A COMMUNITY-BASED COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO RESTORING LONG CREEK

The Long Creek watershed is located in the communities of South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough and Portland in one of the most heavily urbanized areas of the state. Impervious cover (IC) in some of Long Creek's subwatersheds exceeds 50% and overall IC in the watershed is nearly 30%. Consequently, Long Creek and its tributaries do not meet water quality classification standards. The types of stream classification violations include metals, chloride, dissolved oxygen, macroinvertebrates, and brook trout. Reports by the Maine DEP in 2002 and EPA in 2007 both identified IC as the primary factor in Long Creek's degradation.

A watershed management plan was completed recently for Long Creek to serve as a road map for restoration by addressing numerous specific impacts on the aquatic environment from the surrounding built environment. Restoration recommendations include retrofitting and installing a variety of structural stormwater treatment systems; implementing nonstructural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve pavement and landscape management; encouraging local ordinance revisions to provide greater protection of water resources; re-vegetating extensive areas along the riparian corridor; improving geomorphology through floodplain restoration; and partnering with local land conservation organizations to publicly promote the “greening” of the watershed, among others.

To lay the groundwork for this ambitious effort, an extensive (and intensive) stakeholder involvement process was employed over the course of 18 months culminating in the completion of the Watershed Management Plan. A community-based collaboration collectively referred to as the “Long Creek Restoration Project” engaged individuals from a wide variety of interests and perspectives. Participants included representatives from state and municipal government, local businesses and property owners, state transportation agencies, and conservation organizations, among others. In addition to being primary authors of the Watershed Management Plan, the presenters were both closely involved with the stakeholder process through the coordination of the Technical Advisory Committee, which was charged with helping to guide the development of restoration recommendations.