Once again, the Portland Water District is offering free watershed property consultations (WPC) and Lake Stewards Grants (LSG). If you live in the Sebago Lake area, you may be eligible to receive technical assistance and matching funds to help beautify your property and solve runoff and erosion problems.

A consultation starts with a trained watershed protection expert evaluating your property. After the consultation, a report detailing recommendations for actions to correct these problems is generated.

To help property owners implement recommendations, the Portland Water District offers Lake Stewards Grants. This program, now in its sixth year, provides matching funds for individuals and businesses that improve the quality of runoff from their properties. This matching grant program reimburses the landowner 50 percent toward the cost of approved projects. Individual property landowners may be eligible for up to $1,000 in matching funds, and groups (road associations, etc.) may receive up to $2,500.

In 2004, over 40 sites received WPCs, and 16 projects received over $22,000 in Lake Steward Grants. Because these are matching funds, more than twice that amount has been invested in pollution prevention projects last year alone.

If you would like more information or to schedule your watershed property consultation, please contact the Portland Water District today at 774-5961, ext.3336 or sebagolake@pwd.org .