Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are practical conservation techniques used to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and support healthy soils and landscapes. The resources below are Maine-specific fact sheets providing guidance for common projects such as shoreline stabilization, stormwater management, road and driveway drainage, and land conservation practices.
Each fact sheet was updated in 2026 by the Portland Water District. Use the search bar or select a category to find the right BMP for your situation.
No BMPs match your search. Try a different keyword.
Shoreline & Streambank Erosion
Live Staking
Shoreline & Erosion Using cuttings from native shrubs or trees (like willows) inserted into moist soil to establish plant cover on slopes and streambanks.
Good for: Property owners with erosion on banks, slopes, or drainage areas who want a low-cost, natural stabilization method.
View Fact Sheet Planting & Maintaining Buffers
Shoreline & Erosion Establishing vegetated strips of native grasses, shrubs, or trees along waterways, roads, or property edges to filter runoff and stabilize banks.
Good for: Landowners adjacent to streams, wetlands, or lakes who want to protect water quality and improve shoreline stability.
View Fact Sheet Native Plants
Shoreline & Erosion Replacing lawn or ornamental plants with species native to your region, adapted to local soils and rainfall patterns.
Good for: Homeowners wanting low-maintenance landscaping that supports wildlife, reduces irrigation, and stabilizes soil near the water's edge.
View Fact Sheet Paths & Walkways
Shoreline & Erosion Creating designated pathways using mulch, crushed stone, or other permeable materials to stabilize high-traffic areas and reduce erosion.
Good for: Landowners managing foot traffic near shorelines, gardens, or slopes prone to soil wear and compaction.
View Fact Sheet Erosion Control Mix
Shoreline & Erosion A heavy mulch blend used to stabilize bare soil, reduce erosion, and help retain moisture on disturbed or sloped areas.
Good for: Shoreland properties, paths, slopes, and other exposed soil areas prone to erosion or difficult to revegetate.
View Fact Sheet Stormwater & Runoff
Rain Barrel
Stormwater & Runoff A container that collects and stores rainwater from your roof's downspouts for later use on lawns and gardens.
Good for: Homeowners looking to reduce runoff, conserve water during dry spells, and lower outdoor water use.
View Fact Sheet Rain Garden
Stormwater & Runoff A shallow, planted depression that collects rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, or lawns and allows it to slowly soak into the ground.
Good for: Homeowners with low spots in their yard or runoff issues; also improves pollinator habitat and curb appeal.
View Fact Sheet Dry Well
Stormwater & Runoff An underground structure that collects and temporarily stores stormwater, allowing it to slowly infiltrate into the surrounding soil.
Good for: Homeowners with localized ponding, poor drainage around foundations, or downspouts that drain poorly.
View Fact Sheet Dripline Trench
Stormwater & Runoff A shallow trench filled with gravel installed along a home's roof dripline to collect roof runoff and allow it to infiltrate into the soil.
Good for: Homeowners managing roof runoff without a full gutter system, or those with soggy spots next to their foundation.
View Fact Sheet Infiltration Steps
Stormwater & Runoff Terraced steps built into a slope using rock, wood, or other materials that slow water flow and encourage it to soak into the ground.
Good for: Sloped yards or gardens where water runs off quickly; a good fit for properties with moderate grades.
View Fact Sheet Infiltration Trench
Stormwater & Runoff A linear trench filled with gravel that intercepts and slowly infiltrates stormwater runoff from roads, fields, or other surfaces.
Good for: Properties with large or compacted surfaces, or areas with concentrated runoff that needs to be dispersed.
View Fact Sheet Roads & Driveways
Diverters
Roads & Driveways Structures placed in ditches or on roads to redirect water flow off the road surface and into adjacent stable, vegetated areas.
Good for: Rural property owners with unpaved roads or long driveways where channeled runoff causes erosion.
View Fact Sheet Turnouts
Roads & Driveways Outlets that direct diverted road runoff onto stable, vegetated ground to dissipate water energy and prevent new erosion.
Good for: Rural roads and driveways; typically used alongside diverters to safely discharge redirected water.
View Fact Sheet Paths & Walkways
Roads & Driveways Creating designated pathways using mulch, crushed stone, or other permeable materials to stabilize high-traffic areas and reduce erosion.
Good for: Properties with high-traffic areas like farm lanes or access paths where runoff and soil compaction are a concern.
View Fact Sheet Erosion Control Mix
Roads & Driveways A heavy mulch blend used to stabilize bare soil and reduce erosion on disturbed roadsides, driveways, or graded areas.
Good for: Roadsides, driveway edges, and other disturbed areas that need quick stabilization.
View Fact Sheet
Construction & Land Disturbance
Construction BMPs
Construction Erosion and sediment control practices required during land disturbance to prevent pollutants from leaving a construction site.
Good for: Contractors, developers, and landowners undertaking ground-disturbing projects of any size.
View Fact Sheet Erosion Control Mix
Construction A heavy mulch blend used to stabilize exposed soils and reduce erosion on active or recently disturbed construction sites.
Good for: Contractors stabilizing exposed soils on construction sites, slopes, or disturbed areas prone to erosion.
View Fact Sheet Permitting
Construction An overview of Maine permitting requirements for work near lakes, streams, and wetlands, including Shoreland Zoning and the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA). Small projects may qualify for a streamlined Permit by Rule process through the DEP’s MELS system, but all activities must follow state standards to protect water quality and reduce erosion.
Good for: Landowners and contractors planning construction, clearing, or soil disturbance within regulated shoreland areas.
View Fact Sheet