Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District

What Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District does

The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) is a governmental political subdivision of the State of Maine, established in 1946 in response to the Dust Bowl, headquartered at 35 Main Street, Suite #3, Windham, Maine. The organization delivers natural resource conservation services across Cumberland County through three principal lines: STEM-aligned K-12 youth education (reaching approximately 4,000 students and 10,000 teaching hours in 2025); fee-based technical assistance for municipalities, landowners, and developers (stormwater BMP inspections, erosion and sediment control, site plan review, GIS mapping, watershed planning); and grant-funded community programs (YardScaping, invasive species outreach, agricultural support, coastal bluff protection). The District holds delegated review authority from Maine DEP, giving it a quasi-regulatory role in stormwater and erosion control compliance within the county.

The District's service portfolio is delivered entirely by a 19-person staff using on-site visits, classroom instruction, workshops, and the biennial Maine Stormwater Conference as primary distribution channels; it operates no software product, API, or proprietary technology platform, and relies on a Squarespace-hosted website for online presence and event registration. Core technical capabilities rest on credentialed staff including a P.E./CPESC District Engineer, a CESSWI-certified Senior Project Manager, an Education & Outreach Coordinator, and a District Technician pursuing GIS graduate studies, supported by a Board of Supervisors chaired by Bill Bamford.

Revenue is generated through three streams: professional-services fees (hourly rates of $103-$169 plus unit-priced education lessons, workshops, and equipment rentals), recurring grants and government funding (EPA Section 319 Clean Water Act, NACD Technical Assistance Grant, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Maine DEP, Maine DACF, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund), and donations and sponsorships (including biennial conference sponsors and municipal education program sponsors such as South Portland, Scarborough, Yarmouth, Biddeford, and Westbrook). The District does not accept venture capital or equity investment; it is governed by an elected/appointed Board of Supervisors and operates as a locally mandated, grant-dependent nonprofit-governmental entity.

Name

Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District

Legal name

Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District

Website

https://cumberlandswcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District is a Maine governmental subdivision, founded 1946, that delivers STEM-aligned K-12 environmental education, fee-based stormwater and erosion control technical assistance, and grant-funded conservation programs to municipalities, landowners, farmers, and residents across Cumberland County, Maine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soil and Water Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Stormwater Collection & Conveyance (Inlets, Catch Basins, Pipes, Channels) (EUANAEAA), Wetlands & Waters of the U.S. Delineation / Riparian Assessments (EUAHAHAC), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Soil and water conservation
• Stormwater management
• Watershed protection
• Environmental education
• Agricultural conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Windham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program and Service Fees: The District charges fee-for-service rates for technical assistance, inspections, plan reviews, site visits, and education lessons. Fees are based on time and materials according to a published Schedule of Fees.
2. Grants and Government Funding: The District receives grant funding from federal agencies (EPA Section 319 Clean Water Act, NACD Technical Assistance Grant, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), state agencies (Maine DEP, Maine DACF), and other organizations (Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund) to fund specific programs.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: The District accepts donations to support education programs and generates sponsorship revenue through the biennial Maine Stormwater Conference and education program sponsorships from municipalities and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District is a Maine Title 12 subdivision that delivers locally led soil and water conservation services to Cumberland County municipalities, schools, residents, and farmers. Its core offerings include K-12 youth environmental education (Raising Brook Trout in the Classroom, field trips, lesson kits), technical assistance on stormwater, erosion and sediment control, YardScaping landscaping guidance for residents, watershed and invasive-species management, and agricultural conservation projects. It also serves as convener of community events and the biennial Maine Stormwater Conference in partnership with Portland Water District, Maine DEP, and other local partners.

Product overview

The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District operates as a single unified conservation service organization rather than a technology product company. The District provides a portfolio of environmental education and technical assistance services, including Youth Education Programs (with STEM lessons, brook trout raising, and classroom kits), YardScaping Program (residential landscaping for conservation), Technical Assistance Services (surveying, erosion control, stormwater management, GIS), Watershed Management Programs, Invasive Species Management, Agriculture Support Services, the biennial Maine Stormwater Conference, and Coastal Bluffs Protection initiatives. These services are delivered through direct community engagement, workshops, site visits, and educational resources rather than through a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Education Programs K-12 environmental education programming including field trips, lesson kits, and the Raising Brook Trout in the Classroom initiative, delivered free of charge to Cumberland County schools.
• Raising Brook Trout in the Classroom Classroom-based brook trout husbandry and release program in which students incubate trout eggs, learn about aquatic habitat and water quality, and release fish into local streams.
• YardScaping Program Residential landscaping guidance program helping Cumberland County homeowners design and maintain low-impact yards that reduce runoff, salt damage, and invasive species.
• Technical Assistance Services Site-level technical assistance for municipalities, contractors, and landowners on stormwater, erosion and sediment control, and related conservation practices, including Municipal Roads erosion-control sign-off.
• Maine Stormwater Conference Biennial professional conference hosted by the District with Portland Water District, Maine DEP, ISWG, and Maine Landscape and Nursery Association, providing stormwater training and networking for engineers, landscape architects, and municipal staff.
• Watershed Management Programs Watershed-scale planning and project work, including Portland Water District partnership projects, culvert assessments, and water-quality monitoring.
• Invasive Species Management Identification, mapping, and management of invasive plant species on public and private lands, including soil-steam demonstration work.
• Agriculture Conservation Services Technical assistance to Cumberland County farmers on non-point source pollution, livestock-exclusion fencing, rotational grazing, and soil-health practices, often supported by EPA Section 319 grants via Maine DEP and NRCS.
• Coastal Bluffs Protection Technical and educational work focused on stabilizing and protecting coastal bluffs along Cumberland County's shoreline.
• Lesson Kits and Educational Resources Classroom-ready educational kits and materials teachers can borrow or download to support watershed, wildlife, and conservation lessons.
• Workshops and Community Events Paid and free workshops, pasture walks, soil-health events, and tabling outreach events for residents, farmers, and partner organizations across Cumberland County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached approximately 4,000 students with over 10,000 teaching hours in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portland Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with the District to install a pollinator garden at the Sebago Lake Standish Landing boat launch. The garden filters stormwater runoff from the parking lot and road before it reaches Sebago Lake, while also providing habitat for pollinators.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded a Technical Assistance Grant to the District to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to small lot landowners to improve natural resource protection and local food production in Cumberland and York counties.
• EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA Section 319 Clean Water Act funds, administered by Maine DEP, fund the Highland Lake Grant Project implemented by the District in partnership with the Highland Lake Association, Highland Lake Leadership Team, Town of Windham, and Town of Falmouth.
• Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine DEP administers EPA Section 319 grant funds to the District and delegates stormwater review authority to the District. The District also coordinates Maine DEP-certified training and erosion control inspection certifications.
• Maine Inland Fish and WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides brook trout eggs from the Casco, Maine hatchery to participating schools in Southern Maine for the District's Raising Brook Trout classroom program, where students raise trout from egg to fry before releasing them into local streams.
• Casco Bay Estuary PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided generous support funding for the stream table activity (Modeling Stream Erosion) as part of the District's youth education program.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe District works closely with the NRCS Scarborough Field Office to improve and protect natural resources while supporting long-term sustainability of food production in Cumberland County. This partnership leverages expertise and resources from both organizations for comprehensive, locally-led program delivery.
• Interlocal Stormwater Working Group (ISWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe District coordinates the ISWG, a regional consortium of Cumberland County municipalities meeting every other month to discuss stormwater issues. The ISWG includes representatives from South Portland, Windham, and other municipalities.
• Long Creek Watershed Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe District manages the finances for the Long Creek Watershed Management District and implements stormwater education and outreach for this watershed management organization.
• Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (Maine DACF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine DACF's Commissioner appoints two of the five District Supervisors. The District also partners with Maine DACF's Maine Coastal Program and Maine Geological Survey on coastal bluff protection projects, and with the Bug Watch program on invasive forest pest outreach.
• Highland Lake AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe District works with the Highland Lake Association and Highland Lake Leadership Team on a multi-year EPA Section 319-funded project to improve Highland Lake's water quality through education and on-the-ground improvements.
• Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of a 2025-2026 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, the District works with GPCOG, which hosts the project webpage for the Casco Bay Coastal Bluffs ecosystem protection initiative.
• University of Maine Cooperative ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for soil testing; the District directs residents to the UMaine Cooperative Extension for soil testing kit requests and to the University of Maine Soil Lab ($20 per standard test) for soil analysis.
• Maine AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe District loans out the Stream Explorers Kit, with additional resources linked to Maine Audubon's Stream Explorers program for watershed education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Casco Bay Estuary Partnership: Regional estuary partnership that funds District education programming (e.g., stream table activity) and collaborates on coastal conservation. Comparable mission scope around watershed protection and education in the same Maine geography.
• Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District: Maine conservation district where current Cumberland District Manager Chris Brewer previously served 16 years. Operates the same education, technical assistance, and stormwater programs across a comparable rural-urban mix.
• Long Creek Watershed Management District: Cumberland County watershed management organization whose finances the District manages and for which the District implements stormwater education and outreach. Operates in the same regulatory and geographic terrain.
• York County Soil & Water Conservation District: Adjacent Maine county conservation district with the same governmental structure, service mix (education, technical assistance, watershed management), and grant funding model. Cumberland and York counties jointly participate in the NACD Technical Assistance Grant, making the two direct operational comparables.
• Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District: Maine conservation district serving Androscoggin County with the same statutory mandate, education programs, and stormwater technical assistance scope. Provides a near-clone comparison for benchmarking service delivery and funding mix.

Others

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency the District partners with through the Scarborough Field Office for agricultural conservation and locally-led program delivery. Provides the federal funding and technical backbone that complements District services, making it an infrastructure partner rather than competitor.
• Portland Water District: Regional water utility that collaborates with the District on stormwater projects (e.g., Sebago Lake pollinator garden). Not a direct competitor but an adjacent water resources organization with overlapping regulatory and watershed interests in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Maine Audubon: Maine-wide environmental education and conservation organization with which the District partners (Stream Explorers Kit). Operates at greater scale with owned sanctuaries and a statewide membership base, but overlaps in mission around education and habitat protection.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: Statewide Maine land conservation nonprofit that operates at a larger scale than the District, with land holdings, stewardship, and policy advocacy. Comparable in conservation focus but broader in scope and structurally different (private nonprofit vs. government subdivision).
• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks in cities. Operates in Maine including the Portland area, with comparable conservation and community engagement goals but a much larger funding base and broader geographic mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cumberlandswcd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District