WATERVILLE – Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District representatives Shirley Hatch, John Hemond, Lionel Ferland and Glen Torrey have learned that additional funds will come to Maine for conservation planning and landowner assistance.

The group was told at the summer meeting of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts in late July that Maine received $7,690,800 in financial assistance that will go directly to landowners.

Of that allocation, an extra $700,000 was awarded because of landowner commitments to implementing conservation practices. Maine was one of 15 states, and the only New England state, to receive the bonus money.

Joyce Swartzendruber, Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist, shared details of the funding package for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

The money can be used by landowners throughout the state to install conservation practices to protect natural resources while maintaining agricultural production and environmental quality.

“This means that an owner of forestland who wishes to stabilize roads and improve buffers along a stream can ask for technical assistance and money to help get the job done,” said John Hemond, Androscoggin Valley chairman. “Similarly, a farmer might need assistance in controlling barnyard runoff or setting up a better pasture management system. Help is available.”

In part, the Natural Resources Conservation Service of Maine received the increase in 2004 funding because of advocacy work done by Maine leaders last spring. Supervisors from several conservation districts traveled to Washington to meet with Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and other congressional delegates.

“The money will be used for important on-the-ground improvements,” said Hemond, “and we appreciate the work done by MACD leaders and our Washington legislators to help us acquire these much needed funds.”

For more information, contact Kay Nickel at 753-9400, ext. 401.