State of Maine Land for Maine’s Future Program Issues Call for Proposals

Augusta - The Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Board and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) 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 $1.2 million available for working waterfront projects in this round.

WWAPP provides funds for properties that retain their use for commercial fishing, aquaculture, and closely related activities.

"Protecting Maine's working waterfront is critically important for the future of our commercial fishing and aquaculture industries," said LMF Board Member and DMR Commissioner Carl Wilson. "With growing development pressure and a changing climate that threatens our coastline, WWAPP funds are available to landowners whose properties support these heritage industries and sustain our coastal economy and communities."

"The partnership between LMF and DMR in implementing the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program has been a true success, with the protection of 33 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 and aquaculture businesses can access these funds."

"The importance of protecting our heritage industries, like fishing, farming, and forestry, is paramount," said LMF Board Chair and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso. "These are essential to our way of life; they are the cornerstones of our communities and the foundation of our economy. The Working Waterfront Access Protection Program ensures that properties that support Maine's commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry will be available for generations to come."

A copy of the WWAPP workbook, which includes all information necessary to apply for LMF funds, can be obtained online here.

Eligible applicants for WWAPP proposals include private landowners, nonprofit land conservation organizations, counties, cities, towns, and state agencies.

Potential applicants can contact Melissa Britsch, Marine Resource Management Coordinator with the Maine Coastal Program, at (207) 215-6171 with any questions.

To apply for WWAPP funds, a project must be sponsored by DMR. The first step toward obtaining sponsorship is to submit a letter of intent by Monday, March 9, 2026, by email to Melissa Britsch, Marine Resource Management Coordinator with the Maine Coastal Program at [email protected].

Instructions on submitting a letter of intent can be found in the WWAPP workbook, available online here.

DMR and Maine Coastal Program staff will review all letters and notify potential applicants by the week of March 16, 2026, if their project is eligible and they are invited to prepare and submit a full application.

Applicants who are chosen must submit a completed proposal by June 29, 2026, by 5 p.m. EST. One copy of the complete application must be submitted by email to Melissa Britsch at [email protected]. Ten hard copies of the completed application must also be submitted by mail to: Melissa Britsch, 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta, ME 04333-0022. Proposals received after June 29, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST 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 33 working waterfront properties. The program has established 75 water access sites, offering 67 miles of protected shoreline along rivers, lakes, and ponds, and has safeguarded 45 farms, securing 10,517 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