and road crossings were also surveyed and problems documented.
In addition to the traditional “land based” survey, a Riparian Corridor Survey and geomorphology assessment was completed to document buffer, stream bank and in-channel conditions.
The project team welcomes volunteers, and inquiries should be directed to Kate McDonald, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District at 892- 4700.
lgrard@timesrecord.com
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less