ME LD1340

Establishes the Municipal Stream Crossing Fund within the Maine Department of Transportation to provide competitive grants for replacing stream crossings on municipal roads

Eligible grant recipients include local governments, municipal conservation commissions, soil and water conservation districts, and private nonprofit organizations

Grant awards prioritize projects that improve flood resilience, restore habitat for native brook trout and sea-run fish, meet 100-year flood standards, and are sized at 1.2 times bankfull stream width

Grants cannot cover 100% of project costs and cannot be used for stream crossings on state or private roads

Initial fund allocations total $500 in Federal Expenditures Funds and $500 in Other Special Revenue Funds for both FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, with additional funding expected from bonds and public/private contributions