U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins announced today that two coastal Maine areas have received grants totaling $1,861,000. Maquoit Bay in Brunswick will receive $1,450,000 and Stockton Harbor in Stockton Springs will $411,000. The funding comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Coastal Program (CELEP).
“These grants are fantastic news,” noted Senator Snowe and Senator Collins in a joint statement. “This funding will greatly benefit the conservation efforts at these two Maine locations. These grants will ensure that these natural Maine treasures will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.”
The CELCP was created in 2002 to protect coastal and estuarine lands considered important for their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical or aesthetic values. The program provides state and local governments with matching funds to purchase significant coastal and estuarine lands, or conservation easements on such lands, from willing sellers. Lands or conservation easements acquired with CELCP funds are protected in perpetuity so that they may be enjoyed by future generations.
.
###