Augusta – The Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Board and the Maine Department of Marine Resources are seeking proposals for Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP) projects. The Board will make awards from funds approved by Governor Janet Mills and the State Legislature in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget. There is $2.1 million for working waterfront projects available in this round.
The Maine Working Waterfront Access Protection Program provides funds to protect and secure commercial fishing access in Maine. WWAPP requires future development of funded property retain its use for commercial fishing and closely related activities.
“Maine’s working waterfronts continue to face many challenges, not the least of which are the damages caused by last month’s coastal storms,” said LMF Board Chair and Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “For landowners who are willing to restrict future development of their property, the WWAPP could provide access to funds that can be used to build in a way that is resilient to the effects of a changing climate. This program will preserve and protect the valuable coastal facilities and infrastructure necessary to ensure a strong and durable coastal economy for Maine.”
“The partnership between LMF and DMR in implementing the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program has been a true success, with the protection of 30 working waterfront properties statewide,” added LMF Director Laura Graham. “But there is more work to be done, and we look forward to leveraging our shared resources to ensure Maine’s commercial fisheries businesses can access these funds.”
A copy of the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP) workbook, which includes all information necessary to apply for LMF funds, can be obtained online at:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/lmf/docs/wwapp/2024-wwapp-workbook-final.pdf
Eligible applicants for WWAPP proposals include private landowners, non-profit land conservation organizations, counties, cities, towns, and state agencies.
Potential applicants can contact Melissa Britsch, Senior Planner with the Maine Coastal Program at (207) 215-6171 with any questions.
To apply for WWAPP funds, a project MUST be sponsored by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR). In order to receive a sponsorship, applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent (LOI) by Monday, March 4, 2024. Details on the LOI can be found in the WWAPP Workbook located at the link above.
Applicants are required to submit a completed proposal by June 28, 2024, by 5:00 PM EST, to Melissa Britsch (Melissa.Britsch@Maine.gov) at the Maine Coastal Program, ME DMR, 21 SHS, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME 04333-0022. Proposals received after these dates and times will not be considered.
The LMF, a vital component of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Resource Information and Land Use Planning, has been active since its establishment in 1987, thanks to a $35 million bond approved by Maine citizens. To-date, the LMF has been instrumental in conserving 30 working waterfront properties. The program has also established 73 water access sites, offering 67 miles of protected shoreline along rivers, lakes, and ponds and has safeguarded 41 farms, securing 9,884 acres of farmland. Additionally, the LMF has repurposed 158 miles of former railroad corridors into recreational trails. For more information about the LMF program and the conservation projects, please visit maine.gov/dacf/lmf