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Now Available! Spring 2026 Habitat Protection Fund Request for Proposals
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) would like to announce the Spring 2026 round of CBEP Habitat Protection Fund.
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, in partnership with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, requests proposals for the Spring 2026 Casco Bay Habitat Protection Fund. The Fund supports permanent protection of parcels in the Casco Bay watershed that are integral to aquatic ecosystems and secure and expand public access to water resources and open space. CBEP’s ultimate objective is to protect 20% of the watershed by 2030.
Final Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Request for Proposals (RFP):
Download the RFP here: Habitat Protection Fund RFP
The application form is now a Google form. Here is a link to the application.
For any questions regarding grant/application processes, please direct all questions to Natalie Bingham at natalie.bingham@maine.edu.
Fall 2025 Resilience & Monitoring Awards
January 22, 2026 —
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) awarded nearly $120,000 to six organizations in the Casco Bay Watershed. CBEP is providing these funds through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Together, these projects advance a shared goal: a healthier, more resilient Casco Bay supported by strong local leadership, sound science, and collaborative action,” says Curtis Bohlen, CBEP Executive Director.
Grantees and projects:
- City of Portland: Great Diamond Island Upland-to-Bluff Stability Workshop
- Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District: Municipal Trainings for Resilient Landscapes
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Setting up a Zooplankton Monitoring Program in Casco Bay: Advancing Ecosystem Monitoring for Water Quality, Carbon Sequestration, and Fish Recruitment
- Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association: Updating Maine’s Shellfish Handbook to Address Water Quality and Access
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Marine Vegetation Mapping Program Drone Acquisition
- Manomet Conservation Sciences: Evaluating Biodegradable Netting for Enhanced Shellfish Recruitment and Habitat Protection
