AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands, is seeking grant proposals to enhance public recreational boat access

Maine’s 2,300 great ponds, 32,000 miles of streams and rivers and over 3,000 miles of coastline offer unparalleled opportunities for recreational boating. However, with only 500 assured public recreational boat access sites, more needs to be done to ensure the public has adequate access to these waters.

In 1963, the Legislature established the Boating Facilities Fund to acquire, develop and renovate recreational boat access sites and to place and maintain navigational buoys on nearly 50 inland lakes and ponds.

Grants are limited to a maximum of $150,000. A cash or in-kind match equal to 50 percent of approved project costs is required.

Project proposals are due June 24. A pre-application inspection by bureau staff must be completed before an application is submitted.

Requests for pre-application inspections must be made no later than May 13. For more information, go to https://www1.maine.gov/dacf/parks/grants/boating_facilities_fund.html