Cumberland County Soil & Water
Conservation District

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Work is getting underway to improve areas of the Long Creek Watershed in order to reduce the impact of polluted runoff on the stream.  Below is information about some of these efforts.  Check back here periodically to see what we're doing to restore Long Creek!

Maine Mall Road, South Portland

The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to begin reconstructing a portion of Maine Mall Road during the summer of 2009. The project is using innovative techniques, such as installing porous pavement rather than traditional pavement, to improve both the road and Long Creek.  Porous pavement allows rain and snowmelt to pass through the surface of the road to the filtering system below.  This is an exciting project because this will be the first use of porous pavement on a highly traveled, public road in the Northeast.

Learn more about this project here.

Philbrook Avenue, South Portland

Improvements to Philbrook Avenue are being done in two parts.  The first part of the project will modify the existing drainage system so that runoff is stored and treated to remove pollutants.  The second part of the project will establish 2,000 feet of streamside vegetation to provide wildlife habitat and food for aquatic animals, while also providing shade and temperature control for the stream. 

Funding for this work is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which is being administered by the Clean Water Revolving Fund Program.  Project partners include General Growth Properties (Maine Mall), Hampton Inn, EconoLodge, City of South Portland, South Portland Land Trust, White Brothers Construction, Bourne Landscaping, and community volunteers.

Click here for photos of the work!

A video about Filterra Tree Box Filters is available here.
 

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