Stormwater Communities

Think Blue Maine is a statewide campaign that provides resources and information for residents, businesses, and municipalities to reduce stormwater pollution. The program supports the 38 regulated stormwater municipalities and nested entities and their community partners working together to meet Clean Water Act permit requirements and to make Maine a better place to live. Nested entities are large government or public entities like universities, military bases, and health centers with some independent stormwater infrastructure and connections to permitted municipal stormwater infrastructure.

Maine Stormwater Permittees

The maps below display the municipalities and public entities that have Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits.

The public entities are large government or public entities like universities, military bases, and health centers “nested” inside a municipality with a stormwater permit.

Stormwater Working Groups

  • Androscoggin Valley

    AVSWG consists of the regulated communities of Auburn, Lewiston, Lisbon, and Sabattus. A few notable programs organized by AVSWG include:

    Storm Drain Stenciling Program - working with volunteers to bring awareness to stormwater pollution.

    Hart Brook Watershed Monitoring Program - a 5 year programs that involved students testing and collecting data from a local impaired stream.

  • Bangor Area

    BASWG consists of the regulated communities of Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Milford, Old Town, Orono, Veazie, Eastern Maine Community College, University of Maine Orono, University of Augusta-Bangor, and the Maine Air National Guard. A few notable programs organized by BASWG:

    Digital Outreach Campaign - mixture of website resources, online ads, and social media outreach

    Storm Drain Stenciling Program - part of a campaign to raise awareness of stormwater pollution.

    Community Stream Cleanup Events - engaging with volunteers in the community to clean up litter and improve water quality.

  • Portland Area

    ISWG consists of the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District and the regulated communities of Biddeford, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Saco, Scarborough, South Portland, Windham, Westbrook, Yarmouth, University of Southern Maine, and Southern Maine Community College. A few notable programs organized by ISWG:

    YardScape - a statewide effort to reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other lawn care chemicals to increase the health and safety of children, pets, and the natural environment.

    Urban Runoff - an annual 5k to raise awareness of water pollution and raise money to support clean water education efforts.

  • Southern Maine

    SMSWG consists of the regulated communities of Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, York, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. A few notable programs organized by SMSWG:

    Lawns to Lobsters - a series to educate people about sustainable and healthy lawn care.

    Storm Drain Stenciling Program - part of a campaign to raise awareness of stormwater pollution.