Franklin County Success Stories
(Farmington Field Office)

Emergency Watershed Program Construction Completed

Construction work is completed in the town of Carrabassett after receiving Emergency Watershed Protection  funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Following a heavy rainstorm on or about August 9, 2003 , the Town received technical and financial assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to repair the stream bank approaches to a culvert stream crossing on Redington Road.  The eroding stream bank was jeopardizing the culvert crossing and had already eroded away some of the road shoulder creating a dangerous situation on Redington Road leading to approximately 250 residences in Redington North and East in Carrabassett Valley.

Seventy-five percent, or $40,000, of the costs of construction to repair the stream channel erosion that is threatening the culvert stream crossing will be through the Emergency Watershed Program, with the Town providing the local cost-share construction costs of 25 percent.  

Redington Road is the only outside access for these 250 homes.  Failure of the culvert would have isolate all homes from any outside access and emergency services.    

Soil Monolith Collection for University of Maine Soils Department Grant

The Natural Resources Conservation Service located and collected representative soil samples for two soil series with the assistance of University of Maine Soils Professor Laurie Osher and a graduate student.  These samples will be used to create two of the soil monoliths needed as part of a grant secured by the Soils Department at the University of Maine. These monoliths will be used to educate Maine undergraduates and post-grads in the nature and properties of Maine soils.

Cub Scouts Assist Farmer in Establishing Buffer  

Ten Cub Scouts from Pack 585 assisted Bussie York, dairy/crop farmer, Farmington, in planting 225 Red Stem Dogwood shrubs to establish a Riparian Forest Buffer along a stream on York's farm. The project was coordinated by Kevin White, District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Somerset County, and Paul Hersey District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Franklin County. Kevin also serves as Cub Master for Pack 585. The Scouts earned their World Conservation Badge and learned how to plant shrubs, the importance of buffers, and fencing to keep cattle out of streams. They also learned about the types of soil erosion and how to prevent it.

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