Frequently Asked Questions

A Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a local organization that serves a defined geographic area and works to support landowners, municipalities, and communities in protecting and managing natural resources such as soil, water, and forests. Most districts are county-based, though some serve more than one county, and a single county may be divided among multiple districts.

SWCDs focus on education, outreach, and voluntary technical assistance rather than regulation. In Kennebec County, the SWCD emphasizes conservation education, including programs like the Maine Envirothon, as well as lake water quality and erosion and sediment control BMPs. Priorities vary by district, but all share the goal of promoting practices that prevent environmental problems before they require more costly remediation.

More Resources: National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD)

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps farmers, forest landowners, and other private landowners conserve natural resources. In Maine, NRCS provides technical assistance on soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife habitat concerns, including evaluating resource concerns and developing conservation plans. Technical assistance is provided at no cost.

NRCS also administers voluntary conservation programs that may provide financial assistance for eligible projects. Program availability, funding, and eligibility vary. Many practices discussed in this FAQ, such as riparian buffers, cover crops, and erosion control, are supported by NRCS conservation practice standards. Your local NRCS office is a good place to start.

More Resources: NRCS Website, NRCS Programs & Initiatives, Maine NRCS Office

KCSWCD and NRCS work closely together, but they are separate organizations. SWCDs are local organizations that provide technical assistance, education, outreach, conservation planning, and workshops. NRCS is a federal agency within USDA that provides technical and financial assistance through federal conservation programs.

It is not unusual for a landowner to work with both. If you aren't sure which to contact, you can start with KCSWCD and we can help point you in the right direction.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are proven techniques used to prevent or reduce environmental impacts during activities such as farming, forestry, construction, and landscaping. Examples include silt fences around construction sites, riparian buffers along streams, cover crops, septic system maintenance, and erosion control blankets on bare slopes.

BMPs prevent problems at the source by reducing erosion, sedimentation, and pollution before they reach waterways. The most appropriate BMPs depend on land use, site conditions, and management goals, and SWCDs and other conservation agencies can help identify practices suited to your property.

More Resources: Our BMP Page, NRCS Conservation Practices, DEP Stormwater BMPs

Remediation refers to efforts to address environmental contamination or damage after it has already occurred. Examples include cleaning up soil contaminated by a leaking fuel tank, addressing a failed septic system, restoring eroded streambanks, or repairing areas affected by sediment runoff.

Approaches include excavating and treating contaminated soil, using plants and microorganisms to break down or absorb pollutants, stabilizing and replanting streambanks, and installing engineered treatment systems. These projects are often complex and costly, which is why prevention is a key principle in conservation.

More Resources: EPA Information on Bioremediation, Environmental Remediation Methods

It depends on the type and location of your project. Work involving streams, wetlands, lakes, shoreland areas, or other protected natural resources may require permits or approvals before work begins. For many projects, this means contacting the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your municipality. Shoreland zoning is administered locally, so your municipal Code Enforcement Office or Planning staff is a good place to start. Contact information for your municipal Code Enforcement Office is available on our Find a Resource page.

Other agencies may also have jurisdiction. KCSWCD does not issue permits, but we can assist with certain permitting processes through Maine DEP’s MELS system.

More Resources: Permitting Fact Sheet – Portland Water District, Maine Enterprise Licensing System (MELS) Hub

Thinning is the selective removal of some trees to improve the health, growth, and condition of the remaining forest. Reducing competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients gives the remaining trees more room to grow. Thinning can also improve wildlife habitat, encourage natural regeneration, and help forests resist insects, disease, and severe weather.

A well-planned thinning is not the same as clearing or high-grading. It removes trees that are crowded, poorly formed, or unhealthy, based on the landowner's goals. The approach depends on tree species, stand age, site conditions, and whether the goal is timber, wildlife habitat, recreation, or long-term forest health.

More Resources: Oregon State Ext. – Forest Thinning, Minnesota Ext. – Woodland Thinning

Resilience is the ability of a natural system to withstand, recover from, and adapt to change while continuing to function. Forest resilience refers to a forest's ability to recover from events such as storms, drought, insects, disease, wildfire, or timber harvesting while continuing to provide benefits like wildlife habitat, clean water, recreation, and healthy tree growth.

Forests with a variety of native tree species, tree ages, and sizes are often better able to withstand disturbances such as storms, pests, and disease. Good forest management can help by protecting soil, encouraging new tree growth, and maintaining a healthy mix of trees suited to the site.

More Resources: MFS WoodsWISE Resilience Program, MassWoods Forest Resilience

A riparian buffer is a vegetated area along the edge of a stream, river, lake, pond, or wetland that helps protect water quality and wildlife habitat. It is typically made up of trees, shrubs, grasses, and other native plants that form a transition between the water and nearby developed or managed land.

Buffers filter runoff, trapping sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants before they reach the water. Roots stabilize banks and reduce erosion, and trees provide shade that keeps water cooler for fish and other aquatic life. Fallen leaves and woody material provide food and habitat. How well a buffer works depends on its width, vegetation, slope, and soil type. Wider buffers generally provide greater benefits, but even smaller buffers help filter runoff, reduce erosion, and provide habitat.

Vegetated buffers are also used in agricultural and developed landscapes to separate land uses such as cropland, pastures, and roads, and to slow runoff and reduce wind exposure. Riparian buffers are a specific type of vegetated buffer located along waterways.

More Resources: USDA Forest Service Riparian Buffers, NRCS Conservation Riparian Buffers, DEP Shoreline Protection

Forests naturally protect water quality by absorbing rainfall and holding soil in place. Timber harvesting, road construction, and equipment operation can reduce that protection. Without vegetation and roots to slow water, rain and snowmelt can carry soil into nearby streams, lakes, and wetlands.

Sediment that reaches a waterbody clouds the water, can smother fish eggs and habitat, and reduces the sunlight aquatic plants need. Forest roads and stream crossings can contribute sediment if runoff is not managed. Heavy equipment can also compact soil and create flow paths that carry water and sediment quickly downhill, especially on slopes.

More Resources: EPA Forestry Reports and Guidance, USFS Timber & Watershed Research

Planning before and during a harvest greatly reduces impacts to water quality. Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are widely used to protect soil and water while allowing forests to be managed sustainably. Key BMPs include:

Riparian buffers. Leave a strip of vegetation along streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands to filter runoff and stabilize banks.

Skid trail planning. Designate equipment trails and avoid steep slopes, wetlands, and other sensitive areas.

Stream crossings. Use temporary bridges, mats, or properly designed crossings instead of driving through streams.

Soil protection. Avoid operating on saturated soils, and stabilize disturbed areas quickly with mulch, seed, or erosion control materials.

Debris management. Keep logging debris out of streams and place slash to slow runoff upslope of waterways.

More Resources: Maine Forest Service BMPs, Skidder Bridge Rental for Stream Crossings

Silviculture is the science and practice of managing forests to meet goals such as healthy tree growth, wildlife habitat, water quality protection, and timber production. It guides how forests are established, grown, maintained, and regenerated over time.

In practice, this includes decisions about which trees to plant or encourage, which to remove during thinning or harvest, and how to help a new forest grow back after a harvest or disturbance. Approaches vary with forest conditions and landowner goals.

More Resources: US Forest Service Silviculture, Bob Seymour – Silviculture Videos, MFS Silviculture PDF

Agroforestry is a land management approach that combines trees and shrubs with farming or livestock operations. Common practices include planting trees along streams, growing crops beneath trees, establishing windbreaks around fields, and incorporating trees into pastures.

These practices can reduce soil erosion, improve wildlife habitat, protect water resources, and provide additional products such as fruit, nuts, maple syrup, or timber. Agroforestry is often used to address conservation concerns while keeping farms and forests productive.

More Resources: National Agroforestry Center, Center for Agroforestry, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Forest succession is the natural process by which forests change over time. After a disturbance such as a timber harvest, fire, storm, or land clearing, new plants begin to grow and gradually replace the previous forest conditions.

Early in succession, fast-growing plants and trees establish quickly and stabilize the site. Over time, longer-lived trees and a more complex forest structure develop. This can take decades or even centuries, and it is a normal part of healthy forest ecosystems.

More Resources: Maine Tree Foundation Succession Post, Cornell University Succession & Management

A forest management plan is a written guide that describes current forest conditions and outlines goals and recommended activities for the property over time. Plans are based on the landowner's objectives, which may include timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, water quality protection, or a combination.

A plan typically includes recommendations for activities such as harvesting, thinning, and planting, and for protecting sensitive areas like streams and wetlands.

More Resources: MFS Forest Management Plan PDF, MOFGA Forest Management Plan Insight

Cover crops are plants grown between harvest and the next planting to protect and improve soil. Common examples include clover, hairy vetch, and winter rye. In spring they are typically mowed or tilled into the soil, where they break down and add organic matter.

Cover crops hold soil in place, improve soil structure and water infiltration, and reduce nutrient losses to groundwater and streams. Legumes such as clover and vetch add nitrogen through nitrogen fixation, and cover crops can suppress weeds. As they break down, they feed soil organisms and help build long-term soil health. The best mix depends on your region and what you are growing.

More Resources: Cooperative Extension Cover Crops, MOFGA Cover Crop Resources, Maine Healthy Soils Resources

Crop rotation is growing different crops in sequence on the same field rather than planting the same crop year after year. For example, instead of corn followed by corn, a rotation might run corn, beans, wheat, then clover before repeating.

Rotation works because crops differ in their nutrient needs and pest problems. Legumes add nitrogen that heavy feeders like corn can use, pests and diseases that specialize in one crop decline when it is not planted, and deep-rooted crops can help break up compacted soil. Rotation also spreads risk, since one crop failing does not mean losing everything. The right rotation depends on climate, soil, markets, and equipment.

More Resources: Crop Rotation Planning Manual, NRCS Crop Rotation, PennState Extension - Planning a Crop Rotation, Farmer's Almanac - Crop Rotation

Companion planting is growing certain plants together because they may benefit each other, for example by improving soil conditions, providing shade or support, or attracting beneficial insects. Results vary, so it is best treated as one tool among many rather than a guaranteed way to control pests or improve growth.

The Three Sisters is a well-known example that has been used by Indigenous peoples in the Americas for hundreds of years. Corn provides a trellis for climbing beans, beans fix nitrogen through soil bacteria, and squash spreads across the ground to shade the soil, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds.

More Resources: University of Minnesota Ext. Companion Planting, USDA Three Sisters

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to managing pests that combines several strategies rather than relying only on pesticides. The goal is to keep pests at manageable levels while reducing unnecessary pesticide use and protecting people, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

IPM starts with regular monitoring and correct pest identification, since many insects are harmless or beneficial. Preventive practices such as crop rotation, resistant varieties, and removing plant debris come next. When action is needed, the least disruptive methods are used first, such as encouraging natural predators, row covers, traps, or hand removal. Pesticides are used only when other approaches are not enough.

More Resources: DACF IPM Resources, Maine Cooperative Extension IPM, Insect Identification - Maine

There are many ways to reduce chemical inputs on a farm or garden, and they often improve soil health as well.

Crop rotation. Rotating crops breaks pest and disease cycles.

Cover crops and mulch. Healthy soil with organic matter supports vigorous crops that compete with weeds, and mulch smothers weed seeds.

Mechanical weed control. Cultivation, hoeing, and hand-weeding remove weeds without chemicals. Removing weeds before they flower prevents seed spread.

Resistant varieties. Choose varieties bred to resist common pests and diseases in your area.

Early scouting. Regular field checks catch outbreaks while they are still small.

Physical barriers. Row covers, netting, and traps prevent damage without chemicals.

Together, these practices form Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

More Resources: Maine Cooperative Ext. Soil Health, MOFGA Farming Resources

Phosphorus loading is the total amount of phosphorus entering a lake from its watershed over time. Sources include runoff from fertilized lawns and farms, eroding streambanks, failing septic systems, and natural inputs from rocks and soil.

Freshwater lakes naturally contain very little phosphorus, so even small increases can trigger rapid algal growth. When algae die, bacteria break them down and use up oxygen, which can harm fish and other aquatic life. Excess phosphorus can also contribute to harmful algal blooms (HABs), some of which produce toxins dangerous to people, pets, and wildlife.

Phosphorus that settles into lake-bottom sediments can later be released back into the water, so problems can persist even after outside sources are reduced. Reducing loading takes action across the watershed, including maintaining riparian buffers, controlling stormwater runoff, maintaining septic systems, limiting fertilizer use, and controlling erosion.

More Resources: EPA Nutrient Pollution Resources, Lake Stewards of Maine Water Quality Indicators, Maine DEP Algal Blooms

An alum treatment is a lake restoration technique used to reduce phosphorus in lakes and ponds. Alum (aluminum sulfate) forms tiny particles called floc that bind phosphorus as they sink. Once settled, the floc forms a thin layer on the lake bottom that binds phosphorus released from sediments and reduces how much re-enters the water.

When properly planned and applied by trained professionals, alum treatments are generally considered safe for fish, wildlife, and people. Results can last from several years to decades depending on the lake and how much phosphorus continues to enter from the watershed.

Alum is a management tool, not a permanent solution. It works best alongside efforts to reduce phosphorus from the watershed, such as controlling stormwater runoff, maintaining buffers, managing fertilizer use, and maintaining septic systems.

More Resources: NALMS Alum for Lake Management, Maine DEP Overview of Alum Treatments

Water constantly enters lakes through streams, groundwater, and rainfall and leaves through outlets and evaporation. Flushing rate describes how quickly water moves through a lake, and retention time estimates how long it takes for the lake's water to be replaced.

The two are inversely related. Lakes with high flushing rates have short retention times, and lakes with low flushing rates have long retention times. Lake size, depth, shape, and the amount of water flowing in and out all influence both.

This matters because water carries nutrients, sediment, and pollutants. In lakes with long retention times, these materials have more opportunity to accumulate and affect water quality, which helps lake managers predict how a lake will respond to changes in its watershed.

More Resources: Lake Stewards of Maine Flushing Rate Video, Studedu The Hydrologic Cycle

Ice-on is when a lake becomes completely covered with ice in late fall or early winter. Ice-out is when a lake is considered open enough for navigation from one end to the other, although some ice may remain along the shoreline or in coves. These dates mark the beginning and end of the lake's ice-covered season.

The dates vary from year to year with weather, snowfall, and lake characteristics such as size and depth. Because they can shift over time, lake associations and researchers track them as indicators of long-term change.

The length of the ice-covered season influences many lake processes. After ice-out, wind mixes the water and oxygen exchange with the air resumes. Earlier ice-out generally means a longer open-water season, which can affect water temperature, algae growth, nutrient cycling, and the timing of fish and wildlife activity.

More Resources: Maine DACF Ice-Out Records, Coastal Rivers Ice-In and Ice-Out

Lake turnover is a natural process in which the water in a lake mixes from top to bottom, usually in spring and fall. It happens because changing water temperatures change water density. During summer, many lakes form layers of warm water on top and cold, dense water on the bottom. Under winter ice, a similar layering occurs in reverse.

When surface water cools or warms to match the deeper water, the layers can mix, redistributing oxygen and nutrients throughout the lake. This can improve oxygen levels in deeper water, but it can also bring up nutrients or gases that built up near the bottom, sometimes causing temporary changes in water clarity or odor.

Not all lakes behave the same way. Shallow lakes may mix more often or stay mixed all year.

More Resources: Clean Lakes Alliance Lake Turnover, Water on the Web Stratification and Turnover

Eutrophication is the enrichment of a lake with nutrients, especially phosphorus, leading to increased algal growth and reduced water clarity. In most freshwater lakes, phosphorus is the nutrient that limits algal growth. Nitrogen also contributes to eutrophication, particularly in estuaries and coastal waters, and it can be carried downstream from lakes, streams, and rivers.

Phosphorus enters lakes from sources like stormwater runoff, streambank erosion, septic systems, and fertilized land. When the algae it fuels die, bacteria break them down and use up oxygen, which can lower dissolved oxygen in deeper areas and stress fish and other aquatic life.

Over time, eutrophication can lead to more frequent algal blooms, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), some of which produce toxins dangerous to people, pets, and wildlife. These changes also affect a lake's recreational value.

More Resources: EPA Nutrient Indicators Dataset, USGS Nutrients and Eutrophication

Looking for more information about lakes, watersheds, and water quality? The following organizations provide educational resources, FAQs, and research on Maine lakes and freshwater ecosystems.

USGS FAQ

DEP Water Quality Page

LEA FAQ

NALMS Basics of Lake Science

Lake Stewards of Maine Lake Search

Maine Lakes Lake Library

EPA Watershed Academy

Stormwater runoff is rain or snowmelt that flows over land instead of soaking into the soil. In natural areas like forests and wetlands, vegetation and healthy soils absorb and slow water. In developed areas with pavement, rooftops, and compacted soil, much less water soaks in, and it moves quickly across the surface into streams and storm drains.

As land is developed, the volume and speed of runoff increase. This can lead to more frequent flooding, increased streambank erosion, and reduced groundwater recharge. Land use decisions have a lasting effect on how water moves through a watershed, and protecting natural areas and limiting impervious surfaces help maintain more natural hydrology.

More Resources: EPA: Urbanization and Stormwater Runoff, Maine DEP Stormwater Program, Think Blue Maine

As stormwater flows across land, it picks up sediment, nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, oils, metals, road salt, bacteria, and debris from roads, lawns, construction sites, and agricultural areas. In many communities, stormwater flows to streams, rivers, and lakes without being treated.

This is called nonpoint source pollution because it comes from many diffuse sources across the landscape rather than a single pipe. It is a major cause of water quality problems in the United States and is difficult to address because it comes from many different land uses. Reducing it takes better land management, public awareness, and stormwater practices across the watershed.

More Resources: EPA: Nonpoint Source Urban Areas, Maine DEP Nonpoint Source Program

Impervious cover refers to hard surfaces such as roads, parking lots, rooftops, driveways, and sidewalks that prevent water from soaking into the ground. Nearly all of the rain that falls on these surfaces runs off.

The effects are cumulative across a watershed. Research has found that stream impacts can occur at relatively low levels of impervious cover, with more severe impacts generally occurring as it increases.

Managing impervious cover is one of the most effective ways to protect water quality. Options include limiting new hard surfaces, using permeable pavement, disconnecting rooftop downspouts from paved areas so water can soak in, and preserving natural areas.

More Resources: EPA: Urbanization and Stormwater Runoff

Infiltration is the process by which water soaks into the soil after rainfall or snowmelt. Healthy soils with good structure and vegetation allow more water to infiltrate, where it can be stored and eventually move into groundwater or streams.

When infiltration is reduced by development, soil compaction, or vegetation loss, more water becomes surface runoff. This increases flooding, reduces groundwater recharge, and lets pollutants move into waterways without being filtered by soil.

Practices that protect infiltration include maintaining vegetated buffers, using permeable pavement, planting rain gardens, and minimizing soil disturbance during construction.

More Resources: USGS: Infiltration and the Water Cycle

Stormwater management focuses on slowing runoff, increasing infiltration, and reducing pollutants reaching waterways. Traditional systems use pipes, culverts, and detention basins to control water during storms and reduce downstream flooding.

These systems do not always improve water quality, since collected runoff may still carry sediment and nutrients into streams and lakes. Modern stormwater management increasingly combines traditional infrastructure with practices that treat water closer to where it falls, along with limits on impervious cover and treatment requirements for new development.

More Resources: Steps to Protect Our Waterways, EPA: Green Infrastructure

Low Impact Development (LID) and green infrastructure are approaches to managing stormwater that work with natural processes rather than relying only on pipes and engineered systems. The goal is to manage rainfall where it lands by encouraging infiltration, plant uptake, and slow release.

Common practices include rain gardens, vegetated swales, permeable pavement, green roofs, and bioretention areas. These features capture and filter runoff, reduce stormwater volume, and help remove pollutants. They can be used on individual properties or in larger developments, and they can also provide wildlife habitat and reduce urban heat.

More Resources: EPA: Low Impact Development, Maine DEP LID Manual

Wetlands are areas where water covers or saturates the soil for all or part of the year, including swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, and vernal pools. They filter sediment, excess nutrients, and pollutants from water, store floodwater and release it slowly, and help maintain streamflow during dry periods. Wetland plants also stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion.

Wetlands support a wide diversity of birds, amphibians, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants. They store large amounts of carbon in their soils and contribute to groundwater recharge.

More than half of the original wetlands in the lower 48 states have been lost. Protecting remaining wetlands and restoring degraded ones helps maintain water quality, reduce flood risk, and support wildlife habitat.

More Resources: EPA Wetlands Overview, NRCS Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), US Fish & Wildlife Service

Vernal pools are temporary wetlands that typically fill with water in spring and may dry out by late summer or fall. They are usually small, isolated depressions in forested areas and are easy to overlook, but they are critical breeding habitat for certain amphibians. Because they usually lack fish, amphibian eggs and larvae can develop with fewer predators.

In Maine, species such as wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp depend on these seasonal wetlands. Adults spend most of their lives in the surrounding forest, where they find shelter and overwinter, so protecting vernal pools means protecting both the pool and the forest around it. Draining a pool or clearing the surrounding forest disrupts the entire life cycle.

More Resources: Maine DEP Vernal Pools, EPA Vernal Pools, US Fish & Wildlife Backyard Amphibians

When runoff enters a wetland, several processes help clean it:

Physical filtering: Water slows down as it moves through vegetation, so sediment and suspended material settle out.

Nutrient removal: Plants and soil microorganisms take up excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

Pollutant breakdown: Microbes in wetland soils break down some pollutants, and others bind to soil particles.

Pathogen reduction: Bacteria and viruses can be reduced through settling, natural die-off, and biological processes in wetland soils.

This natural treatment improves water quality, helps protect drinking water sources, and reduces the need for artificial treatment.

More Resources: EPA Wetlands Filtration, USGS Water Quality Studies

Big Night is the mass spring migration of amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders) from wintering habitat in upland forests to nearby wetlands where they breed. On warm, rainy nights in March and April, when the ground has thawed, many amphibians move across the landscape and often cross roads on the way to vernal pools and other breeding wetlands.

Many are killed by vehicles while crossing roads, and habitat loss can isolate populations. Amphibians help control insect populations, serve as food for birds and reptiles, and their population trends can indicate overall environmental health.

More Resources: Maine Big Night Page, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Reptiles & Amphibians Page, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Write-up, Maine Vernal Pool Summary Map

Erosion is the process of soil being washed, blown, or worn away. Water is the biggest driver in most landscapes, as rain and flowing water detach soil particles and carry them downhill into streams and lakes. Wind, ice, gravity on steep slopes, and foot traffic can also move soil.

Natural erosion is a normal part of landscape change, but human activities greatly speed it up. Logging and construction expose soil, compaction reduces infiltration so more water runs off, farming can leave fields bare, and poorly maintained roads concentrate runoff.

Erosion removes productive topsoil, damages infrastructure, fills lakes with sediment, clouds water, and transports pollutants. Preventing it is far cheaper than repairing the damage.

More Resources: DACF Erosion, Maine DEP: Erosion & Sediment Control

Eroded soil becomes sediment that clouds water and reduces clarity. This blocks sunlight that aquatic plants need and can smother fish eggs, clog fish gills, and reduce habitat quality. Sediment also carries pollutants. Phosphorus attaches to soil particles and can trigger algal blooms once it reaches lakes, and pesticides, road metals, and oil residue can also travel with sediment.

Excess sediment can fill reservoirs and stream channels, reducing water storage and increasing the need for dredging. Heavy sediment loads can also reduce the diversity of aquatic life.

Preventing erosion at the source is the most effective strategy. Once sediment enters a waterbody, it is difficult and expensive to remove.

More Resources: EPA: Sediments and Water Quality, USGS: Sediment-Associated Contaminants

Erosion risk depends mainly on vegetation, soil condition, and slope. Plant cover reduces the impact of raindrops, roots hold soil in place, and vegetation slows runoff so more water soaks in.

Compacted soil has less pore space, so water cannot infiltrate easily, which increases runoff and soil loss. Compaction can come from heavy equipment, livestock, or foot traffic. Steeper slopes increase runoff speed, which increases the water's ability to detach and carry soil. Erosion is typically much greater on steep, bare, or disturbed slopes than on flat or vegetated land.

More Resources: NRDC: Soil Erosion 101, NRCS: Soil Quality Indicators

Construction is one of the largest sources of erosion and sediment loss because it removes vegetation and exposes bare soil. Rainfall can wash that soil into storm drains, streams, and lakes, where sediment can cloud water, damage aquatic habitat, and carry additional pollutants such as oils and concrete dust.

Construction sites use erosion and sediment control practices such as silt fences, sediment basins, erosion control blankets, mulching, seeding, and stabilizing exposed soil quickly. Phasing limits how much land is disturbed at once, and stabilized entrances keep sediment from being tracked onto roads.

Maine requires measures to prevent unreasonable erosion and sedimentation from activities that fill, displace, or expose soil. Erosion control measures must be in place before work begins and maintained until the site is permanently stabilized. Working with certified erosion control professionals helps ensure sites are managed responsibly.

More Resources: Stormwater Tips for Construction Projects, EPA: Construction Site Runoff Control, Maine DEP: Erosion Control Certification

Soil health is the ability of soil to function as a living system that supports plants, cycles nutrients, stores water, and filters contaminants. Healthy soils contain organic matter, stable structure, and active communities of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. They resist erosion better, absorb more water, and support stronger plant growth.

Soil health is built by keeping vegetation cover, adding organic matter through compost or cover crops, minimizing soil disturbance, and avoiding compaction. Soil testing can guide management decisions and track changes over time.

More Resources: NRCS: Soil Health, NRCS: Soil Health Assessment Tools

Water that soaks into the ground after rainfall or snowmelt can move downward through soil layers into groundwater, which supplies wells, springs, and streams. This recharge is essential for maintaining water supplies, especially during dry periods.

Healthy soils with good structure and vegetation allow more infiltration, which helps maintain groundwater levels and steady streamflow. When soils are compacted or covered by impervious surfaces, more water runs off instead of soaking in, which reduces recharge and can contribute to low stream flows and lower well levels during dry periods.

More Resources: USGS: Infiltration and the Water Cycle, Maine Geological Survey: Ground Water and Wells

Invasive species are plants, animals, or other organisms that are not native to an area and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. However, not all non-native species are invasive. Some non-native species can grow or live in a new area without causing significant harm.

Aggressive native plants may spread quickly and compete with other plants, but they evolved as part of the local ecosystem. The term aggressive describes how a plant grows, while invasive refers to non-native species that spread and cause harm. Native plants may still need management in certain situations, but vigorous growth alone does not make a plant invasive. Understanding this distinction helps landowners focus control efforts on species that pose a risk to the local ecosystem.

More Resources: Maine.gov: Invasive Species, Maine Natural Areas Program: Maine Invasive Plant Field Guide, UMaine Extension: Invasive Plants, Maine Horticulture Program: Invasive Plants, Maine Forest Service: Invasive Forest Pests, UConn Extension: Invasive or Aggressive? Why the Difference Matters in Your Garden

Invasive species can outcompete native plants and animals, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt food webs. They can degrade water quality, reduce recreational opportunities, and lower property values. Once established, they can spread quickly and are often costly to control.

In Maine, examples include invasive aquatic plants such as variable watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed, which can form dense growth that interferes with swimming, fishing, and boating, and land plants such as Japanese knotweed and glossy buckthorn, which can crowd out native plants and reduce forest regeneration.

More Resources: Yale Sustainability: Yale Experts Explain Invasive Species

Most spread is linked to human activity. Boats, trailers, and fishing gear can carry aquatic plants and animals between water bodies, and soil, plants, and equipment moved during construction or logging can carry seeds and plant fragments. Ornamental plants can also escape from gardens into natural areas.

Natural pathways also play a role, including water movement, wind-carried seeds, and wildlife that spread seeds to new locations.

More Resources: National Park Service: How Invasive Species Spread, Maine IFW: Purchasing or Possessing Wildlife in Maine

Aquatic invasive species include plants such as variable watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed and animals such as zebra mussels. They can spread between water bodies on boats, trailers, and equipment.

Dense growth of invasive aquatic plants can crowd out native vegetation, block sunlight, alter fish and wildlife habitat, and interfere with swimming, fishing, and boating. Some invasive animals, such as zebra mussels, filter plankton from the water, reducing food available to native organisms and disrupting aquatic food webs. These changes can affect the balance of a lake's ecosystem and its recreational use. Once established, aquatic invasive species can be extremely difficult and expensive to manage.

More Resources: Maine DEP: Invasive Aquatic Species Program, Maine DEP: Know Invasive Aquatic Plants, Lake Stewards of Maine: Aquatic Invasive Species Program, Lake Stewards of Maine: Most Unwanted Aquatic Invasive Plants Poster

For aquatic invasives, clean, drain, and dry boats, trailers, and equipment between water bodies, and never move aquatic plants or animals between lakes. Report suspicious plants or animals so early detection can prevent establishment.

On land, remove invasives early before they spread, limit unnecessary soil disturbance, plant native species, and avoid moving plants or soil between properties. Check your property regularly for new invasives. Prevention is far cheaper and more effective than managing established populations.

More Resources: Maine IFW: Clean, Drain, Dry Frequently Asked Questions, Maine Natural Areas Program: Invasive Plants, Maine Natural Areas Program: iMap Invasives, NRCS: Invasive Species and Pests, Don't Move Firewood: How to Help, Maine IFW: Aquatic Invasive Species, Maine IFW: Stop the Spread, Protect Maine's Waters, Maine DEP: Reporting Suspected Invasive Aquatic Plants, PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks

Invasive pests are non-native insects, diseases, or other organisms that cause harm in their new environment. They can damage or kill trees and other plants, affect wildlife, and disrupt ecosystems. Because they may lack the natural predators, parasites, and diseases that help regulate their populations in their native range, they can spread rapidly and cause significant damage.

Native pests occur naturally in the ecosystems where they are found and are generally part of the natural balance. Their populations are often kept in check by predators, parasites, diseases, and other environmental factors.

Examples of invasive pests affecting Maine include emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, browntail moth, and spongy moth.

More Resources: Maine DACF: Invasive Pests, University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Identification Resources, Maine Forest Service: Forest Health

A road association is a way for people who share a private road to organize and share responsibility for maintaining it. Maine recognizes three basic types: informal associations, statutory road associations, and nonprofit corporation road associations.

More Resources: Maine DEP: Road Associations

The Maine DEP's A Guide to Forming Road Associations describes the types of associations, their advantages and disadvantages, and steps for forming one. We recommend reviewing it before deciding which approach is right for your road.

More Resources: A Guide to Forming Road Associations

The main differences between the three types are how the association is formed, whether participation is voluntary, how maintenance costs can be collected, and what legal protections and responsibilities apply.

Informal. The simplest arrangement. Property owners agree to work together and share maintenance, with little formal structure.

Statutory. Formed under Maine law, with a more formal structure for managing and collecting assessments for road maintenance.

Nonprofit Corporation. Organized as a nonprofit corporation with formal organizational documents, officers, and bylaws.

More Resources: A Guide to Forming Road Associations (see pages 6–7 for a comparison table)

The Maine Alliance for Road Associations (MARA) offers sample bylaws, forms, and other resources for road associations. The Maine DEP also provides its guide to forming road associations and appendices.

More Resources: Maine Alliance for Road Associations (MARA) FAQs

Road associations should consider liability and insurance as part of managing a private road. Some associations carry general liability insurance to protect the association, its officers, and members. Liability depends on the circumstances and the type of association, so questions should go to an attorney or insurance professional.

More Resources: MARA: Sample Bylaws

Road association law can be complicated, and the DEP guide is a general resource rather than legal advice. For questions about your situation, consult an attorney familiar with Maine private road and road association law.

A Guide to Forming Road Associations was reviewed with input from Dyer, Goodall & Denison, a Maine law firm familiar with road association law.

More Resources: Road Association Law (Slideshow)

Regular maintenance prevents small road problems from becoming larger and more expensive ones. Proper drainage, grading, and surface maintenance keep a gravel road functional and reduce the sediment that leaves the road and enters nearby streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands.

Ditches and culverts need to stay functional so water can move safely away from the road. A road that does not manage water well can develop potholes, washouts, and rutting much more quickly. KCSWCD can provide information on conservation practices for road erosion and runoff.

More Resources: Gravel Road Maintenance Manual, A Ditch in Time