A conservation easement held by Maine Coast Heritage Trust clearly defines future uses on two-thirds of Sears Island—a welcome change after decades of uncertainty. © Kevin Shields

Maine Coast Heritage Trust now holds a conservation easement on 601 acres of Sears Island, a prominent landmark the State owns in upper Penobscot Bay. Were delighted to help ensure permanent protection of two-thirds of this significant island, observes MCHT president Paul Gallay, and believe that neighboring communities will benefit greatly from this conservation success.

The future of Sears Island, the second largest undeveloped island along Maines coast, has been a source of controversy for nearly four decades. Intensive community planning and negotiations spanning several years led to a recent agreement that places 601 acres (with 3.65 miles of Penobscot Bay frontage) under a conservation easement that protects scenic values and wildlife habitat while securing continued public access for low-impact recreation, nature observation and education. The islands remaining 334 acres are available for potential transportation use (such as development of a cargo port).

The conserved part of Sears Island contains a diverse mix of marine and freshwater ecosystemsfrom beaches, coastal salt marshes, vernal pools and wetlands to forests, meadows and shrubs. Many species of wildlife rely on these habitats, including more than 160 bird species and several rare mammals and amphibians. Area residents and visitors have long enjoyed hunting on the island and clamming along its shores, as well as walking and skiing an extensive trail network.

A permanent Sears Island Advisory Council (still to be formed) will advise the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), the State authority charged with managing Sears Island. All management decisions on the conserved portion of the island must conform to guidelines set out in the conservation easement. The Trust, as the easement holder, will continue sharing its conservation expertise and oversight as the Council, MDOT and various community organizations begin offering varied recreational opportunities that respect the islands diverse ecosystems.

MCHT plans to host a guided hike on Sears Island this summer. Visit www.mcht.org/tours for details.

Presidents Column

Maine Coast Heritage Trusts Role in Protecting Sears Island

Maine Coast Heritage Trust had a front-row seat in the long and fascinating community planning process that successfully protected two-thirds of Sears Island in January. Toward the end, we took on a key role drafting and holding the conservation easement that secures the future of 601 beautiful acres fronting on Penobscot Bay.

© Kevin Shields

Through all the discussions of Sears Islands future, which have spanned decades, we at MCHT felt strongly that the State as landowner, the Maine Department of Transportation as primary manager, and community stakeholders should reach consensus on the islands future. We chose to serve the island planning process not by lobbying for a particular vision but by following discussions closely and providing land conservation expertise when asked.

We were impressed by how diligently first the Sears Island Planning Initiative and then the Joint Use Planning Committee (appointed by Governor Baldacci) worked to reconcile economic and environmental concerns. With their encouragement, local communities like Searsport were deeply engaged in the planning (and, not surprisingly, were happy with the final result).

The protection of two-thirds of Sears Island marks the culmination of countless hours of work contributed by many partners who had to be creative, accommodating and adaptable.

Those community discussions led to an agreement that will preserve the scenic and ecological values of two-thirds of the island for low-impact public recreation and environmental education while reserving the remaining third for potential development as a cargo port (pending environmental impact reviews and permits). The Committee needed to delineate these two areas and find some means to ensure that the natural portion would remain unspoiled through time. A conservation easement, they decided, would provide the best long-term assurance that all those involved in the islands future management would operate from a shared vision.

After the Committee put out a call for qualified easement holders, it became clear that MCHT was uniquely qualified to draft and hold the Sears Island easement. But we needed to weigh the potential complications of overseeing a conservation easement on lands that might someday border a large-scale commercial operation. After careful deliberation, we concluded that the high natural values of the preserved area could be sustained in that context. We offered to draft and hold the easement, and the Committee selected us for this role. MCHT project manager Ciona Ulbrich worked diligently with Committee members to complete an easement that fulfilled their conservation goals and met MCHT standards.

The protection of two-thirds of Sears Island marks the culmination of countless hours of work contributed by many partners who had to be creative, accommodating and adaptable. All of us at MCHT appreciate the persistence of those who worked for so long to achieve this success, and we look forward to being an ongoing partner in caring for Sears Island.

The western shore of MCHT’s Stave Island Preserve, shown here, now incorporates 25 additional acres at the southernmost end—thanks to a generous land gift.

Land Gift Preserves Key Portion of Stave Island

For more than a dozen years, MCHT has worked with cooperative landowners to preserve the natural integrity of Stave Island, a remarkably unspoiled 500-acre expanse east of Mount Desert Island. Two conservation easements held by MCHT protect 330 acres of the island, another easement protects 42 acres, and nowthanks to a generous land giftMCHTs own preserve on the island has expanded to 105 acres. Wendy Gamble and her family recently donated to MCHT 25 acres on the islands southwestern point, including a half-mile of bold frontage overlooking Frenchman Bay.

Wendy Gamble purchased this shorefront parcel in 1988 with the idea of a possible building there someday, but over time she came to feel that any construction would have been so prominent. My husband and I felt a strong commitment to preserve the beauty of the area and so decided to explore options for long-term protection. After 20 years of careful stewardship and with the blessing of her children, Gamble recently gave the entire parcel to MCHT so that its exceptional scenic and ecological qualities would be preserved in perpetuity. Knowing what others had already done to conserve Stave, she reflects, we wanted to add what we could to that effort.

Thanks to the cooperation of Wendy Gamble and other Stave Island landowners, more than 95 percent of the island is now permanently protected. MCHT plans to complete a natural resources inventory on its newly expanded Stave Island Preserve this summer.

Aldermere Farm Engages Community Youth

Aldermere Farm, MCHTs working farm in Rockport, anticipates running more outreach programs this year than ever before, with six ongoing programs and many half-day opportunities for young people and families to learn about conservation and sustainable agriculture. Last year, Aldermere Farm staff connected with more than 1,100 local youth through on-site programs and events in the community.

Two or three days a week through-out the school year, youth from Knox and Waldo counties participate in six-week Farm Hands programs that allows them to help halter-train calves, and learn about farming as a way of life. Students who have been through Farm Hands and want more farm time often join the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club, a year-long commitment that immerses students in farm work and caring for animals. The long hours that youth spent last year were evident when they attended fairs with the cattle they had trained: out of 30 youth handlers at the Eastern States Exposition, for example, the second-, third- and fourth-place awards for showmanship went to Aldermere 4-H club members.

Among the many popular family events happening on the farm this year is Calf Unveiling Day on May 9 (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.): visit www.aldermere.org for details on other Aldermere events as the season unfolds.

MCHT Preserve Tours: More Choices than Ever

Maine Coast Heritage Trust is offering upwards of 40 field trips during 2009 so that more people can experience the wonder of our preserves. Each of these trips will be guided by one or more Trust staff members with detailed knowledge of that preserve. Advance registration is not required, and most trips are free (although a few boat trips with transportation provided do have a fee). Unless otherwise noted, most trips are 2 3 hours in length.

More detailed descriptions are available on our Trips & Events page, along with information on where to meet, items to bring, and weather cancellations. If you have additional questions, please call Peg Adams, Stewardship Assistant, Monday through Friday at 207-729-7366, ext. 117. For last minute cancellation information, call 1-207-798-5590, ext 201.

Stewardship: All in a Days Work

On warm spring days after a long winter, its easy to think that stewardship staff members at Maine Coast Heritage Trust have enviable jobs. After all, arent they outdoors much of the time on gorgeous preservessoaking up the sun as they add a trail sign here or clip a few branches there? This idyllic vision erodes quickly when regional stewards describe the array of challenges they facefrom routine hindrances like uncooperative tides and weather to unforeseen situations that truly test their mettle. The following anecdotes portray the wildly unpredictable nature of stewardship work.

• Returning from a workday on Marshall Island, three MCHT staff members were aboard the Peggy (one of the Trusts stewardship boats), with regional steward Terry Towne at the helm. Suddenly, Towne observed flames inside the engine cover. He reached instantly for the fire extinguisher and sprayed inside the cover putting out the flame before the manifold of the gas engine ignited. The air was none too fresh after the fire-quelling chemicals hit the hot manifold, but the engine kept working and brought everyone safely to shore. * Terry Towne now faces another challenge with bad airthis time from a 5-ton rotting whale carcass lying just 15 feet from an oceanside trail on MCHTs Frenchboro Preserve. * After months of advance planning by regional steward Melissa Lee, a crew of Maine Conservation Corps volunteers arrived at MCHTs Western Head Preserve, ready to build a rock retaining wall. Torrential rains arrived as well and continued the entire week of their stay. Crew members worked in a slurry of mud all day, and camped in wet tents each nightrising to don the wet, muddy clothes they had worn the day before. Yet Lee reports they sustained good spirits throughout the week. * Regional steward Doug McMullin had just begun work with MCHT when the 2006 Patriot’s Day storm hit the Witherle Woods Preserve with a vengeance, downing more than 100 trees. Parts of the Preserve looked like pick-up sticksonly the sticks were up to two feet in diameter, McMullin recalls. I had work experience on a forestry crewwhich had come up at the interview, he says, but none of us realized how much we’d be drawing on those skills! Fortunately, staff and community members created a plan to remove a lot of the downed trees with heavy equipmentgreatly reducing a potential fire hazard and opening up areas for regeneration. It was a great example of working with what nature throws at you, said McMullin. * Aldermere Farm, the Trusts saltwater farm in Rockport, is a popular spot for passersby to stop and photograph the Belted Galloway cattle and scenic vistas. One afternoon, cameras turned toward a different focal point: a woman posing naked in one of the pastures! Farm staff diplomati-cally ended that photo shoot but had greater difficultyanother dayseparating two sparring 2,000-pound bulls that were destroying nearby fencing and threatening to harm each other. Two shovel handles were broken in an effort to intercede, but the bulls never even noticed.

Staff News

Two longtime staff members who left Maine Coast Heritage Trust this past winter will be sorely missed. Chris Fichtel, a project manager in southern Maine, moved to Nevada where his wife Nancy will be working for the local chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Chris was instrumental in helping the Trust with conservation and whole place planning efforts, particularly along the downeast coast. He plans to continue work in the conservation field out west, and will enjoy exploring the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Jonathan Labaree left work at MCHT after 11 years here, initially as a project manager in the midcoast, and subsequently as manager of the Campaign for the Coast and as Development Director. Jonathans dedication to the Trusts mission, expertise with computers and personable manner made him an indispensable member of the organizationhelping keep MCHT on solid footing through many transitions. Jonathan now works for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, leading an innovative program to help fishermen gain more control of resource management by establishing federally approved harvesting sectors. MCHTs staff and board members extend heartfelt appreciation and best wishes to Jonathan and Chris in their new endeavors.

MCHT welcomes a new Regional Steward who will care for easements and preserves on Mount Desert Island, Billy Helprin, a long-time resident of Bass Harbor. Trained as a wildlife biologist, Billy has been active in local schools and a volunteer for the Trust over the past three years.

Ongoing efforts to protect critical habitat in coastal York County took a leap forward with the recent transfer to Maine Coast Heritage Trust of a conservation easement on 408 acres in Kittery Point. This private land of the Delano family, with nearly one mile of ocean frontage, represents 40 percent of Gerrish Island and affords valuable habitat for amphibians and migratory birds. “The Delano property is one of the largest remaining wild shorefront tracts in southern Maine,” notes MCHT project manager Chris Fichtel.

MCHT worked closely for years with family members, the Kittery Land Trust and the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative (MtA2C) to complete the easement. The MtA2C coalition has protected more than 2,200 acres in a six-town area stretching from the Tatnic Hills in Wells to Gerrish Island. MCHT board member Carol Donnelly, who helps lead MtA2C, notes that “from the outset, we knew the Delano property was a critical part of this conservation mosaic, so for all of us this easement is a dream come true.”

Three Delano siblings, Lyman, Warren and Sara, granted the easement. “Our father, Warren Delano, first acquired 100 acres and a small, 150-year-old house on Gerrish Island in 1946—two years before he married our mother Libby,” notes Lyman Delano. “Through the years, our family purchased additional acreage when it came available, completing a total of 15 transactions.”

“All three of us grew up on Gerrish Island and came to love the land as our parents did,” reflects Sara Delano. “For years we talked about how we might protect this beautiful place from development so it was very satisfying to accomplish our goal with the help of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Mt. A to the Sea, and the Kittery Land Trust.”

Nearly all of the family’s acreage will remain in its natural state. “We designated a limited area for residential use near the two existing homes,” explains Warren Delano, “with only one further residence allowed. We simply decided it was more important to preserve the property than try to provide for all the future demands of an expanding family.”

With funding from the Campaign for the Coast and MtA2C, MCHT acquired the conservation easement at a small fraction of its market value—thanks to the family’s great generosity and strong conservation ethic.

Ward Feurt, manager of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in southern Maine, was delighted to learn of the easement. “This region has been settled for 400 years,” he notes, “so large blocks of undeveloped land along the coast are exceptionally rare—and critically important to birds that migrate along the coastline.” To have a family preserve this extensive acreage in a single transaction is historic, Feurt says: “I don’t know of too many examples of this kind of personal investment in conservation along the Maine coast.”

The Refuge has 800 acres just north of Gerrish Island and the diverse habitats on the Delano land (scrub shrub, old orchards, woodlands, a freshwater pond, and a salt marsh) will help sustain the migratory birds that the Refuge seeks to protect—many of whom, Feurt says, are “species whose numbers are going the wrong way.”

Wing Goodale, with the Biodiversity Research Institute, conducted a bird survey on the Delano property last May and reports that it had “the highest diversity of species” among the 30 or so properties he has surveyed for MCHT to date. Ornithologists believe that Gerrish Island represents a particularly important staging area for migratory birds since it extends out from the mainland and there are no wooded offshore islands nearby. A Birder’s Guide to Maine reports large concentrations of migratory birds on Gerrish Island, with sightings of “all of Maine’s regularly occurring migrant landbirds—more than 110 species.”

The State’s Beginning with Habitat Program identifies the Delano land as a high-priority parcel with valuable wetlands and vernal pools that afford critical breeding habitat for amphibians and invertebrates, and support the threatened spotted turtle. Gerrish Island also has many plants that are at their northernmost range in Maine, including spicebush (a species of concern), the endangered scarlet oak and striped wintergreen.

The spectacular shoreline of the Delano property adjoins 88-acre Fort Foster Park, which is owned and managed by the Town of Kittery. “The Delano land forms a kind of greenway outside the park entrance and protects the coastal views that park visitors enjoy—greatly adding to the experience of place,” notes Rob Nichols, a Kittery Land Trust board member. Since Nichols first came to Gerrish Island in 1988, the number of houses there has doubled. “If the Delano land had been subdivided and developed,” he reflects, “it would have completely changed the character of Gerrish Island. We’re absolutely thrilled to see this land protected and are deeply grateful to the Delano family.”

Message from the President

First Impressions

As this is my first Maine Heritage column, perhaps I should introduce myself: I’m the uniquely fortunate fellow chosen to be Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s new President.

My first awareness of MCHT came even before my first interview. The Trust’s stellar work has earned it national recognition in the land conservation field. Everyone I spoke with considers MCHT one of the most visionary and effective land trusts on the scene today.

My admiration for the Trust's board, council, staff and partners grows stronger daily: it’s a joy to work alongside so many dedicated and capable conservationists. Maine is unparalleled in the breadth and energy of its land conservation community, and MCHT is certainly at the forefront in supporting that community and encouraging its growth.

Nearly everywhere I go along the coast these days, I see evidence of strong and growing partnerships that are helping local communities preserve places and traditions they cherish. This was apparent on a sunny August evening when MCHT staff joined in an outdoor celebration with partners from Maine Farmland Trust and scores of local supporters who helped secure the productive future of the beautiful Erickson Fields in Rockport (see page 4). In a community that has lost much of its farmland, this property offers hope for reversing that trend and reenergizing local agriculture.

Our cover story highlights the protection of 408 shorefront acres in Kittery Point. This is a great moment for the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative (a coalition effort MCHT helped launch 7 years ago that seeks to assemble a mosaic of critical open space in fast-growing southernmost Maine). Ten organizations, hundreds of donors and some exceptionally generous landowners have all come together to accomplish a series of truly astonishing landscape-scale conservation projects.

MCHT is working to invite greater community engagement in conservation at many levels, and we’ll be reporting on more of these initiatives in coming issues of Maine Heritage. I believe we will succeed best—as a land conservation community—when everyone feels like they have some ownership in the work we are doing.

Before I joined MCHT, I never really knew the wisdom of the phrase “standing on the shoulders of those who came before you.” I’m deeply indebted to former Trust president Jay Espy for his remarkable leadership and to Director of Land Protection David MacDonald for the hard work he did to keep the organization moving forward this past year (with much support from Tom Ireland, Linzee Weld and all MCHT’s great board members).

Nearly four decades ago, MCHT’s visionary founders challenged us to do extraordinary things to assure that the singular beauty of Maine’s coast would always be here for people to enjoy. I welcome your ideas on how we can advance that vision, and look forward to working with all of you to save the coast’s most cherished places.

Stewardship: Erickson Fields

Just west of Rockport village on a gently sloped hill overlooking the local elementary school lies an expanse of farm fields and woods that has been in productive use for more than two centuries. That agricultural legacy was nearly lost when the longtime owner and farmer of Erickson Fields was compelled to sell the land. With prime soils and frontage along Route 90, the property could easily have become an office park or residential subdivision.

Thanks to a cooperative landowner, fantastic community support, and the collaborative efforts of Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), the 33 acres of fields (used by MCHT’s Aldermere Farm for haying and grazing of its Belted Galloway cattle) and 37 acres of woodlands will remain in productive use. “This was a true partnership,” observes Aldermere Farm General Manager Ron Howard, with both organizations sharing in the work of raising the $1.1 million needed to cover the acquisition costs. MFT secured a federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program grant of $300,000 that helped launch the successful fundraising initiative. Contributions from 375 local residents and businesses enabled the purchase loan to be repaid in August, with MCHT assuming title to the land and MFT holding an agricultural easement on the property.

MCHT will continue using the fields for hay and grazing, and has begun inviting local input on other ways that the land can provide tangible community benefits. The property lies close to Rockport Elementary School and Camden Hills Regional High School, making it a good candidate for farm-to-school programs that supply local food to students and offer opportunities for youth to become engaged in food production.

Last June, Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Shelley Johnson helped Aldermere Farm’s 4-H Club members prepare three raised beds constructed from cedar cut and milled at Aldermere Farm. Youthlinks program participants helped maintain the beds through summer, with early harvests going to a local food pantry. Later harvests were donated to the high school cafeteria, where the manager has committed to match each contribution with purchases from other local farmers.

In addition to the 70 acres now secured on the south side of Route 90, two 5-acre farm parcels lie north of the highway. Two local residents purchased the easternmost parcel and plan to construct a retail market and small café specializing in Maine-grown food and offering educational programs. The westernmost parcel adjoining the elementary school is still on the market, but there is strong community interest in protecting this land as well.

“In our stewardship work, we’re increasingly interested in forging strong local partnerships and having our lands meet multiple community needs,” observes MCHT Stewardship Director Jane Arbuckle. “The Erickson Fields project is a perfect example of how a land protection effort can catalyze community energy and help people deepen their ties to place. Many community members already were strongly committed to local foods and sustainable agriculture: now this property offers a place where—literally and figuratively—some of those seeds can be planted.”

2008 Field Trip Highlights

More than 200 members and friends participated in Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s summer field trips (see our trip blog. If you weren’t able to join us this year, we hope you’ll participate in 2009.

Vinalhaven Sea and Shore Overnight

On MCHT’s first overnight trip, members enjoyed two days of biking, hiking and kayaking.

“We couldn’t have enjoyed our trip more! We loved every activity and particularly enjoyed learning about the local economy and culture—not something you can do as a tourist.”

~Anne and Dick Jackson, Yarmouth

Marshall Island Trail Dedication

More than 50 MCHT members gathered to celebrate the official opening of a 10-mile trail network on this spectacular island.

“There is nothing like being on the ground to fully appreciate a place as special as Marshall Island and the dire consequences had not MCHT come to the rescue.”

~Emily Beck, Seal Cove

Malaga Island’s Past

Archaeology professor Nate Hamilton and graduate students captivated 25 Malaga Island trip participants—sharing finds and inviting visitors to dig for artifacts.

“The USM archaeologist and students were full of enthusiasm and information”

~Suzanne Ewing, Portland

Petroglyphs on Machias Bay

Visitors listened eagerly as Passamaquoddy tribal historian Donald Soctomah explained the stories behind the ancient petroglyphs.

“It was a treat to combine kayaking in one of Maine’s most scenic areas with the opportunity to learn about Native American culture.”

~Norman Alt, New York City and Brooksville

2008 Field Trip Photo Contest Winner: John Rivers

John River's panoramic image of Sand Cove at Marshall Island was chosen as the winning entry for the first annual MCHT field trip photo contest. John will receive a free MCHT field trip next summer. Thanks to all who participated in this year's contest.

Staff News

Kris Campbell, MCHT’s new Assistant to the President, worked most recently as an Executive Assistant at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation in South Portland. A resident of Topsham, Kris is pleased to be working close to home. She holds a Political Science degree from the University of Southern Maine and enjoys spending time with her daughters Alicia and Carmen.

Work on MDI Field Office Begins

Maine Coast Heritage Trust has begun site work at its new office location near Babson Creek in Somesville, with spring 2009 as a target date for the building’s completion. Bar Harbor architect Stewart Brecher helped design an efficient, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified office that will minimize water and energy use, incorporate solar energy, and use materials from local and environmentally responsible providers to the greatest extent possible. The new office will have a low visual profile so that it best suits the 35-acre preserve along Babson Creek.

In Memoriam: George Taber

MCHT staff, board and council members were saddened to learn of the loss of George Taber, a former Board member and Council member for two decades, who died this September at age 79. Mr. Taber chaired the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for nearly two decades and served as a Vice President of the Richard King Mellon Foundation (known for its generous land conservation grants within the U.S. and abroad). “George was a true conservationist,” recalls David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection, “and we will greatly miss his wise guidance. He was instrumental in protecting the 12,000-acre Cutler Coast lands in Washington County and helped build the political support and funding necessary to conserve 4,400-acre Long Island in Blue Hill Bay.”

Preserving a Storied Casco Bay Island

Lying at the seaward edge of Eastern Casco Bay, Ragged Island is a 77-acre landmark rich in history and ecology. Much of this offshore island provides valuable nesting habitat for eider ducks (325 pairs at last count) and guillemots, while a traditional farmstead area adds ecological diversity and cultural interest—with overgrown orchards, pastures where oats, hops and timothy have gone wild, and a lobster pound painstakingly hand-crafted from stone.

For decades during the 19th century, people lived year-round on Ragged. One of the better-known residents, Reverend Elijah Kellogg, served Harpswell as a Congregationalist minister for long stretches between 1843 and 1901—happily situated equidistant by boat from his parishioners on Bailey and Orrs Islands and those in Cundy’s Harbor. Kellogg was one of Maine’s most prolific writers, completing 30 books for boys—including an Elm Island series of adventures set on Ragged Island.

Abandoned for a time in the early 20th century, Ragged Island became a favorite spot of rumrunners during Prohibition. In 1933, poet Edna St. Vincent Millay bought the island and summered there with her husband until her death in 1950.

Paul and Claire Sifton purchased Ragged Island the following year, and their three grandsons—Sam, John and Toby Sifton—now share ownership. Late this summer, they will transfer a conservation easement to Maine Coast Heritage Trust that prevents future subdivision and limits future construction—clustering it near the existing house. The easement provides for continued public use of a traditional picnicking beach at the island’s northern end. “Ragged has always belonged to the people of Harpswell as much as to us,” John Sifton says, noting how area residents use it both for fair weather enjoyment and foul weather emergencies. “We’re preserving it for them as much as for us.”

“Our mother has always wanted the island to be protected,” Sifton adds, “and none of us cared to see a building or lifestyle here that wouldn’t serve the wildlife well.” That desire lay dormant for years until—in just three years—the island’s property taxes rose 250 percent, motivating family members to take action. The Siftons sought to keep Ragged Island in their family and give the fourth generation of Siftons a chance to experience the place as their great grandparents had. By selling an easement to MCHT (even at a very generous “bargain sale” rate 40 percent below appraised value), they could generate funds to cover future taxes and upkeep while ensuring that—in John Sifton’s words—“the island will stay the way it is forever.”

Thanks to Ragged Island’s high conservation values, MCHT has been able to secure a diverse array of grants to help fund the easment acquisition. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which has long viewed Ragged as a top priority for permanent habitat protection, awarded funds toward the project, along with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, the Julie N. Oil Spill Settlement Fund, and Ducks Unlimited. “To complete the purchase,” notes Project Manager Betsy Ham, “we still need $75,000 in private contributions. We hope that those who know and love Ragged Island will step forward to help us secure the future of this exceptional place.”

From MCHT’s Board Chair

Tom Ireland

Over the last six months I have had the opportunity to be more deeply involved in MCHT’s work than ever before. It has proven to be an exhilarating experience, watching the Trust’s staff and board members advance ongoing programs; organize an inspir-ing and informative conference for 400 conservationists; launch several new initiatives (like the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program,

The Norumbega Society and “carrying capacity” assessments, all highlighted in this issue); and complete a successful search for a new president.

Our capable and hard-working Search Committee, under the very able leadership of Chair Linzee Weld, found a new president for MCHT with the skill, passion and energy to sustain this fabulous momentum. We are delighted to welcome aboard Paul Gallay, who comes to us from Westchester Land Trust in New York State where he served for eight years as executive director—achieving a seven-fold increase in conserved lands and creating five local conservation chapters. He had worked previously in the New York Attorney General’s Office on wetlands issues and as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Paul will be using this column—in future issues—to express his ideas and initial impressions.

It has been my great pleasure over the past six months to share the helm with David MacDonald, MCHT’s experienced and insightful Interim President, and to get better acquainted with so many of the Trust’s energetic and dedicated staff, board and supporters. I want to extend particular thanks to David from the entire Board for his especially committed service during this interim period. I look forward to continued work with all of you during this exciting and energizing time at the Trust.

First Espy Land Heritage Award Honors David Getchell, Sr.

At the 2008 Maine Land Conservation Conference, MCHT announced that it had renamed the Land Heritage Award in honor of former Trust President Jay Espy and that several generous donors had personally endowed it to provide a $5,000 cash gift that could go to any land conservation organization of the recipient’s choosing. The Trust then presented the first Espy Land Heritage Award to David Getchell, Sr., a pioneering conservationist who founded both the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) and the Conservation Trails Program at Georges River Land Trust (GRLT), and was the inspiration behind the Georges Highland Path (an ambitious 36-mile footpath involving nearly 40 different private landowners). He also co-founded the North American Water Trails Association and served for 12 years on the Maine Trails Advisory Committee. Getchell has chosen to share the cash award with MITA, GRLT and Friends of Baxter State Park (where he serves as an Honorary Director).

In receiving the award, Dave Getchell emphasized the importance of good relationships with landowners and a well-educated public in creating conservation success. “In these somewhat cynical times,” he observed, “it’s heartening to see so many private landowners willing to share their land with a caring public. In my experience, the vast majority of hikers and boaters do not need strict rules or policing. They respond with respect and appreciation, feeling privileged to enjoy these beautiful places.”

Getchell has shared his prodigious knowledge of trail construction and management, boating and other outdoor skills through service on numerous committees and through informal counsel to others. “Dave is one of those rare individuals who—through his unique gifts and talents—has greatly advanced the cause of conservation in Maine and has left indelible impressions, not just on the land he loves, but also on the people who work with him,” reflects Rachel Nixon who worked closely with Getchell in her former role as GRLT’s Executive Director. “He has inspired people, brought them together, extended their collective vision, and set high standards that others then follow. Working with Dave improves the quality of one’s own work.”

The Norumbega Society

Maine Coast Heritage Trust has established The Norumbega Society to recognize those who have invested in the Trust’s future with a planned gift. Over the years, a number of donors have chosen to support MCHT during their lives and beyond by incorporating the Trust into their estate planning (through such means as charitable bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts). These gifts play an important role in supporting our conservation work and through The Norumbega Society we seek to honor the vision and generosity of donors who make these special gifts.

Europeans exploring the coast of New England in the 16th century frequently wrote about a mythical setting of great riches—called Norumbega—reported to lie by a great bay (and often situated along the coast of Maine on their maps). MCHT chose this name for our planned giving society because we believe that the splendor and bounty of the Maine coast gave rise to this prevalent myth, and we feel that the allegorical wealth of Norumbega still lies in the natural landscape of this spectacular coast.

If you have already named MCHT as a recipient of a bequest or other planned gift, please be sure to inform us so that we can welcome you as a member of The Norumbega Society. Members of The Norumbega Society will be invited to special events and receive a dedicated newsletter. If you are considering your estate plans and would like information on our planned giving opportunities, please contact MCHT’s Development Director, Jonathan Labaree, at 207-729-7366 or jlabaree@mcht.org.

Maine Land Conservation Conference Highlights

MCHT held its annual Maine Land Conservation Conference in early May, welcoming 400 conservationists from around the state for an enriching two days of activities. Participants enjoyed an inspiring keynote address by author Janisse Ray, a field trip to Merrymeeting Fields Preserve in Woolwich, and a choice of more than 30 workshops at all skill levels—on topics ranging from legal and logistical mechanics of land transactions to fundraising and community outreach.

The conference also marked the launch of the new Espy Land Heritage Award and the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program. This new program, created through the generosity of private donors and the Pew Charitable Trusts, will offer competitive grants of up to $18,000 to 20 small and mid-sized Maine land trusts, providing them with individualized coaching, board and staff training, and technical assistance to help them prepare for accreditation and build their capacity for land conservation and stewardship. MCHT is administering this program over the next five years in partnership with the national Land Trust Alliance.

Stewardship: Planning for Public Use

Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s recent strategic plan commits the organization to expanding opportunities for public use of its preserves. The Trust now owns more than 50 island preserves and 18 mainland preserves where visitors can go to experience the wonder and beauty of undisturbed settings. “People need to experience natural lands first-hand in order to appreciate the value of land conservation,” reflects MCHT Stewardship Director, Jane Arbuckle. “MCHT wants to offer more opportunities for people to enjoy its lands, but we want to do that in a thoughtful, deliberate way that ensures these lands and the visitors’ experience of them aren’t degraded through too much use or the wrong kinds of use.”

Over the last year, MCHT has developed a standardized process for assessing a preserve’s “carrying capacity” (i.e., how many people can enjoy a preserve without diminishing its natural resources or detracting from the experience of those who visit it). For each preserve, stewardship staff members:

• Gather thorough natural resource data (including information on rare/endangered or invasive species, types of soils and ecological communities, sensitive habitats or notable features, current and traditional human uses, archaeological/historical significance, and the conservation intent of the landowners or donors);
• Determine what visitors will be seeking from this property (e.g., solitude, quiet, expansive views) and how the physical infrastructure (such as trail width and parking limitations) can sustain that experience;
• Identify indicators for measuring potential human impact (e.g., soil compaction, vegetative trampling);
• Gauge the acceptable limits of change, and decide what actions are needed to keep within these limits; and
• Monitor the property over time to assess impacts and update management recommendations as needed.

MCHT’s stewardship staff now incorporates this “carrying capacity assessment” into the detailed management plans created for each of the Trust’s preserves. “This systematic process helps us think through the implications of each management choice we make—whether it’s the size of a parking lot, the routing of a trail, or how we publicize the property,” notes Andy Walsh, a regional land steward active in management planning. “It’s a lot easier to make those decisions of scale and capacity early on than to limit use once signs of heavy impact appear.”

“We want to offer MCHT preserve visitors the best possible experience,” Arbuckle adds, “while being sure to maintain the ecological well-being of each property. It’s a challenging balance to strike, but our carrying capacity work should give us the information we need to make good decisions.”

Staff News

MCHT is pleased to welcome Nancy Mooney as its new Development Assistant. Before joining MCHT, Nancy worked in the health care data field for several organizations. Nancy holds a degree in Business from the University of Maine at Orono and lives in Brunswick.

Staff members extend their best wishes to John Tooze, who held this role formerly, as he embarks on a new life in South Korea.

Field Trip Opportunities

Experience first-hand some of the spectacular places Maine Coast Heritage Trust has helped conserve: sign up for one of the remaining spaces on these field trips by contacting Patty Renaud (prenaud@mcht.org or 207-729-7366).

August 13, 9 AM – 3:30 PM

Discover the Islands of Blue Hill Bay

Learn about the cultural and conservation history of many local islands while enjoying breathtaking views. We will stop for a picnic on MCHT’s Tinker Island. $55. Departs from Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island.

September 27, 9 AM – 1 PM

Whaleboat Island Cleanup and Hawk WatchJoin in Maine’s annual Coastal Cleanup during Coastweek, helping collect flotsam and jetsam on MCHT’s Whaleboat Island in Casco Bay. If weather permits, there will be chances to spot hawks in their annual migration. Bring your lunch, or have some at a waterfront chowder house on your return. Free. Departs from South Harpswell. Rain date: September 28.

MCHT Conserves 1,500 Acres along Bold Coast

Maine Coast Heritage Trust recently used an array of creative approaches to protect four key parcels that lie at the heart of the Bold Coast, including the largest property in single ownership that remained unprotected along this dramatic and diverse shoreline. Thanks to conservation-minded landowners and generous foundation support, MCHT secured more than 1,500 acres including grasslands, blueberry barrens and shorefrontage. The newly protected lands encompass most of the Bog Brook watershed and nearly two miles of coastline that lie between the State’s 12,000-acre Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land and MCHT’s existing preserve at Moose Cove.

The 900-acre Bog Brook Cove Farm property encompasses tremendous biological diversity. A long, cobble beach spans the Cove, framed by forested headlands and decorated by graceful, wave-sculpted volcanic formations. Just up from the Cove, 10-acre Norse Pond offers high-value habitat to wood ducks and American black ducks. The upland portions of the property hold a mix of wet meadows, grasslands, birch-aspen woods, and spruce-fir forest. Consulting ecologist Norm Famous described the grasslands here as “the second highest quality grassland barren of its type in the lower 48 states.” Around 90 acres of upland are in active blueberry production, helping support the local economy and providing habitat for marsh hawks, northern harriers and savannah sparrows.

For more than 20 years, local conservationists have hoped to secure the future of Bog Brook Cove Farm. “These lands have always ranked high in our local list of priorities, and have been recognized by State programs—like Land for Maine’s Future and the Natural Areas Program—for their exceptional conservation values,” notes Alan Brooks, Executive Director of Quoddy Regional Land Trust. To protect this valuable setting, MCHT worked with eight landowners and drew on a wide array of techniques to stretch conservation dollars.

In that process, the Trust received help from Greg and Catharine Moser—who acted as conservation buyers to purchase 82 acres on and around Stone Hill, the highest promontory in the area, saving it from fragmentation into house lots. This wildlife-rich property encompasses the upper reaches of Bog Brook, and supports rare communities of blue-joint grass meadows and yellow rails—a bird seldom seen in Maine. MCHT now holds an easement on the Mosers’ land that provides for public access to the hill (and allows for a future trail to the State’s Reserve Unit). In September, MCHT purchased a 500-acre parcel adjoining Stone Hill that will further protect sensitive habitat and buffer Bog Brook and Rice Brook, both of which contain healthy populations of native brook trout.

Trust staff then worked with landowners at Moose Cove on a creative land-for-structures swap to conserve additional undeveloped shoreline. “While largely undeveloped, Bog Brook Cove Farm does have some residential structures on it,” explains MCHT Project Manager Patrick Watson. “Knowing that landowners at nearby Moose Cove were planning to build a waterfront home abutting our preserve there, we asked if they would consider swapping their undeveloped 50 shorefront acres for the clustered compound of buildings already at Bog Brook Cove.” That way, the buildings at Bog Brook Cove Farm would remain in private ownership and on local tax rolls. In February, that swap was completed, preventing further development along 3,700 feet of Moose Cove (where MCHT had preserved 75 acres of raised coastal peat bog in 2005). The Trust retains a conservation easement on the Bog Brook Cove homestead area and a right of first refusal should the new owners ever want to sell it.

The four newly protected parcels help create a contiguous wildlife corridor of more than 8 miles and 13,500 acres, stretching from the Bureau of Parks and Lands’ Cutler Coast Unit to MCHT’s preserve at Moose Cove. By linking existing conserved lands, these four new acquisitions will greatly expand wildlife habitat—particularly for wide-ranging mammals such as black bear, bobcat and fisher.

Potential for future trail linkages enhances the high recreational value of the newly conserved lands. Washington County is one of three regions in Maine participating in a statewide initiative to foster nature-based tourism, drawing visitors for low-impact outdoor experiences. “The Bold Coast has a lot to offer those who enjoy hiking, wildlife-watching and spectacular scenery,” notes Judy East of the Washington County Council of Governments, who co-chairs the Vacationland Resources Committee that is promoting sustainable tourism in the area. “We’re delighted that Maine Coast Heritage Trust is making more natural destinations accessible to the public, protecting lands that can help support our regional economy.”

Fundraising efforts for this ambitious project are ongoing, and the Trust is relying on gifts both large and small. In addition to receiving support from foundations, MCHT has submitted a proposal to the Land for Maine’s Future Program and is reaching out to Trust members. To make a contribution or to learn more, please contact Warren Whitney, MCHT’s Associate Director of Development, at 207-729-7366 (or wwhitney@mcht.org).

From MCHT’s Board Chair: Persistence and Creativity Downeast

Twenty years after MCHT first saved several key peninsulas along the Bold Coast from the prospect of 30-lot subdivisions, it has conserved another key stretch of this remarkable shoreline. There’s a wonderful symmetry in having this latest milestone fall on the 20th anniversary of the Trust’s first commitment to Bold Coast preservation. But looking at the cumulative map of conservation achievements downeast, what strikes me is how much steady progress occurred without fanfare during the intervening decades.

What this map cannot capture is the fullness of each project story—such as the incredible generosity of the private landowners who donated easements and land or who offered MCHT key parcels at a fraction of their market value. The Bold Coast might look very different today were it not for the vision and conservation ethic of landowners like Ernst Martin, Charles and Madeline Lookabaugh, Gordon and Ruth Corbett, and the Bohlen, Pike and McGhie families.

Foundations and public funders also have been powerful allies in sustaining the exceptional conservation values of this region. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation loaned MCHT the money it needed—in short order—to secure Boot, Western and Great Heads back in 1988. The next year, the Richard King Mellon Foundation helped fund a significant purchase by The Conservation Fund encompassing 2,100 acres and 4 miles of wild shoreline, along with 8,900 acres of woodlands and rare grasslands (all of which later became part of the State’s Cutler Coast Reserve). The Land for Maine’s Future Program played a critical role in helping fund that major acquisition. Sweet Water Trust later assisted MCHT in purchasing shorefront land now incorporated into the Hamilton Cove Preserve.

MCHT has a number of grant proposals pending for its work at Bog Brook Cove Farm and gratefully received generous contributions late last year from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts through its Northeast Land Trust Consortium. We look forward to updating you further on support for this work in future issues of Maine Heritage.

While the map and photos shown here convey some of the vast scope and grandeur of the Bold Coast, these two-dimensional views don’t begin to do justice to the place. If you haven’t yet ventured east of Machias, I urge you to go see this remarkable landscape for yourself. When I visited there last summer, it gave me an even greater appreciation for the 20 years of steady effort that has gone into sustaining this exceptional corner of Maine.

Caring for Conserved Lands: MCHT’s Regional Land Stewards Part II

To assist in caring for its 75 preserves and 183 conservation easements, Maine Coast Heritage Trust now has six regional land stewards. Two were profiled in the last Maine Heritage: the other four are introduced here.

Kirk Gentalen, Vinalhaven

Kirk Gentalen works on Vinalhaven and North Haven as MCHT’s part-time land steward—maintaining trails, monitoring conservation easements, working on management plans, conducting wildlife surveys and doing educational outreach (relying on 15 years of experience as an environmental educator). He also does stewardship work for Vinalhaven Land Trust so MCHT’s work with the local trust is well integrated. “When I came to Vinalhaven four years ago, I didn’t expect much in the way of open space,” Kirk observes. “What is here in terms of natural areas is truly awesome.” Last year, he studied a 255-acre property on the Basin that had recently been given to MCHT and found 33 species of breeding birds!

Doug McMullin, Penobscot Bay Region

Nearly all the skills Doug McMullin picked up in a diverse assortment of former jobs—as a climbing guide, windjammer crew member, outdoor educator, and commercial pilot—inform his work caring for preserves and easements around Penobscot Bay and Deer Isle. Doug takes delight in what he calls the “fantastic diversity” and dynamic nature of stewardship work, which has “no task that isn’t interesting to me.” His position involves a great deal of travel on and offshore, and frequent interactions with preserve visitors, easement grantors and community members.

Terry Towne, Mount Desert Island and Vicinity

Having grown up along the intracoastal canal in Florida, Terry Towne has always felt at home on the water. His work for MCHT has him offshore a great deal—traveling to and from Marshall Island, Frenchboro and Tinker Island. Terry holds a captain’s license and knows the local waters well, having worked formerly as a lobsterman and scallop diver. His previous experiences as a code enforcement officer and construction worker come in handy as well during trail building and improvement projects. Terry says he likes “making these places available to people and seeing the enjoyment they get out of being there.”

Melissa Lee, Downeast

Melissa Lee began her part-time position on Washington County preserves 10 years ago, making her MCHT’s first regional steward. Her job responsibilities keep growing: just in the past year, the acreage she’s responsible for more than doubled. Melissa loves her “fantasy job,” saying “it’s always been such a privilege to care for these properties that are part of my neighborhood.” Her strong background in natural history informs both her preserve management and community outreach (e.g., Melissa runs an elementary school outing club that gets children out to area preserves for snowshoeing, hiking, kayaking and rock-climbing). Recently, she helped MCHT’s stewardship team assess the “carrying capacity” of its preserves—a topic we’ll cover in the next Maine Heritage.

Volunteers Needed

In our Topsham office, we are seeking a person to help answer phones on Monday mornings, and volunteers willing to help with occasional mailings and administrative tasks. Our Somesville office needs volunteers to periodically answer phones and help staff when the office manager is away. There are also long-term projects that would benefit from the attention of a few focused volunteers (who could schedule work at their convenience).

To volunteer in Topsham, call 729-7366 and speak with Donna Bissett or Celeste Black. If you'd like to help out in Somesville, contact Heidi Smallidge at 244-5100.

Maine Land Conservation Conference

“Conservation and Communities”; May 2 and 3 in Brunswick

This year, MCHT's annual conference offers an array of speakers, trips and workshops: for details, please visit www.mcht.org. Conference highlights include:

• Sustainable Communities, Meaningful Lives, a keynote talk by writer, naturalist and activist Janisse Ray (author of the Ecology of a Cracker Childhood);
• A Friday afternoon field trip to the Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust’s 125-acre Merrymeeting Fields preserve—which offers great birdwatching opportunities and impressive water views;
• Thirty-five informative workshops on Friday and Saturday, providing all levels of guidance on topics related to organizational management, stewardship, development, mapping and collaboration;
• Two “idea forums” for brainstorming new techniques, funding mechanisms and partnerships within Maine’s land trust community; and
• A Friday evening reception at Brunswick’s Frontier Café, with short conservation films and a photography exhibit of works by area schoolchildren.

Notable Conservation Gains in 2007

Saddle Island, Penobscot Bay

Visitors to Camden Hills State Park who ascend Mount Battie look out at a chain of islands that extend south from Islesboro—just a few miles out from Camden Harbor. Near the end of that chain lies Saddle Island, a 10-acre wildlife haven with an active osprey nest, eagle perching sites and seal haulouts. A conservation easement recently given to Maine Coast Heritage Trust will protect forever the ecological and scenic values of this wooded gem and guarantee that people can continue to enjoy its two beaches.

Saddle Island belongs to David and Jack Taylor, whose father purchased the property in 1940 (for the princely sum of $250). Their family has enjoyed picnics and outings on Saddle over the intervening decades and wanted to pass the island on to the next generation without it being a financial burden. The easement precludes all future development (save for a possible tent platform), while granting public access to the two cobble beaches and a trail that links them. Jack Taylor says his family is pleased with their decision to preserve Saddle in perpetuity: “Now we can continue to enjoy the place,” he notes, “knowing it is well-protected for future generations.”

Small Point, Phippsburg

A conservation easement donated to Maine Coast Heritage Trust now protects the easternmost point in Casco Bay, a 30-acre peninsula in Phippsburg. With more than a mile of shore frontage, this property encompasses a wide array of habitats—including rocky headlands, scrub brush, woods, dunes and two small beaches. The easement precludes all future development, preserving the land’s exceptional scenic and ecological values (but it does not provide for public access).

The property is jointly owned by members of the Lee and MacFadyen families, two branches of the Sewall family that has held the land for decades. The owners are deeply committed to conserving their land and several generations of the family worked for more than 15 years to ensure its permanent protection. Family members credit their grandmother, Camilla Sewall Edge, and their mothers, Camilla Edge Lee and Mary-Esther Edge MacFadyen, for the foresight to pursue preservation of this land. “Our families have always wanted Small Point to remain wild and now we know that it will,” reflects Richard Lee, one of the property’s owners. Camilla MacFadyen Lewis, another family member, adds, “With the signing of this conservation easement, our families are finally realizing a dream that is several generations old—to preserve the Point forever.”

Little Kennebec Bay, Machiasport

During 2007, MCHT secured several new properties totaling nearly 70 acres along the western shore of Moose Snare Cove in Little Kennebec Bay, a “whole place” that the Trust has worked for more than two decades to protect. The recent purchases conserved lands along Moose Snare Cove and Johnson Point that had been slated for subdivision into 11 lots.

The newly conserved acreage adjoins lands that MCHT protected in 2006 in cooperation with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and lies just across the water from MCHT’s Hog Island and 425 acres on Mill Pond owned by Bill Coperthwaite, who completed an easement with MCHT in 2003.

“The beautiful lands surrounding Moose Snare Cove and Mill Pond contain exceptional wildlife habitat and may afford opportunities in the future for shorefront trails that the public could enjoy,” notes MCHT Project Manager Patrick Watson. “Our most recent acquisition includes a trail easement along the eastern shoreline of Narrows Mountain. Within this 1,500-acre area, we now have more than 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline permanently protected. And work is still underway.”

One Member’s Steady Support

Ann Cort moved to Maine in 1990 following decades of summer visits that had deepened her love for the Maine coast. Since settling on Orr’s Island, Ann has felt a strong commitment to conserving this coast’s precious heritage. In 2001, inspired by the campaign to protect Whaleboat Island, Ann became a member of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “I’ve seen how things have changed in Maine,” she reflects, “and I can’t bear the thought of the whole coast being vulnerable to development.”

Since joining the Trust, Ann has mailed in a contribution every month. She says simply, “it’s just a priority for me.” MCHT’s Development Director, Jonathan Labaree, notes how much this consistent support means to the Trust: “Receiving Ann’s monthly gift always brightens our day. Her dedication is both humbling and inspiring: we are grateful for the trust she places in us and we always work to match her passion for the coast.”

Ann’s family ties in Maine stretch back three generations: she first came as a child to Kittery with her grandparents who had a summer camp there. “Through the generations, we all seem to gravitate here,” she observes. “There’s just something about the Maine coast.” Ann lives in the spot where her brother once had a small camp, a few minutes’ walk from dramatic cliffs overlooking Lowell Cove in Casco Bay. “I try to get out for a walk every day,” she notes. “It helps remind me of how special the Maine coast is.”

L.L. Bean Regrant Program Builds Local Land Trust Capacity

For the past four years, L.L. Bean has funded a grant program that has provided more than $75,000 to Maine’s local land trusts, helping expand their capacity for land protection and stewardship. Maine Coast Heritage Trust is a partner in this effort, selecting grant recipients and administering the program. The L.L. Bean grants have gone toward a wide array of projects—from membership development and conservation planning to public outreach. “These grants have a big impact because they cover dimensions of land trust work that can be hard to fund through other sources,” explains Megan Shore, MCHT’s Maine Land Trust Coordinator. “L.L. Bean’s consistent and generous support has given a meaningful boost to 19 land trusts throughout the State.” The company’s contribution has been supplemented by a personal donation to the grant program from Lisa and Leon Gorman, who chairs the board of L.L. Bean.

2007-2008 Grant Recipients

• Mahoosuc Land Trust – $4,000 for a fundraising consultant to help strengthen the Trust financially
• Woodie Wheaton Land Trust – $2,000 for a summer intern who will conduct landowner outreach
• York Land Trust – $4,000 to help support municipal outreach work as part of the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative
• Bangor Land Trust – $4,725 to help develop collaborative management plans for two well-loved preserves
• Western Foothills Land Trust – $4,025 to help launch an acquisition campaign for a 150-acre farm in Norway
• Cape Elizabeth Land Trust – $4,000 to create and distribute strategic outreach materials

Land for Maine’s Future Program: Celebrating Two Decades of Success

Maine voters extended funding in November for the State’s popular and far-sighted Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program. For the fourth time since the Program’s creation in 1987, voters resoundingly approved LMF funding (with a majority vote recorded in all 16 Maine counties).

MCHT and Maine’s land trust community worked actively in the coalition that garnered support for the $35.5 million measure ($17 million of which will go to the LMF Program). Maine Coast Heritage Trust extends thanks to all the individuals and organizations who worked and voted in support of the latest LMF bond.

Over the past two decades, the LMF Program has helped fund more than 200 land conservation projects across Maine (two dozen of which MCHT had a key role in).

LMF Support for MCHT Projects

(most of which were completed in partnership with local land trusts)

• Beech Hill in Rockport
• Crowley Island off Jonesport
• Cutler Coast
• Donnell Pond/Tunk Lake Region around Franklin
• Flag Island in Casco Bay
• Grand Lake Stream in Eastern Washington County
• Jasper Beach in Machiasport
• Indian Point in Ellsworth
• Lower Kennebec River Estuary near Merrymeeting Bay
• Mackerel Cove and Skolfield Shores, both in Harpswell
• River-Link Partnership in Newcastle and Edgecomb
• Marshall Island in Jericho Bay
• Mowry Beach in Lubec
• Nicatous and West Lakes
• Pettegrow Beach in Machiasport
• Seward Neck in Lubec
• Pleasant Bay, encompassing lands in Harrington, Addison and Steuben
• Robinson Woods in Cape Elizabeth
• Schoodic Bog in Sullivan
• Thorne Head near Bath
• Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds
• Tinker Island in Blue Hill Bay
• Whaleboat Island in Casco Bay

For more information on these and other LMF projects, visit the Program’s project directory at http://www.maine.gov/spo/lmf/index.htm.

Caring for Conserved Lands: MCHT’s Regional Land Stewards

As Maine Coast Heritage Trust has taken on more lands and easements, its stewardship responsibilities have grown. MCHT now has six land stewards working along the length of Maine’s coast to ensure that its 60 preserves are well managed and its easements are monitored annually.

“We moved to a regional stewardship model so that our staff would be part of the communities we serve and be able to respond quickly as needs arise,” notes Jane Arbuckle, MCHT’s Stewardship Director. “Having regional land stewards has proven more efficient and cost-effective.”

In this and the next Maine Heritage, we’ll introduce you to MCHT’s regional land stewards who help maintain and improve the Trust’s preserves, monitor its easements, and work with local communities and volunteers.

Andy Walsh, Southern Maine

Andy Walsh came to the Trust recently from the Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts where he worked as a regional ecologist—helping develop preserve management plans, conduct plant and bird surveys, initiate habitat restoration projects and control invasive plants. Prior to that role, Andy worked as a wetlands scientist.

Andy is thrilled to be back in Maine (he earned his graduate degree in geology at University of Maine—Orono and did extensive freelance photography here). “It’s wonderful to be working on behalf of this landscape and enjoying the coast with my family,” he says.

In addition to caring for lands in his region, Andy will help coordinate preserve management planning. “Management plans are key to the Trust’s ongoing stewardship and its work toward accreditation,” Andy explains.

Ron Howard, Midcoast

Ron Howard found himself coming full circle when he was hired in 2000 to manage Aldermere Farm (after MCHT received the 136-acre saltwater farm in Rockport through a bequest from Albert H. Chatfield, Jr.). “I had worked at the Farm summers, weekends and holidays through my youth,” he notes, “because my father was Chatfield’s farm manager.”

During college, Ron pronounced he would “never have anything to do with farming again,” and headed off for a 23-year career with Bass Shoes.However, his path then led back to Aldermere Farm where he found that his human resources work experience helped in his farm management duties.

Ron oversees farm operations and public programming, and supports sustainable agriculture through work on numerous regional and statewide boards. He also monitors MCHT’s easements in the area and works closely with those who own hayfields managed by Aldermere Farm.

Tax Incentive Bill Progress

In 2006, Congress approved a bill (originally set to expire December 31, 2007) that expanded federal tax benefits for donating conservation easements. Under this measure, individuals could claim a charitable deduction up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (up from 30 percent previously), with the remainder eligible to be carried forward up to 15 years (up from 5 previously). Qualifying farmers and ranchers could deduct up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income (if 50 percent or more of their gross income is from farming).

MCHT worked closely with the Land Trust Alliance throughout 2007 to make this bill’s provisions permanent. All four of Maine’s Congressional delegates and more than 170 other members of Congress cosponsored legislation to make the incentives permanent. The Senate Finance Committee, with the help of Maine Senator and Committee member Olympia Snowe, passed conservation easement tax incentive language in September and sent it to the full Senate for their consideration. In response, Senate leadership attached the language to the Farm Bill reauthorization, which they approved in December.

For the conservation tax incentive provisions to become permanent, the House and Senate must iron out differences in their respective Farm Bills and pass a measure the President is willing to sign. The two bodies were scheduled to conference on the Farm Bill in late January. For the latest update visit www.lta.org.

Wanted: A Seaworthy Boat

To assist with island stewardship during upcoming field seasons, MCHT is looking for a seaworthy lobster-boat hull ( 22-26’ long) in good condition with a hardtop and small cabin space. Gifts or bargain sales welcome! Please contact Douglas McMullin at MCHT’s Somesville office (244-5100).

Staff News

Joanne Favreau has joined Maine Coast Heritage Trust as a Staff Accountant in Topsham. She will assist with the annual audit and help meet the Trust's ongoing financial administration needs. Joanne spent the past six years as the finance director at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport.

From MCHT’s Board Chair

Maine Coast Heritage Trust made tremendous progress during 2007 and is well-positioned for a productive 2008. More than 50 land conservation projects were completed this past year (a record for MCHT), including nine entire coastal islands and nearly 20 miles of shoreline. To ensure that all the lands entrusted to our care are managed well, and to deepen our connections to the communities we serve, we’re expanding our regional stewardship work (see page 5). I’m also pleased to report on the continued advancement of the Maine Land Trust Network, which now includes our new Circuit Rider Program launched in the spring of 2007. With one-to-one training assistance, this initiative is helping local land trusts work more sustainably and efficiently—furthering statewide conservation efforts.

In December, the Board named David MacDonald, MCHT’s long-time Director of Land Protection, as interim President while it engages in a national search to find Jay Espy’s successor. We all miss Jay greatly, but the staff and board are both benefiting from David’s experience and wisdom in this transition time. And David is excited to take on this assignment: “It’s an honor to lead the Trust at a time when so much good work is underway with landowners and partners statewide,” he notes. “Our staff and Board are fully committed to realizing many ambitious goals in the coming months.”

We expect to have a new president aboard by summer, and will keep you posted on progress in the next newsletter.

Conserving Family Lands on Great Cranberry Island

A family with roots on Great Cranberry Island dating back to 1886 recently protected nearly 30 acres of land—in their words—“as a tribute to the people who handed it down to us.” The property stretches a half-mile from the large, shallow harbor known as “The Pool” to bold oceanfront on the island’s southern side. In between the wildlife-rich mudflats to the north and the cobble shore at the south are a beautiful array of spruce-fir woodlands and fields. The southern half of the property adjoins 28 acres of private conservation land on which Maine Coast Heritage Trust already holds an easement.

The four siblings who own the property—Malcolm Donald, Peter Donald, Deborah LaMontagne, and Susan Michalski—all shared a strong desire to keep much of their family’s land wild. “Coming from other places and seeing where relentless development can lead, we wanted to make sure that wouldn’t happen here,” says Malcolm Donald. “With the growing cost of maintaining the property and rising taxes, we knew it was time to act. We didn’t want to have to subdivide and develop the land or create a financial burden for our children.” After some discussion with MCHT and a conservation consultant, the family decided to donate an easement to MCHT on 10 acres bordering “The Pool,” and to offer MCHT their 19-acre oceanfront parcel at a small fraction of its appraised value. Proceeds from the sale will go toward maintenance costs and taxes to help keep the property affordable for the next generation.

“Many extended families with shared properties face questions and concerns similar to those of the Donalds—as families grow, buildings age, and maintenance costs and taxes rise,” observes project manager Bob DeForrest. “By taking a creative approach to these challenges, the Donalds were able to set aside some funds to maintain their family place, while preserving the land’s wild beauty, and helping to create a public preserve where others can enjoy a spectacular, oceanfront setting.” From the family’s vantage point, Malcolm Donald says, “this was the best thing for everybody.”

While maintaining the wild character of the property, MCHT plans to extend an existing foot trail through woodlands so that walkers can enjoy the cobble shores and expansive vista along the Island’s southern shore.

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Bidding Farewell

When I joined the staff of Maine Coast Heritage Trust in1985, MCHT was a small organization facing a big challenge. The Trust’s four staff members and its visionary board were contending with an unprecedented real estate boom and rampant land speculation along Maine’s coast. This trend threatened the character of Maine and motivated MCHT to accelerate its land protection efforts. Shortly thereafter, the Trust launched its first capital campaign—securing two wild headlands downeast that were slated to become 35-lot subdivisions. That real estate boom was followed by even greater waves of development, and today land values have soared to heights that were once unimaginable. Fortunately, so have the forces of conservation! In 1985, MCHT had protected 21,000 acres. Now, thanks to the incredible support of countless donors and partners, we’ve secured 125,000 acres (including 270 entire coastal islands). In 1985, Maine had 14 land trusts: today, that number stands at more than 100. MCHT’s leadership and support of local trusts have made it a model for conservationists around the U.S.

It has been a great privilege and joy for me to participate in the growth of MCHT and Maine’s land trust community over the past two decades. At the end of November, I will be leaving the Trust to pursue a different means of supporting Maine land conservation—as the first executive director of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation. Its mission is to support conservation of the natural environment and the well-being of animals and human beings, primarily in Maine.

I know that Maine Coast Heritage Trust will successfully meet the challenges ahead— pioneering new approaches to conservation, establishing and managing accessible natural preserves, and completing ever more ambitious land protection projects. Thanks to each and every one of you for your support over the years and your continuing dedication to the Trust.

A Message from Tom Ireland

MCHT’s Board Chairman

All of us will miss Jay’s steady hand at the helm, his willingness to tackle the impossible (and succeed—time after time!), and his ready sense of humor. His name has become synonymous with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and he leaves the organization a great legacy that will endure for a long, long time.

Jay’s remarkable dedication and leadership over the past two decades has placed MCHT in a strong position to undertake new initiatives, increase its commitment to land stewardship (thanks to the successful Campaign for the Coast), and strengthen its partnerships with Maine’s local land trusts. MCHT’s board, council and staff look forward to these and other opportunities that lie ahead.

The Board has formed a search committee and we are confident—given MCHT’s stellar reputation around the country—that we will be getting many highly qualified applicants. I will report back on our progress in the next issue of Maine Heritage.

Kathryn W. Davis

Celebrating 100 Years of Passion, Wonder and Generosity

Dr. Kathryn W. Davis, a well-known peace advocate, educator and philanthropist, celebrated her 100th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, she joined MCHT’s Richard Rockefeller for a flight—relishing the chance to see more of MCHT’s conservation work in the Mount Desert region from a bird’s-eye view. An aerial tour in a small plane might not appeal to many centenarians, but Dr. Davis’s hallmark is her irrepressible enthusiasm for learning and for the world around her.

Over many decades, Dr. Davis and her late husband, Dr. Shelby Cullom Davis, contributed generously to educational institutions, humanitarian causes and peace initiatives. “I just feel that I’ve been lucky,” Dr. Davis reflected in a recent interview, “and I should give back because I’ve been so lucky.” She and her husband first came to Maine more than six decades ago, after spending time in Europe getting their doctoral degrees. “As a young couple, Shelby and I summered on the Cape with my parents and family,” she recalls. “All very fond memories, but the Cape didn’t have any mountains! Shelby and I agreed that Maine had it all and with far less congestion.”

In the midst of many professional demands, Maine offered the couple a wonderful setting for rest and renewal. “I love Maine’s mountains and its coast, the hiking, the horseback riding, the saltwater swimming, the views and the fabulous sunsets!” Dr. Davis says. “I even enjoy the different kinds of fog, as long as it comes and then goes out again ‘on little cat’s feet.’ And did I mention the lobster picnics?”

In her honor, the Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation has pledged $5 million to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for land conservation in the Mount Desert Island area. This gift in her name is a way for Kathryn Davis to acknowledge her gratitude for the place Maine has played in her family’s life. “Mount Desert Island has been my family center every summer for over 60 years,” she says. “I get to see both of my children, all of my grands and all of my great-grands sometime throughout the summer. I simply love that. It’s great that they ALL love Maine, many of them as much as I do. It keeps them all coming back for more of this wonderful oasis of humanity... my true vacation land.”

Stewardship: Community Trails

While remote and expansive tracts of conserved land hold a value all their own, some of the best-loved coastal treasures are community trails that local residents use routinely for walking, shore access and wildlife-watching. Maine Coast Heritage Trust works on a variety of projects that protect traditional trails and the lands over which they cross.

“Some of our biggest trail projects have involved properties where the public use goes back generations,” explains Jane Arbuckle, MCHT’s Director of Stewardship. “These established trails cross private land that nearly everyone assumed already was conserved. In settings like Long Pond and Hunter’s Beach (in Seal Harbor) and at Schoolhouse Ledge (in Northeast Harbor), we worked with the landowners so that long-standing tradition of public use would continue.”

The future of community trails often hinges on the vision and generosity of private landowners. Fortunately, many of them recognize how important these trails are to local residents and they are willing to sanction continued public use (with a land trust overseeing trail stewardship). For example, two Matinicus island landowners recently donated easements to MCHT that provide for trail access to a beautiful stretch of shoreline where island residents like to walk.

Frenchboro Long Island, where MCHT owns nearly 1,000 acres, has an extensive trail network enjoyed by both island residents and visitors. “There’s 10 miles of hiking trails, some of which extend from Trust land onto adjoining properties,” notes MCHT Regional Steward Terry Towne. “Those landowners graciously permit people to enjoy the trails, helping to maintain an important community tradition.”

Landowners who wish to support traditional trail use can provide that access informally, or can ensure the future of the trail through a trail easement or conservation easement transferred to a land trust. “Often landowners start off with a ‘handshake agreement,’” Arbuckle says, “and later include a provision for trail access if they place a conservation easement on their land.”

In some instances, a land conservation project will open the way to reestablishing a trail that had become closed off or overgrown. On Swan’s Island, a family generously donated to MCHT 25 acres on High Head that allowed the Trust to reopen and extend an old trail. MCHT transferred both properties to the Town, and helped clear the original trail (following blowdowns) so that island residents could enjoy a beautiful ocean vista.

“We always like hearing from people interested in protecting community trails on their land,” Arbuckle says. “And sometimes we approach landowners to discuss trail opportunities.” Even in cases where people aren’t ready to pursue a conservation easement, they still may sign a simple trail license agreement that allows MCHT (or another land trust) to create and maintain a foot trail for public use. “We’ve got several exciting projects underway,” Arbuckle adds, “that will be great community assets when they’re completed.”

Summer Trips Engage MCHT Members

Members and friends of MCHT enjoyed exploring twelve conserved settings along the Maine coast this summer—ranging from the York River to Straight Bay downeast. The diverse array of tours included boat trips (in Merchant Row and downeast), hiking (in Castine’s Witherle Woods and at MCHT’s Frenchboro Preserve), a tour of MCHT’s Aldermere Farm, and an archaeological presentation at Malaga Island.

MCHT offered its first-ever canoe paddle (along Northeast Creek on Mount Desert Island), and quickly added a second trip to accommodate the overwhelming response. Visitors were surprised and delighted to find such a pristine and tranquil setting in the heart of Mount Desert Island. “We had no idea that we had such a gem of an unspoiled estuary here on our island,” one MCHT member observed.

Participants on a Pleasant Bay boat trip downeast enjoyed seeing the marked contrast among the region’s islands—from the low, flat and grassy Nash Island (where participants observed the annual sheep-shearing amid hundreds of seabirds) to the stark and stunning cliffs of Jordan’s Delight. This excursion (co-hosted with Maine Audubon) offered great opportunities to observe seabirds and explore a magnificent area dotted with islands that MCHT and others are working to conserve.

On Malaga Island (off Phippsburg), nearly 30 people were treated to fascinating presentations by students of the University of Southern Maine Archaeology Field School. With Professors Nate Hamilton and Rob Sanford, these students had spent several weeks uncovering artifacts from a community that was forcibly removed by the State almost 100 years ago. The students walked small groups of visitors around several digs, setting the scene, enthusiastically explaining the displays, and answering questions. “The students really transformed a few holes in the ground into a rich story, not just about Malaga, but of their own discovery,” one participant reported.

MCHT extends special thanks to longtime member and naturalist Peter Blanchard who helped guide several of this year’s trips.

Staff News

Deb Chapman is the new, part-time Land Trust Circuit Rider with Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN). She is former president of the Georges River Land Trust and has been involved with MLTN for years, serving most recently as vice-chair of the Steering Committee. Deb also worked as a consultant conducting organizational assessments for local land trusts through the Maine Coast Protection Initiative.

Andy Walsh has joined MCHT as a Regional Steward (based in Topsham). Andy spent the past twelve years with the Trustees of Reservations serving as their Regional Ecologist and Wetlands Specialist in southeastern Massachusetts.

Katherine Birnie, MCHT’s Conservation Innovation Program Manager, is a recent graduate of Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Prior to pursuing an MBA, Katherine worked as a project manager for Peninsula Open Space Trust in the San Francisco Bay area.

Collaborative Conservation Downeast

The rugged and beautiful landscape of downeast coastal Maine defines its communities and its residents—whose lifestyles and livelihoods are bound to the land and sea. For more than two decades, Maine Coast Heritage Trust has worked with communities, landowners and partners to conserve special places along this unique stretch of coast. Protected lands in Cobscook and Pleasant bays provide critical habitat for diverse wildlife and sustain shore access for recreation and harvesting. Preserves along the rugged Bold Coast (which stretches from Cutler to Lubec) offer opportunities to enjoy traditions like hiking and hunting.

Now MCHT is facilitating a collaborative process involving Downeast Rivers Land Trust in Columbia Falls, Great Auk Land Trust (GALT) in Milbridge, and Quoddy Regional Land Trust in Whiting. “We’re glad to be helping these partners discuss their shared goals and explore ways to operate more strategically and sustainably,” says David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection.

With $55,200 from the Land Trust Alliance/Maine Coast Protection Initiative and $21,000 from Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Downeast Land Trust Collaboration recently hired a shared fundraising specialist and began developing a regional conservation plan. “This effort is drawing in new partners as well,” MacDonald notes. “The Washington County Council of Governments and GIS classes at the University of Maine in Machias are helping us prepare the plan.”

MCHT also is collaborating with GALT on its “Summit, Forest & Seacoast” campaign, which seeks to conserve three prime properties around Pleasant Bay that traditionally have been used for hiking, picnicking, fishing and hunting.

With support from the State’s Land for Maine’s Future Program, MCHT recently acquired the first of these properties, Willard Point in Harrington, through a purchase substantially below the land’s appraised value. The 127-acre tract has majestic stands of mature spruce, fir and pine, and 1.5 miles of wild shoreline. Former owner Charles Milmine notes that the land had been in his family since 1911, and “nothing has ever been done to it in that time. Our family has always had a strong conservation ethic, and I inherited that.”

MCHT plans to create a loop trail for hiking and a parking area to make the Willard Point preserve more accessible. MCHT and GALT are seeking financial support for two additional campaign projects, a 117-acre tract atop Pigeon Hill (on the Petit Manan peninsula) and 23-acre Tibbett Island (just off of a town park in Addison). GALT hopes to acquire both these properties by the end of this year.

To keep pace with the heightened interest in land conservation downeast, and to work more closely with its local land trust partners, MCHT has opened a new field office in Columbia Falls staffed by Marty Anderson, who joined MCHT’s land protection staff in April. He and Patrick Watson, MCHT’s project manager downeast for many years, will work as a team to serve partners and landowners in Washington County. “We’re excited to see such strong commitment to the region’s future,” Watson says. “The collaborative efforts underway should bring real benefits to the landscapes and communities downeast.”

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Protecting a Unique Stretch of Coast

Along the Eastern Seaboard, there are few­­—if any—places that remain as wild and unspoiled as Maine’s easternmost coast. The shoreline between Mount Desert Island and the Canadian border holds some of Maine’s most breathtaking scenery and some of its greatest concentrations of wildlife. Dramatic cliffs along the Bold Coast are interspersed with unusual geological formations such as caves, blow holes and arches.

The region’s impressive tidal flats (with tidal ranges averaging 20 feet) and nutrient-rich waters create prime habitat for a great diversity of species —including migratory shorebirds, bald eagles and waterfowl.

This remote stretch of coast holds far fewer people than counties to the south and west. The population in Washington County is roughly equal to that of Lincoln County in the midcoast, yet the land base is five times as large. The 2000 Census reported 13 people per square mile in Washington County, as compared to 317 people per square mile in Cumberland County.

Washington County’s low population has helped keep the natural values of this unique region largely intact. The relentless development pressures working eastward along Maine’s coast have not yet reached peak force here. However, second home development is accelerating, fragmenting formerly unbroken shorelines and making it hard for many residents to keep up with spiraling property values. More than 64 percent of households in Washington County now cannot afford the median home price.

Increasing development can undermine community traditions, closing off informal access to wildlands that generations of residents have enjoyed for hunting, fishing, picnicking and walking. In the 200-plus miles of shoreline from Petit Manan Point to the Addison-Beals town line, only six sites now provide assured access for marine harvesting and recreation. Loss of traditional access sites diminishes the local economy and the quality of life.

Nearly 20 years ago, former MCHT Board member and eighth-generation lobsterman Jasper Cates argued that indiscriminant development along the Bold Coast would hurt both the region’s natural resource-based economy and its community traditions. The force and logic of his argument prompted MCHT to engage in protecting some of downeast Maine’s most stellar landmarks: Western Head, Boot Head and Hamilton Cove.

With the expansion of local land trusts in Washington County over the last decade, more of our projects there have become collaborative efforts—completed in partnership with local conservationists. Now those local trusts are discussing their future visions and finding ways to enhance their capacity for effective land conservation.

The collaborative planning underway in Washington County is part of a broader trend within the land trust movement, in which trusts across the nation are taking steps to ensure that their organizations will remain sound and strong for decades to come. It’s an exciting time for coastal conservation in Washington County, and MCHT is pleased to be part of this local initiative.

Charitable Gift Annuities

Donors who would like to contribute to Maine Coast Heritage Trust while retaining a secure source of income may be interested in creating a charitable gift annuity. Through this simple contract, the donor transfers cash or other assets to the Trust and MCHT agrees to pay the donor a guaranteed fixed amount annually for life (secured by the charitable assets). The donor benefits from steady, predictable payments (without concerns about low stock dividends or fluctuating market performance), and receives a charitable income tax deduction for a portion of the asset value that is transferred.

The amount of each annuity payment MCHT provides depends upon the gift amount and donor’s age. MCHT offers CGAs for a minimum of $25,000, which can be structured to provide income for one or two individuals (who do not need to be related). The accompanying box shows rates for a single-life gift annuity. “For people under age 60, the charitable gift annuity may be less practical, but younger donors can arrange deferred annuities,” explains Development Director Jonathan Labaree. “In that case, MCHT would not start making payments for some period of years. Since the payments are deferred, they end up being higher than if they started right away.” For more information on CGAs, please contact MCHT’s development office at 207-729-7366.

(source: American Council of Gift Annuities, www.acga-web.org)

Stewardship:April Nor’easter

The Nor’easter storm that blew through New England on Patriot’s Day weekend in April left its mark on many coastal preserves—downing trees, flooding shorelines, and adding tasks to the long “to do” lists of MCHT’s regional stewards. With heavy rains, pounding surf and winds gusting up to 81 mph, the storm inflicted extensive damage. All of Maine’s coastal counties were declared federal disaster areas, with York and Cumberland counties hardest hit. Preliminary estimates of damage to public infrastructure stand at $45 million, according to the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

Storm damage was aggravated by astronomically high tides, notes Terry Towne, MCHT’s Regional Steward on Mount Desert Island. “The normal tidal range here is 10.6 feet. That day, the astronomical high would have been 13.2 feet, but the storm surge drove it up to 14.5 feet. On Frenchboro Island, for example, the beaches were washed clean but all that marine debris is now 50 feet into the woods.” MCHT had already hired a four-person crew for 20 days to clear trails on Frenchboro Island. Damage from the storm necessitated another four days of work.

The offshore islands were among the hardest hit in the storm, Towne notes. On Marshall Island, the expansive beach at Sand Cove changed dramatically—with the upper quarter of the beach now large cobbles rather than fine sand. Several new sections of trail, Towne observes, “succumbed to storm surge or downed trees.”

Douglas McMullin, who stewards Trust preserves from Castine to Merchant Row, found that “far and away the storm’s epicenter for my region was at Witherle Woods in Castine.” McMullin spent a full day cutting downed trees at one preserve boundary so that neighbors could reach their cars and have power restored to their home. By mid-May, McMullin had already spent more than a week attempting to clean up the Preserve’s primary entrance and several trails. More than 100 trees in the preserve were downed or fell over trails, and several areas were covered by extensive deadfalls. With help from two Maine Maritime Academy volunteers, McMullin strove to make trails passable, but more work remains.

Amidst all the damage, there were a few welcome effects from the storm. Towne notes that the beach at MCHT”s Manset Fields property on Mount Desert Island is greatly improved, with much added sand making it a more appealing site. And at one island preserve, where the wharf on an adjoining property encroached on MCHT land, the storm swept away every trace of that pier. “We had been talking about how to resolve that boundary conflict,” Towne notes wryly, “but I expect the discussion will be very different now.”

2007 Maine Land Conservation Conference

The tenth annual Maine Land Conservation Conference, held May 5 and 6 in Wiscasset and Brunswick, drew 400 conservationists to hear an engaging mix of speakers, workshop presentations and discussions. MCHT is grateful to all those who helped make the conference a resounding success, particularly the lead sponsors L.L. Bean and Eaton Peabody. The two-day event offered much valuable information and inspiration for participants—judging from the positive evaluations that came in at the close of the conference.

Keynote: Meeting the Challenges Ahead

In a thought-provoking keynote address, Darby Bradley—Vermont Land Trust’s Special Assistant for Government and Donor Relations, spoke of how land trusts can serve the public long-term by operating with high standards and maintaining public trust.

Exhorting land trusts to think outside the box, Bradley suggested that “land conservation do more than conserve land.” He cited Vermont’s symbiotic alliance between affordable housing and conservation interests, and the potential for further partnerships with those promoting economic development, sound land use, local foods and place-based education. VLT, in his words, “is becoming an organization in which land is what we do, but building healthy communities is what we’re about.”

Increasingly, land trusts must face the thorny issue of easement amendments, contending with unanticipated changes while enhancing the public benefits of conserved lands. Bradley advocated that trusts view easement amendments as “the exception, not the rule,” and base their decisions on a clear, written policy. The governing motivation, he noted, should always be public interest—not landowner benefits or land trust convenience.

“We have an enormous and growing capacity to serve our communities,” Bradley concluded, “so long as we keep the public interest foremost in our minds, ensure that the public’s investment is protected, and ensure that all members of society will benefit from our work.”

Waste not, Want not

At this year’s conference, MCHT undertook a successful experiment using biodegradable plates, cups, napkins and cutlery. Thanks to new advances in compostable products and a very supportive caterer (Susan Robson, of Sarah’s Café in Wiscasset), 400 conference participants ate and drank off compostables and then threw them into biodegradable trash bags. At the end of the day, MCHT’s receptionist Celeste Black (one of the prime forces behind this “zero-waste” effort) took about 20 of these bags up to Morris Farm in Wiscasset, an organic community farm with a composting operation. Some of the Farm’s sheep and lambs gathered to watch the unloading process, kicking their heels and wiggling their tails. Watching these sheep gathered by a maple tree, Black reflects, “reminded me how we can ALL help close the circle by buying compostable products and treating ‘waste’ as a resource in disguise!”

Staff News

MCHT welcomes four new staff members. Membership Manager Patty Renaud brings development experience from her former work at the Maine Hospice Council and Natural Resources Council of Maine. Marty Anderson, the new project manager in MCHT’s Columbia Falls office, worked previously as Executive Director of Great Auk Land Trust. Kirk Gentalen joins the stewardship team as a part-time regional steward on Vinalhaven.Deborah Chapman works part-time as the Operations Circuit Rider for the Maine Land Trust Network, helping local trusts around Maine build their organizational capacity. Deb formerly served as President of Georges River Land Trust and as Vice President of the MLTN Steering Committee.

In Memoriam: Laura Riley

Longtime MCHT Council Member Laura Riley died in Florida this winter, following a fall. An experienced photographer and journalist, Mrs. Riley and her husband of nearly 50 years, Bill, shared a passion for conservation and coauthored two books–the Guide to the U.S. National Wildlife Refuges and Natures’s Strongholds: The World’s Great Wildlife Reserves. “Laura was one of the most dedicated and talented conservationists I have known,” reflects MCHT President Jay Espy. “She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of appreciation and hope for places still wild—from Maine to Florida and well beyond.”

Tin Smith Receives Land Heritage Award

MCHT awarded its annual Land Heritage Award to Tin Smith, a conservationist and farmer from Wells. Tin was a founder of Great Works Regional Land Trust more than 20 years ago, and has helped spearhead successful regional conservation efforts such as York County’s Coastal Mosaic Project and what evolved into the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative. He helped create the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and now serves as its Stewardship Coordinator. Tin has served on the Maine Land Trust Network Steering Committee as well. In making the award, MCHT President

Jay Espy called Tin “one of the leading lights for conservation in his region and in Maine.” He praised Tin’s capacity to unite optimism and enthusiasm with thoughtful pragmatism. “Tin is a true leader with a gift for seeing possibility in everything that he takes on,” Espy noted. “He is as far-reaching in his zeal for land protection as anyone I have ever encountered.”

The Basin on Vinalhaven is an unusual landscape feature, a wildlife-rich tidal inlet linked to Penobscot Bay by reversing falls. This unique area stands apart for another reason as well: it is a “whole place” where landowners have drawn together to protect the beautiful embayment their properties encircle. The history of land protection along the Basin shore traces back 20 years and involves many families. Recently, MCHT worked with longtime landowner George “Max” Ross and his wife Ruth Ripnitz to protect their property bordering the Basin, which includes two significant heights of land.

“These two mountains and the adjoining shorefront were key to sustaining the ecological and scenic qualities of place,” explains MCHT project manager Betsy Ham. “We’re so grateful to Max and Ruth for their willingness to work with us and contribute to the collective effort to protect the Basin.”

MCHT purchased 44 acres, including all of Steep Mountain (which abuts the Trust’s Otter Pond Preserve) and land bordering its Basin (Williams) Preserve. In addition, the Trust secured an easement on 59 acres of land encompassing Basin High Mountain, the highest point of land by this inlet—with bare ledges visible from the Basin and surrounding roads and hiking trails. The easement limits future construction to the site of an existing cabin and one modest structure located in the woods.

In total, the Ross projects protect 3,700 feet of Basin shorefrontage, preserving valuable wading bird and waterfowl habitat along with prime roosting and feeding sites for bald eagles. The newly protected land includes a thriving pitch pine community and lies, in part, within the Vinalhaven Water District—helping buffer the Town’s water supply. The Steep Mountain parcel, which offers beautiful views from the summit, will be accessible to the public for low-impact, daytime use.

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Stone Soup

What happens when a landowner invites neighbors to a party and shares with them her vision of place? She doesn’t ask anything of them: she simply talks about her heartfelt desire to keep her own property whole and beautiful. She makes good on her word, donating a conservation easement on her land to protect it in perpetuity.

Before long, other neighbors begin thinking how much nicer the whole area would be if they, too, took some action to protect their properties. Now that someone has demonstrated how this can happen, it becomes easier to follow suit. Every neighbor has different needs, and makes differing contributions, but—year by year—more of them take steps to keep this small corner of the world as nice as they found it.

This account may sound like a familiar parable, but it happens to be true. It’s a story replicated in many places where Maine Coast Heritage Trust works. Invariably, the story begins with one or more individuals willing to take a risk and lead by example. These people catalyze the land protection process through a generous and far-sighted act. They don’t seek recognition nor do they preach about what they have done.

Yet over time, more people come to recognize the goodness of their acts and the promise implicit in replicating them.

Our cover story in this issue, and our previous cover story (on the Bagaduce River Narrows whole place), are vivid examples of this vision-come-true. In each of these settings, a landowner stepped forward to act—trusting that others would join them. With patience and time, this leap of faith was rewarded. What I find amazing, and humbling, in these tales of whole place protection is how one quiet and thoughtful expression of possibility—one invitation to imagine a different future—comes to inspire a remarkable collaborative effort. Each family starts to see that taking action to protect the entire area is the very best way to meet their own needs.

Land conservation projects, especially complex regional ones, are indeed a “soup”—with many cooks, countless ingredients and a recipe that can never be replicated twice. But each new whole place effort reaffirms the age-old wisdom of the Stone Soup fable: how well communities can nourish themselves when they join together, with each member contributing what he or she can.

MCHT Conserves Two Key Islands near Mount Desert Island

Two more island gems off Mt. Desert Island are now protected, thanks to the vision and generosity of their landowners. “Island properties like these are in demand in today’s market,” notes David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection, “and we’re grateful that the owners chose to permanently protect these places. Both islands provide a wealth of public benefits that people can now enjoy into the future.”

Folly Island

Lying at the south end of Bartlett Narrows, along a popular boating route, Folly Island is a hilly, 7-acre knoll that affords beautiful views over Blue Hill Bay. Sylvia Erhart and Julia Coleman, whose grandfather acquired the island in 1943, kept the island wild and allowed those travelling the Maine Island Trail to enjoy daytime use of it. In reviewing their estate plans and their goals for the island’s future, the sisters decided to give the island to Maine Coast Heritage Trust. MCHT will transfer a “forever wild” easement on Folly Island to Acadia National Park as a backup layer of protection, and will continue permitting low-impact, daytime use. (MCHT staff and board were saddened to learn that Julia Coleman passed away in mid-March.)

North Twinnie Island

With the recent acquisition of North Twinnie Island, the Trust completed protection of a three-island archipelago at the gateway to Mount Desert Island (just east of the Thompson Island visitor center). MCHT secured the first island, South Twinnie, in 2001 through a bargain sale (well below the appraised value) and subsequently transferred the property to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In 2005, a bargain sale offered by former owner Dr. Frank Moya and a National Coastal Wetlands Grant enabled MCHT to purchase 65-acre Thomas Island. Recently, Dr. Moya completed another bargain sale to MCHT of North Twinnie, a wooded, 4-acre island barred to South Twinnie. “South Twinnie is home to a well-established bald eagle nest,” notes MCHT Project Manager Brian Reilly. “Protecting all three islands in this archipelago will help ensure the future success of this nesting site.”

Reducing Estate Taxes through Postmortem Easement Donations

A little known tax rule, Internal Revenue Code Section 2031(c), allows heirs who will inherit natural lands to have the estate donate a conservation easement on the property, potentially lowering the estate tax due. “This rule allows conservation easements to help reduce the land’s value, so heirs who face the prospect of high estate taxes can gain real financial benefits,” explains MCHT’s General Counsel, Karin Marchetti Ponte.

The tax rule allows estates to exclude an additional 40 percent of the value of land subject to a qualified conservation easement (up to a limit of $500,000) from the gross estate, after lowering the estate by the value of the conservation easement itself. “Reducing the estate tax liability this way,” notes Marchetti Ponte, “helps heirs keep land in the family and maintain its traditional use.” Maine Coast Heritage Trust just completed its first project involving this provision since the rules first were enacted in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998. The estate of Gertrude L. McCue, a Mount Desert summer resident, donated a conservation easement prohibiting future development on 9 acres of scenic fields and blueberry land along Beech Hill Road in Mount Desert. “Our mother wanted these fields to remain open, but due to the challenges of negotiating the details with all interested parties, we unfortunately were unable to finalize the easement during her lifetime,” her son Bill McCue explains. “In settling her estate, we found that donating an easement postmortem made financial sense for us while honoring her wishes for the land. The finite amount of time available to donate the easement and realize its benefits after our mother’s death brought a certain clarity to the situation, which had been lacking when there was no deadline.”

For more information about this option, please contact MCHT at development@mcht.org.

Stewardship: Sharing the Coast with Bald Eagles

Maine now has 414 nesting eagle pairs, half of them along coastal waters. This number represents a remarkable recovery of the species, from a low in Maine of 27 nesting pairs in 1967. Federal and state wildlife agencies lent the bald eagle regulatory protection in 1978 by placing it on a list of “endangered and threatened species.”

This summer, the US Fish & Wildlife Service is expected to “delist” the bald eagle, removing its designation as a “threatened species.” “Within the next year or so, the State will likely follow suit,” says Charlie Todd, wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIF&W). He is quick to add, though, that “regulatory protection has been the eagle’s lifeline over the past few decades, and we’re not walking away from that completely.” Eagles still will receive some protection under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The State also plans to monitor populations closely to make sure that eagle numbers continue to rebound.

A cornerstone of the new management strategy is to encourage more landowners to voluntarily conserve areas that eagles frequent, ideally through use of conservation easements that explicitly protect eagle habitat. More than half of the eagles in Maine today benefit from past land protection projects, many of them involving donated easements. “Private landowners always have taken on an extra role protecting eagles,” Todd observes. “It’s amazing the pride and commitment people take in good stewardship of nest sites. Nearly all of Maine’s eagle nests are on private land, so these stalwart practitioners of conserva tion are really unsung heroes.”

MDIF&W hopes to offer landowners more incentives to help protect—not just individual nesting sites—but the surrounding area where eagles feed and roost and where young might return to nest. “We will be contacting key landowners as part of a collective effort to ensure that eagles can thrive in Maine over the long term,” says Todd. To learn more, contact Charlie Todd (charlie.todd@maine.gov, 207-941-4468).

Keeping a Respectful Distance

Bald eagles build their nests in prominent trees near shorelines so they have ready access to the water and tidal flats to feed on fish, seabirds and waterfowl. Year after year, eagles return to their nests—maintaining some for decades. In coastal Maine, eagles often begin nesting in March and the adults share non-stop care of the 1-3 eggs during five weeks of incubation. Be careful of intrusions at this season: eggs exposed for as little as 10 minutes on a cool day can cause nesting failure.

Eggs typically hatch by early May. Privacy at nests remains important through at least mid-summer. If human disturbance forces eaglets to attempt flight prematurely or drives away the adults guarding them, the young birds can face injury or death.

Eagles may leave a perch or nest if approached within 1,500 feet. If you notice one or two adult eagles circling an area, flapping hard (rather than soaring) and vocalizing, move away quietly. Avoid approaching an eagle on the ground, shore, tidal flat, or ledge: it may be feeding or reluctant to fly because of inexperience or injury. Watch from a safe distance and report suspected problems to MDIF&W (207-941-4468).

Further Information:

• http://www.briloon.org/research/raptor.htm
• http://www.baldeaglecam.blogspot.com
• http://www.fws.gov/nctc/cam/eaglecam.htm
• “Bald Eagles in Coastal Maine,” by Charlie Todd, at http://www.mita.org/eagles.html.

A Tribute to Priscilla deForest Williams

“Priscilla Williams, an early MCHT Director and recent Council member, was a true pioneer of conservation,” reflects MCHT President Jay Espy. “For more than three decades, she was an avid enthusiast of our work.” Mrs. Williams died in December, leaving behind her husband of 65 years, Douglas Williams. Her conservation values and generosity were evident in the huge role she played protecting the Head Harbor archipelago off Great Wass Island. “Priscilla really loved the wild islands and coastline of downeast Maine, and worked hard for four decades to preserve them,” observes David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection. “She donated easements on her own islands in the 1970s and, as recently as the last couple years, she was still actively acquiring and conserving property and encouraging others to do the same.” In addition to her work in Maine, Mrs. Williams was formerly the N.Y. State "Vice Regent" of Mt. Vernon and Past Chair of the Heckscher Museum on Long Island.

Staff and Board News

Maine Coast Heritage Trust welcomes three new members to its board. Dawn Kidd, of Boothbay, served for 14 years as the executive director of the Boothbay Region Land Trust. Kurt Klebe, of Falmouth, is a partner with Verrill Dana, LLP in Portland, and serves as a director or officer on numerous boards throughout southern Maine. Didi Stockly, of Falmouth, is currently a director of Vinalhaven Land Trust, as well as a past director of Falmouth Land Trust.

New staff members, as well, have joined the Trust over the past year. Peg Adams, of Freeport, holds a newly created position as Administrative Assistant to MCHT’s General Counsel and to the Director of Stewardship. Peg’s background as a litigation paralegal, legal secretary and graphic artist qualifies her well for this role.

The Bagaduce River winds in a circuitous route around Brooksville, passing through "the Narrows" before emptying into Penobscot Bay. Bordered by woods and the fields of historic saltwater farms, the Narrows was one of the first places where Maine Coast Heritage Trust began a concerted effort to protect a "whole place" more than two decades ago. ("Whole places" are distinct locations with exceptional natural resources, such as Cobscook Bay and Pleasant Bay, where MCHT has concentrated its land protection efforts.) Seven recent projects (four of them completed in 2006) now protect an additional 1.5 miles of river frontage along the Bagaduce, helping to ensure that this pastoral and ecologically rich area will remain unspoiled.

Though most of MCHT's work in the area has involved assisting landowners with gifts of lands and easements, the unexpected sale of extensive acreage on Tills Point— with eight lots sketched out and soiltested— prompted MCHT to secure the property before it was subdivided. "Funds from the Campaign for the Coast and generous contributions from Trust supporters in Penobscot and Castine enabled us to close on this purchase," notes MCHT project manager Ciona Ulbrich.

In addition to the Till's Point project, four landowners near the Narrows have granted conservation easements providing generous setbacks from the water in which no future building will occur. These easements complement 10 additional projects completed in the vicinity of the Narrows since MCHT and local trusts began work in the area. "It's unusual to find this kind of collective vision," Ulbrich notes, "in which so many shorefront owners deeply appreciate the value of conservation and generously do their part to protect the greater whole."

President's Column by Jay Espy

True Leadership

In November, following the celebratory close of MCHT's Campaign for the Coast, Richard Rockefeller stepped down from our board. Richard's devotion to the Trust, which had a deep family rooting, grew stronger with each passing year—as he dedicated more of his great intellect and initiative to precedent-setting conservation efforts in Maine.

Thirty years after his mother Peggy helped found MCHT, Richard took her legacy of passion and vision to a whole new level. In 2000, he challenged the organization to launch a $100 million campaign, and offered to chair this extremely ambitious effort. His proposal met initially with many raised eyebrows around the MCHT Board table. Richard pointed out that we had a moral obligation to do all we could to protect the irreplaceable character of this coast before it was too late. Mounting threats required bold action. He persuaded his colleagues and began his role as one of the boldest conservation leaders Maine has ever known.

Few people who saw Richard at work during the Campaign for the Coast would ever have guessed that when he came onto the MCHT board 17 years ago, he did so with one explicit condition. He indicated that he would not be involved in fundraising. It wasn't something he enjoyed, he told me at the time, nor did he consider himself particularly skilled at it. Fortunately for all of us who love Maine's coast, by the launch of the Campaign, Richard had found that it gave him great satisfaction to meet and engage people who cared as much as he did about Maine's coast.

By sharing his passion for the coast, Richard inspired many others to join in the effort. He encouraged supporters to contribute by explaining his own reason for taking a leadership role—both as a major contributor to the Campaign and as its Chair. Gifts invested in MCHT, he noted, would leverage far more coastal conservation than if each donor worked in isolation. Richard's contributions to MCHT and Maine went well beyond his commitment to the Campaign for the Coast. As Board Chair and, previously, as Chair of our Lands Committee, Richard brought remarkable wisdom, creativity and clarity to every decision.

We are immensely grateful to Richard for carrying us through such important years. In every area and at every turn, he steered a true course. There is a kind of magic that surrounds great leadership and MCHT certainly had many magic moments with Richard at the helm. Luckily for MCHT, he will continue to assist the Trust as a member of our Council.

MCHT is fortunate to welcome a new chair of exceptional caliber, Tom Ireland, who has served on the Trust's board for 15 years. Tom is a proven leader with a keen understanding of the complex issues facing the land conservation movement, and a lifelong connection to the Maine coast. His collaborative, problem-solving approach will continue a proud tradition at MCHT. Tom is a partner at the private equity investment firm of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. He and his family have deep roots in the Pemaquid region, and they have widely explored the Maine coast and islands from Kittery to Lubec.

Preserving a Tribal Legacy in Machias Bay

With help from Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Passamaquoddy Tribe recently reclaimed a sacred site where they have gathered for more than 3,000 years. This historical site, known as Picture Rocks, lies on the shores of Machias Bay in an area where MCHT has done extensive conservation work. Etched into the site's shale ledges are hundreds of petroglyphs that depict the story of the Passamaquoddy's early ancestors. The images reveal animals, tribespeople and shaman figures. When MCHT transferred the property to the Passamaquoddy, the tribe's historic preservation officer Donald Soctomah spoke of how "our life stories are on those rocks. There is something very spiritual about the petroglyphs and about this land. We look forward to educating tribal children and the public about this important historical site, and protecting it for future generations."

"The Picture Rocks site holds the largest known concentration of petroglyphs on the Eastern seaboard," notes Mark Hedden, archaeological consultant to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. "We were concerned that if this land got developed one day, we might lose this important link to the past."

Following three years of negotiations, MCHT purchased the 5.5-acre Picture Rocks parcel from supportive private landowners, Ann and Peter Gommers, and then gave the land to the Passamaquoddy Tribe. In exchange, the Passamaquoddy donated a conservation easement to MCHT on 300 acres bordering Moose Snare Cove in Little Kennebec Bay, a beautiful and wildlife-rich embayment that the Trust has worked to preserve as a "whole place." The easement (which allows for traditional uses such as forestry and blueberry harvesting but prohibits future development) expands to more than 1,000 acres the protected lands in this ecologically sensitive area. Patrick Watson, MCHT project manager, notes that the arrangement worked out well for everyone: "I feel fortunate to have worked so closely with Donald and the Tribe on a project that returns a sacred place to the Passamaquoddy, while also conserving Moose Snare Cove. The Passamaquoddy Tribal Council deserves great credit for their vision and support in making this happen."

Representatives from the tribe, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, University of Maine at Machias, MCHT, and the local community have established a committee (named Malusah'ekan, Passamaquoddy for "Picture Rocks on the Shore") that is working to protect other petroglyph sites in the area. The success of the Picture Rocks project may help catalyze preservation of other historic sites nearby.

MCHT Helps to Conserve Gateway to Deer Isle

Crossing the long causeway that leads to Deer Isle, drivers look at a property that has a notable role in the island's history. The open meadow of this former saltwater farm looks much as it did a century ago, when the ferry to the mainland docked on its shore. The ferry began service in 1792, using rowboats and later steamships, and continued operation until the bridge to Little Deer Isle was built. The fields above the historic ferry landing, which were continuously farmed for generations, are now owned by Island Heritage Trust (IHT) through a transaction that Maine Coast Heritage Trust and its supporters helped to facilitate.

The collaborative efforts to protect this part of the Deer Isle gateway, known as Scott's Landing, began when the land was first listed on the open market four years ago. MCHT helped mentor IHT as it launched an ambitious campaign to protect 5 parcels around the island's gateway, with Scott's Landing as the keystone property. "Throughout the Campaign for the Gateway," says Mac Herrling, Executive Director of IHT, "MCHT staff members Ciona Ulbrich and Warren Whitney provided invaluable guidance. The support of MCHT was crucial in helping a small land trust like IHT negotiate this complicated deal."

Well into IHT's campaign, several anonymous donors approached MCHT and offered to help MCHT purchase the property to ensure its protection. "These individuals have close ties to Deer Isle and knew what this property meant to the place," says Ciona Ulbrich, MCHT's project manager. MCHT acquired the 22-acre parcel the very next week from landowners Nathan and Ellen Pitts.

To help provide a stewardship endowment for the Scott's Landing property, MCHT surveyed out a 2-acre house lot near the road where a house had formally been (septic, driveway and power were still in place). Sale of this house lot (with deed restrictions) generated an ample endowment and helped to assuage concerns about lost property taxes.

MCHT recently transferred the title to Scott's Landing to IHT, which will manage it as a public preserve. As part of the transfer, MCHT retained a conservation easement on the property that ensures the land will remain undeveloped, undivided and open for appropriate public use. IHT plans to create both walking trails and water access. If permits are granted, the local trust will build a small parking area off Route 15 to provide visitors with easy access to the preserve. IHT also hopes to have school classes visit the property to learn about its long history of settlement and its Native American shell midden. "This site was an important place for Indians for three thousand years," notes local historian Bill Haviland, "and when English settlers came in, it's where Deer Isle—as we know it—began, so it is great to have it preserved."

Stewardship: Tracking Bird Dynamics on Maine Islands

Last summer, Maine Coast Heritage Trust launched pioneering bird research on twelve of its island properties, ranging from Casco Bay to Pleasant Bay. "One of our greatest challenges in taking care of islands is not knowing enough about their natural communities and what they need to flourish," explains Jane Arbuckle, MCHT's Director of Stewardship. "This project will help us gather the scientific data we need to make sound stewardship decisions."

MCHT hired a consulting ornithologist to begin a multi-year study of interactions between sheep and seabirds at four islands off Addison that have traditionally been grazed: Nash Island, Big Nash Island (which is privately owned), Flat Island and the Ladle. Learning more about those dynamics will help inform MCHT's future management decisions and should be helpful to owners of other islands where sheep and seabirds coexist.

During the 2006 season, all of these island colonies had low productivity due to an extended stretch of rain and foggy weather early in the nesting season. Despite the poor weather, MCHT obtained valuable baseline data and made some surprising discoveries.

While looking for evidence of how sheep might be disrupting nesting seabirds, the ornithologist found the opposite dynamic at work: great blackbacked gulls killed off at least 2 ewes and 8 lambs, as well as preying on the nests of eiders, herring gulls and cormorants. According to area residents, this predation of sheep began only a few years ago and is growing worse (as more gulls observe and adopt the practice). The sheep are accustomed to the gulls, having lived alongside them for years, which makes them especially vulnerable to this new predation.

Researchers did not observe any sheep actively disturbing nesting birds (even inadvertently—through stepping on eggs). However, the presence of sheep does reduce nesting habitat for common eiders, and the grazed vegetation makes their nests more visible and hence more vulnerable. Daily visits by bald eagles also took their toll on eider hens and gull chicks.

MCHT has another study underway to determine patterns of bird life on Maine islands. MCHT hired researchers from the BioDiversity Research Institute to work on Marshall, Malaga and seven islands in Merchant Row–creating a predictive model of what bird life might occur based on an island's size and configuration. Initial data indicate that most songbird species avoid the ocean/island edge, with population densities increasing as one moves into the island interior. Wooded wetlands had both the greatest density and diversity of birds, with open headlands and shrublands having markedly fewer birds. Researchers found that the diversity of birds roughly doubled with each tenfold increase in acreage, and that an island's degree of isolation had no apparent effect on bird distribution.

These initial bird surveys are laying the groundwork for future studies assessing human impacts on island bird populations. "Research in other settings has demonstrated that the presence of humans can affect both species diversity and density," Arbuckle notes, "but little work has been done in the Northeast to determine how public recreational use of islands affects migratory species such as warblers. We look forward to seeing what the coming seasons reveal. Our findings will help us shape stewardship policies and practices for years to come."

Aldermere Farm Receives a Bequest

Maine Coast Heritage Trust recently received its first planned gift dedicated to Aldermere Farm since the property came to MCHT in 1999 from the estate of Mr. Albert Chatfield. Patricia Cornell, a Camden resident and active civic volunteer, named MCHT in her will—graciously leaving a portion of her estate for the Farm's use.

Planned giving offers donors a meaningful way to support Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Individuals can make bequests or provide for MCHT with a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust—both of which offer the donor flexible life-income benefits. Donors also may choose to name MCHT as the beneficiary of life insurance policies or qualified pension plans. Please contact our development office (207-729-7366) to learn more about planned giving options.

New Conservation Tax Incentives

The familiar adage that one can "do well by doing good" now has added meaning: Congress recently approved expanded federal income tax deductions for conservation easements donated in 2006 and 2007. Individual taxpayers can now claim a charitable deduction up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (up from 30 percent previously), with the remainder eligible to be carried forward for up to 15 years (increased from 5 previously). Easement donors who previously could not have deducted the full value of their gifts will be able to deduct more of that value over a longer time period, and will not lose these benefits simply because their income level is modest.

The benefits are even greater for farmers who can deduct up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income (if 50 percent or more of their gross income comes from farming).

The reforms also raise standards for appraisals of all donated property (worth $5,000 or more) and set higher penalties for appraisers and donors who engage in a "substantial" or "gross" misstatement of value.

If you are considering placing a conservation easement on your land and would like to learn more about these new provisions, please contact MCHT's land protection staff.

Gary C. Comer, 1927-2006

Gary Comer, a Council member and former director of MCHT, died last October in his hometown of Chicago. Gary was the founder of the Lands' End mail-order apparel company and an avid sailor who loved the ocean and spent time exploring some of the world's most remote marine environments. Knowledge gained from these excursions fueled his deep concern about global climate change, especially its impact on fragile polar ice packs, ice caps and glaciers. For the past decade, Gary was a leading sponsor of global warming research worldwide.

"Gary was one of the most creative, strategic and solutions-oriented people I've ever known," reflects Jay Espy, MCHT President. "He led our strategic planning process in the mid-1990s, helping to position the organization for its recent success. His knack for seeing beyond the horizon and his gift for encouraging the best from those around him had a profound influence on MCHT."

Campaign Totals

• 194 CONSERVATION PROJECTS COMPLETED
• 14,646 ACRES (including more than 11,000 acres allowing public access)
• 125 MILES OF SHORELINE
• 56 ENTIRE COASTAL ISLANDS (including 14 seabird-nesting islands)
• 20 EAGLE-NESTING SITES

MCHT’s Campaign for the Coast surpassed its target, raising more than $102 million dollars to complete 194 projects to date. “The Campaign has been a tremendous success—not only in securing the future of stellar coastal properties,” notes MCHT President Jay Espy, “but in building partnerships and leveraging greater support for land protection and stewardship.” Campaign funds are already hard at work. Thus far through its Campaign for the Coast, MCHT has conserved lands valued at $77 million with a cash outlay of $24 million—thanks to additional matching funds, and land donations.

Among the 957 contributors to the Campaign, most were first-time donors. “We had 610 new donors,” reflects Jonathan Labaree, MCHT’s Development Director. “People from all walks of life, hailing from 42 different states, stepped forward— seeking to preserve the special character of Maine’s coast.”

MCHT extends heartfelt thanks to all the donors, volunteers and partners who helped make the Campaign for the Coast a resounding success.

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Bountiful Support

When MCHT announced its Campaign for the Coast five years ago, a lot of eyebrows went up. Supporters acknowledged that the Trust needed $100 million to facilitate more land protection—given rising land values and increased development pressure—but thought the goal was terribly ambitious. Detractors were less charitable, considering the Trust hare-brained to set its sights so high. We were convinced, though, that people shared our desire to keep Maine’s coast distinct and accessible, and would help us meet our audacious goal.

Our timing, as it turned out, did not help move us toward our lofty vision. Shortly after we announced our campaign launch, the U.S. economy and financial markets stalled. There were other submerged ledges that we struck, but we always rallied—thanks in large measure to our devoted friends, our indomitable Campaign Chairman Richard Rockefeller, and the incredible donors we met. People opened their homes to us, spoke to their friends on our behalf, and in countless ways served as ambassadors for the Trust—helping us find kindred spirits who shared our vision of protecting Maine’s renowned coast.

Our job was made easy because people wanted to give generously, whatever their means. One woman sent in a check for $5, indicating that she hoped to spare that much each month from her limited budget during the course of the Campaign. The amount was small, she acknowledged, but the feeling behind it was so large. Another donor, upon hearing about our Campaign vision, exclaimed “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for something like this!” He committed $5 million on the spot.

For me, the journey taken and the people met during the course of this Campaign have been as gratifying and inspiring as the lands protected. Throughout, I’ve been reminded of how lucky we are at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Not only are we privileged to steward one of the world’s greatest coastlines, but we are blessed with incredibly thoughtful and generous supporters. We offer heartfelt thanks to Campaign partners and donors for all you’ve done for MCHT and for Maine. You have given us the tools and inspiration to create a remarkable and lasting natural legacy along this coast.

Project Highlights

Much of what makes the coast of Maine so appealing is the diversity of habitats and land types that characterize its islands, peninsulas, headlands, hills and river valleys. The Campaign for the Coast sought to protect stellar properties that reflect this natural diversity—from productive farmland and working waterfronts to open hilltops and granite-rimmed islands. The 194 properties protected to date span the length of Maine’s coast, from the Isles of Shoals at the New Hampshire border to the Cobscook Bay far downeast. The projects involved varied means of conservation, from donated and purchased conservation easements to “bargain sales” (lands sold well below their market value) and outright gifts. Maine Coast Heritage Trust will continue its selective and strategic approach to allocating Campaign funds in the coming months. The following examples highlight a few of the many gems protected through Campaign contributions.

Beech Hill, Rockport

Follow the walking trail up Beech Hill in Rockport and you can enjoy views that spiral out in every direction— from the nearby Camden Hills to Monhegan and Matinicus islands far offshore. This open hilltop, with its productive blueberry barrens and expanse of meadows, draws area residents and visitors for walking, picnicking and an annual “pick your own” blueberry harvest. The 295-acre preserve, now owned and managed by Coastal Mountains Land Trust, was protected through the collective efforts of MCHT, Coastal Mountains, conservation-minded landowners, the MBNA Foundation and the State’s Land for Maine’s Future Program. “MCHT recognized the value of this property two decades ago,” says Coastal Mountains Director Scott Dickerson, “and took the lead in negotiating its protection while our local trust was forming.” MCHT secured the hill’s summit through a purchase well below the land’s market value in 2001, and later transferred the title to Coastal Mountains Land Trust for long-term management.

Pinkham Island, Milbridge

Using funds from a federal North American Waterfowl Conservation Act grant to match its Campaign Funds, Maine Coast Heritage Trust acquired an 80-acre island in Back Bay—a setting that provides prime habitat for wading shorebirds and waterfowl. MCHT acquired Pinkham Island at a “bargain sale” price from the previous owners who had bought out a 15-houselot subdivision slated for the island and kept Pinkham intact during their 8 years of ownership. Lying within the Pleasant Bay whole place, the undeveloped island is considered nationally significant by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for its wildlife values, including an active bald eagle nest. The island’s former owners donated to MCHT two properties in the vicinity: a 1.5-acre island and a 52-acre shorefront parcel on the Beaver Meadow Brook salt marsh.

Stone Barn Farm, Bar Harbor

The best known farm in Bar Harbor’s rural Emery District lies along Northeast Creek, Mount Desert Island’s largest estuary. Stone Barn Farm’s 128 acres of unbroken fields, forests and marshlands help protect the pristine quality of the creek, a sensitive habitat that supports diverse wildlife. The long-time farm owners, a retired schoolteacher and nurse, wanted to remain on their land and have it continue as a natural oasis and beloved community landmark. Inheritance taxes, they knew, could force the farm’s sale—potentially resulting in up to 42 houselots on the site. By working with MCHT, the owners were able to prevent future subdivision or development by placing a conservation easement on their farm. Now the ecological and scenic qualities of their exceptional property will remain intact. “I’ve always felt I was put on earth to protect this land,” owner Harry Owens observed at the time of the easement signing. “Maine Coast Heritage Trust became the tool that will keep these fields and woods green long after I am gone.” Protection of Stone Barn Farm in 2001 helped spur conservation of two other farm projects in the Northeast Creek watershed, both of which were also made possible by the Campaign.

Malaga Island, Phippsburg

Just off the village of Sebasco lies a 41-acre island, most of which has never been cleared in recorded history. Malaga Island’s old growth woods, with tall stands of red spruce and pitch pine, give it a wild and untouched air—despite its proximity to the mainland. Through the generosity of its former owner, Maine Coast Heritage Trust was able to purchase Malaga for a price well below its market value. MCHT will create trails for visitors to enjoy while continuing to permit local fishermen to store their traps on the island—an important traditional use since shorefront available to them in Phippsburg is limited. The Trust is also collaborating with historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists who are studying the island’s historic settlement, a mixedrace community that made its home on Malaga for decades before being evicted unjustly by the State in 1912.

Campaign Perspectives

by Richard Rockefeller, Campaign for the Coast Chairman

At the time Maine Coast Heritage Trust began the Campaign for the Coast five years ago, much conservation effort and media attention was focused on Maine’s North Woods. Watching those efforts persuaded us that Maine’s fragile coast—with its even greater development pressures and skyrocketing land values—was experiencing equally great conservation needs.

Now that the Campaign is successfully completed, we are happy and honored to join Maine’s century-long tradition of people coming together to protect the lands they love. Following Governor Percival Baxter’s work in the North Woods, George Dorr’s efforts on Mount Desert Island, and the tireless work of volunteers in 100 land trusts around Maine, the Campaign for the Coast demonstrates once again what people can accomplish on behalf of place. I know that if my mother, Peggy Rockefeller (who cofounded Maine Coast Heritage Trust 36 years ago), were alive today, she would be as proud of this achievement as we are.

One aim of the Campaign, and one of its successes, has been to gain national recognition for the uniqueness of Maine’s coastline and to highlight the importance of conserving its ecological diversity, beauty, recreational opportunity and economic vitality. We have remained ever mindful of how important environmental health is to economic well-being and, conversely, how the cherished character of Maine’s coast includes a diverse economy. Our work going forward will continue to ensure that the Coast retains its cultural as well as natural integrity, and that those who depend on its shores have adequate access.

Reaching the ambitious $100 million target that we set five years ago is a major achievement. A still greater accomplishment will be protection and stewardship of the land: a work in progress, which the generosity of our many donors makes possible. It is so gratifying to visit properties secured through this Campaign and know that these natural treasures will remain as they are for our children’s grandchildren to enjoy. Thanks to each of you who lent your support to this effort. I am confident that the momentum recently gained will sustain our work for many years to come.

Major Grant Funds Habitat Protection Downeast

Through the efforts of the Maine Wetlands Protection Coalition and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, MCHT and Great Auk Land Trust recently received a second grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act program. The $950,000 grant will support the protection of more than 600 acres of upland and wetland habitat surrounding Pleasant Bay downeast. The acreage being conserved provides valuable habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and rare and endangered species. This federal grant will enhance MCHT’s ongoing efforts to protect Pleasant and Narraguagus Bays, recognizing their ecological significance as a “whole place.”

In Memoriam

MCHT staff and board will greatly miss longtime board and council member John M. Robinson, who passed away in July. A native of Portland, John was the former head of C.H. Robinson Paper Company and an active civic leader—serving on many area boards. He was an avid yachtsman as well, and joined in numerous ocean races. On the board of MCHT for 27 years, John chaired numerous committees and served as Treasurer. “John always had a steady hand on the wheel,” MCHT President Jay Espy reflects. “He helped us chart a sound course as the organization grew and engaged in more complex land transactions.” In addition to his decades of service to MCHT, John generously enabled the protection of Robinson Woods, an 83-acre woodland with shorefrontage and public trails in Cape Elizabeth.

Of the 85 miles of downeast coastline that lie within the Town of Machiasport, the best known stretch may be Jasper Beach. This crescent of fine red cobbles, framed by rugged headlands, offers views out to the islands of Machias Bay.

Local efforts in the 1970s led to creation of a town park at Jasper Beach that has long provided public shore access. However, few people realized that the town owned only a narrow stretch of waterfront, and that most of Jasper Beach was privately held and could be developed. When a 30-acre parcel with much of the beachfront that the public enjoys went on the market last year, area residents worried about changes to their favorite beach.

Recognizing this threat to traditional community access, Maine Coast Heritage Trust approached the sellers to explore a conservation solution. Fortunately, long-time owners Clinton and Carol Fuller were open to selling the land for below its market value. Working with the Town, MCHT sought project funding from the State’s Land for Maine’s Future Board. This spring, the LMF Board awarded a generous $366,000 grant toward the purchase, allowing MCHT to finalize an agreement with the Fullers and transfer the beach property to the Town in the future. “We strongly support this project,” commented Phil Rose, Machiasport Selectman, “for Jasper Beach is a major local attraction. We welcome opportunities to gain more public access and keep more shore land undeveloped.”

At its May meeting, the LMF Board also recommended a major grant supporting MCHT’s work with Great Auk Land Trust (GALT) to increase recreational access around Pleasant Bay. The $586,000 awarded by LMF will support efforts to acquire three outstanding sites where people can enjoy hiking, picnicking and hunting along the shores of the bay. Among the properties MCHT hopes to acquire in partnership with GALT are a peninsula in Harrington; a wild island in Addison; and a prominent coastal mountain in Steuben. As with the Jasper Beach project, municipal officials are strong proponents of the work: “Properties that the locals have traditionally used for recreation and shore access are being lost at an alarming rate,” wrote one local selectman. “It’s very important that these lands be preserved for public use.”

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Public Funding is Critical to Successful Conservation

Our cover story on Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) projects downeast demonstrates the essential role that public funding plays in supporting land conservation. Since the LMF Program was first funded by a public land bond in 1987, it has helped conserve a remarkable array of natural gems—from the Rangeley Lakes and the Cutler Bold Coast to Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Marshall Island. Subsequent LMF bonds, in 1999 and 2005, received overwhelming support from voters in every county. Clearly, the people of Maine cherish the state’s natural heritage and view land protection as a sound investment in our future.

State and federal funding have helped MCHT accomplish ambitious land protection goals in the Campaign for the Coast, and our new strategic plan highlights the continued importance of such public funding. The future of public funding for conservation is uncertain, however, given significant declines in federal and state funding sources.

Given these trends, Maine needs to begin exploring creative new ways for government to participate in financing land conservation. We might consider adapting models from elsewhere around the country—such as the use of conservation tax credits that encourage individuals and businesses to permanently conserve their properties. In some states, these credits have an added benefit over federal tax deductions in that they can be traded or sold to other parties. The State of New Jersey offers an incentive for municipalities to adopt local option taxes by providing matching funds to communities that apply a local tax supporting land protection. In other regions, conservation receives funding from dedicated revenues (such as development impact fees or revenues from real estate transfers).

Some Maine towns already have begun to generate public funds for local conservation efforts. Several communities have approved local land bonds, and at least one town is applying current use tax penalties to a dedicated land fund. Many municipalities now realize that land protection is not simply a discretionary tax expenditure but an essential investment in community infrastructure—helping to sustain recreational traditions, protect natural resources and wildlife habitat, stimulate the local economy, and make communities more appealing to residents and visitors.

Enacting conservation financing measures can be challenging, particularly in a time of budgetary belt- tightening. Maine must take this initiative, though: with each year that passes, the costs of land conservation rise and the opportunities for significant protection diminish. Mainers have demonstrated their commitment to fund further protection through three land bonds spanning nearly 20 years. Now, that commitment must extend to new and expanded means of financing conservation.

Public funding for conservation is not a topic that stirs the heart, admittedly, but it just may be one of the essential tools needed to save this remarkable place we call Maine. And that vision certainly stirs my heart.

Stewardship in the Field:

Halting the Spread of Invasive Plants

Many landowners, both families and conservation organizations, are facing a new management challenge—controlling the spread of aggressive introduced plants that can disrupt natural ecosystems. Roughly a third of the vascular plant species found in Maine are not native, but only a fraction of these are classified as invasive (meaning they reproduce rapidly and can overtake large areas, causing environmental and economic damage).

“Invasive plants are hard to eradicate,” notes MCHT’s Stewardship Director, Jane Arbuckle. “Some can be uprooted early on, or cut back repeatedly over a season, but it takes constant vigilance to keep the population from spreading.” Invasive plants are particularly common where soils have been disturbed but, due to transport of seed by wind and wildlife, they can show up even on protected properties. “Maine is in better shape than many states to the south of us,” Arbuckle says, “but several invasives are moving northward and are showing up on MCHT preserves.”

The following five species are becoming more common on Maine lands: keep an eye out for them!

Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculata): This vine rapidly twines around other vegetation, strangling tree and shrub stems and shading out other plants. People often use its yellow fruit casings and bright red berries in decorative wreaths and flower arrangements, inadvertently hastening its spread. Birds also disperse the berries.

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica): also known as Mexican bamboo, forms dense thickets up to 9 feet high that shade out surrounding plants. Knotweed spreads through underground rhizomes, making it difficult to remove. It is common in moist, open areas such as riverbanks and in disturbed soils.

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii): This shrub, often used as an ornamental in landscaping, commonly appears in old fields and second-growth forests, its bright red berries transported by birds. With its rapid growth of spiny branches, barberry can readily crowd out native understory plants.

Non-native Honeysuckle species (Lonicera genus): There are several invasive varieties of honeysuckle: the trailing Japanese vine and the shrub varieties Morrow and Tartarian. The trailing woody vine can grow up to 30 feet, girdling the stems of other plants and shading them out. The shrubs, common in former farmfields and forest edge areas, quickly overshadow many native species.

Common and Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus): These shrubby trees grow up to 20 feet, forming dense, even-aged thickets in wetlands and woodland understories. Birds and mammals readily disperse their red fruit.

What You Can Do to Help

• Educate yourself about problematic species and do not buy ornamental or landscaping plants that are invasive. Just because your local nursery or home improvement stocks a particular species, don’t assume that it is safe to plant. Read the brochure “Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid” (online at www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2500.htm or request a hard copy by contacting the Maine Natural Areas Program at 207-287-8044 or toni.pied@maine.gov).
• Do not bring plants into Maine from elsewhere, and be careful not to transport plant materials inadvertently on boat trailers, outboards and anchors. Invasive aquatics (see web link below) are threatening the health of Maine’s rivers and lakes.
• If invasives have already become established on your property, review the factsheets on the Maine Natural Areas Program website (see link below) to learn about control measures.

For More Information:

The Maine Natural Areas Program (www.mainenaturalareas.org) has factsheets to help in the identification and control of the most prevalent invasives.

The New England Wildflower Society (www.newfs.org) has a list of “Alternatives to Invasive Species” for those seeking less problematic landscaping varieties.

Information on freshwater aquatic spcies is provided by the State at http://www.state.me.us/ifw/wildlife/milfoil.htm. To learn more about marine invasive species, visit the website http://massbay.mit.edu/exoticspecies/index.html.

Strengthening Existing Conservation Easements

As the land conservation movement has matured, so has the language employed in conservation easements. Easements are voluntary agreements that allow landowners to preserve ecological and scenic features of their property while retaining ownership. “Easements drafted today reflect the extensive knowledge we’ve gained about conservation standards and stewardship,” notes David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection. “We’re continually revising easement language to provide greater clarity for the landowner and better protection of the land’s public benefits.”

Some landowners have begun approaching MCHT to explore how they might strengthen their existing easements. Recently, for example, the Faunce family worked with the Trust to better protect Monroe Island, their 225-acre property off Owls Head. The original 1973 easement, held by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, allowed for five houses and five docks distributed around the island—a level of development the family no longer considered pursuing. While existing easements usually are amended, in this case it was simpler for the family to donate a second, more restrictive easement to MCHT overlaying the old one. The new easement sites all future development within a single 2-acre building envelope set back more than 300 feet from the shore. “Clustering potential development in one small area ensures that 223 acres of the island will remain undisturbed,” notes MCHT Project Manager Betsy Ham, “protecting wildlife habitat and preserving beautiful views from Owls Head Light State Park and the Vinalhaven and North Haven ferry routes.”

The decision to strengthen an existing easement may be prompted by the impending sale or transfer of property, as was the case with a recent project on Deer Isle. Ten years ago, landowners Stan and Peg Myers donated a conservation easement on their 34-acre shorefront property in Stonington to Island Heritage Trust. Having volunteered with the local land trust and monitored easements, the Myers realized that it would be helpful to tighten and clarify easement restrictions on the portion of the property they were planning to sell. “This amendment eliminated one subdivision right, further limited the reserved building rights, and clarified restrictions,” notes MCHT Project Manager Ciona Ulbrich, who worked with the Myers, “making it easier for the land trust to monitor the property and communicate with landowners over time.”

Amending a conservation easement can be a fairly easy process in cases where the landowner wants to make a simple change, such as extinguishing allowed building rights or bringing the easement into compliance with federal requirements to allow for additional estate tax incentives. If owners seek a substantial change, though, the process may become as involved as a new easement (and may require legal and appraisal services). “For the amendment process to be worthwhile—for the landowner and the land trust, there must be conservation gains that clearly benefit the public,” notes MacDonald. “Then the landowner may be able to recoup some of the transaction costs through a reduction in estate taxes, additional income tax deductions and possibly reduced property taxes.”

If you would like to strengthen existing conservation restrictions on a property under easement, please contact MCHT staff to discuss whether an easement amendment might be worth pursuing.

Land Heritage Award Winner

At the Maine Land Conservation Conference in May, MCHT presented its annual Land Heritage award to Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT), a regional trust that has helped to conserve more than 12,000 acres—including 40 miles of lake and river frontage—in its first 15 years of operation. As he made the award, MCHT President Jay Espy noted that “RLHT has had a tremendous positive impact, not only on the landscape, but also on the economic health and community traditions in the remote corner of Maine that it serves.” RLHT serves as a model of community involvement—coordinating a regional water quality and invasive plant program, and sponsoring a grant-supported environmental education and outdoor recreation program.

Accreditation Update

Last year, land trusts around the country helped design a new voluntary accreditation program to foster public confidence in conservation work, help ensure long-term land protection, and recognize those trusts that have implemented high standards and practices. MCHT’s Director of Land Protection David MacDonald recently was appointed to a 13-member national board that will oversee this new Land Trust Accreditation Commission, which is an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

In its first year, the Commission will develop policies to provide a fair and thorough review of applications and procedures for granting a seal of accreditation to successful applicants. Pilot tests of the new accreditation system will be underway by 2007, with the program fully operational by 2008. More than 1,000 land trusts are eligible for accreditation.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s ongoing effort to protect the scenic and ecological qualities of Cobscook Bay moved forward this March with the permanent protection of a key 194-acre property bordering Cobscook Falls. For more than two decades, the Trust has worked with Quoddy Regional Land Trust (QRLT), The Nature Conservancy, and state and federal agencies to protect most of the islands and more than 12 miles of shoreline in nearby Straight Bay. This region has been a target for conservation due to its great diversity of habitat types which support migrating, roosting and feeding waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as nesting bald eagles and abundant fish and invertebrates.

The newly conserved parcel, which includes 1.7 miles of pristine shorefront, lies between the Town of Pembroke’s 24-acre Reversing Falls parcel and a 297-acre State Wildlife Management Area. “The Cobscook Falls property is in a prime location,” notes MCHT project manager Patrick Watson, “at the end of a prominent peninsula that separates outer Cobscook Bay from Dennys and Whiting bays. The protection of this wooded acreage and scenic shoreline will ensure that a nearly contiguous block of more than 500 acres remains unspoiled.”

MCHT helped QRLT acquire this property through a bargain sale (well below its appraised value) from Markley Boyer, who bought the land more than 30 years ago when it was threatened by a 70-lot subdivision. QRLT purchased the land with funds from a federal Coastal Wetlands Grant (see article on page 3). Boyer acquired several undeveloped properties as they came up for sale or were threatened with subdivision and development. He dismisses any suggestion that he had a clear vision for long-term protection: “I just acted as opportunities came along,” Boyer says. Yet single-handedly, he has had a profound impact on sustaining the unspoiled character of these beautiful bays. In addition to the recent Cobscook Falls project, Boyer has donated two nearby parcels to The Nature Conservancy, including nearly all of 140-acre Falls Island—a prime eagle-nesting site by Cobscook Falls. Boyer hopes that his efforts will inspire further conservation work in the vicinity.

The Cobscook Falls property will enhance the region’s recreational and economic opportunities, ensuring public access for clamming, fishing, hunting, walking, wildlife viewing, canoeing and kayaking. “While I obviously haven’t seen the entire United States, I happen to think Cobscook Bay is one of the top natural places in the country,” Boyer says, “and I’d like to help make this an area where—50 years from now—people can go.”

President’s Column by Jay Espy

An Exceptional Commitment to Conservation Innovation

Several months ago, I received one of the most extraordinary phone calls of my 20-year tenure at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Our board chairman called to say he’d just spoken to a supporter who was considering making a gift of up to $1 million to benefit the Maine coast and the future of land conservation. This prospective donor and his wife wanted to support an effort that was forward-looking but could be hard to fund. In the weeks following that phone call, we outlined a plan to research, develop and promote innovations that would enhance our conservation capacity at MCHT and, by example, advance the work of land trusts across the country. In many ways, this phone call answered a prayer. MCHT’s board and staff had recently identified “conservation innovation” as a critical strategy for increasing the pace and quality of land protection in coming decades.

We knew that our ambitious goals for future protection depended on creative new approaches in areas such as project financing, building community support for land protection, and gathering broader input into land-use planning. Thanks to the great generosity of Forrest Berkley and Marcie Tyre, of Wayland, Massachusetts and Swans Island, Maine, MCHT now can pursue these vitally important innovations and help keep Maine at the forefront of land conservation leadership.

Complementing their gift to MCHT, Forrest and Marcie made a significant donation to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies that will further advance conservation innovations through research, student internships and the convening of leading thinkers in conservation and related fields. Forrest and Marcie’s companion gifts reflect their passion for the Maine coast and their commitment to sustain its integrity. Forrest told me recently, “Marcie and I and our family derive enormous personal strength from our ability to enjoy the Maine coast, and feel a profound obligation to support innovations that will help protect the coast for future generations.”

Their vision is mirrored by many individuals, families and foundations who have stepped forward during our Campaign for the Coast with contributions at the very upper limits of their giving capacity. Over and over in the past four years, we’ve seen donors stretching to give their utmost to help MCHT protect the natural character of Maine’s coast.

Such contributions are aptly named “stretch gifts,” not only because they push the limits of what a donor can afford, but because they encourage the Trust to envision new possibilities for conservation that we had not dared to imagine. The vision and faith of our leading donors inspires us to achieve more ambitious goals and to find ways of working “smarter”— using our resources to best advantage.

All these visionary donors give so generously and receive in exchange only the knowledge that they have enhanced the lives of others—most of whom they will never meet. I salute these quiet heroes of conservation, and want to acknowledge how honored and humbled our board and staff are to work with such dedicated and far-sighted individuals. They are truly beacons helping to create a brighter future.

Three Federal Grants Help to Conserve Prime Wildlife Areas

Three recent grants from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are supporting land conservation efforts in coastal settings known for their high wildlife concentrations. The Cobscook Falls project (see cover story) benefited from a National Coastal Wetlands grant of $528,000, which was matched by local and state contributions.

Another National Coastal Wetlands Grant boosted wildlife conservation efforts in the Mount Desert Narrows region, helping MCHT to acquire Thomas Island—a 65-acre undeveloped island surrounded by 57 acres of intertidal wetlands that support large concentrations of shorebirds and waterfowl. Thomas is part of an archipelago that includes two other critical wildlife islands, South Twinnie (conserved by MCHT and now owned by the US Fish & Wildlife Service) and North Twinnie.

A North American Wetlands Conservation Act Three Federal Grants Help to Conserve Prime Wildlife Areas (NAWCA) grant of $650,000, awarded in 2004, has supported the protection of 191 acres and more than four shorefront miles in greater Pleasant Bay, including the entirety of 80-acre Pinkham Island (in Milbridge)—an active nesting site for bald eagles.

“We are indebted to many partners for helping to direct such generous grants to conservation efforts in Maine,” observes MCHT President Jay Espy. “Much credit goes to our Congressional delegation who recognize the critical conservation values of these wildlife-rich areas. They have been steadfast advocates for coastal land protection at the federal level. We relied heavily on staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf of Maine Program, who did a tremendous job helping us prepare the grant applications. The State of Maine continues to be a valued partner as well.”

Buy-Restrict-Resell: A Complex but Useful Conservation Strategy

Maine Coast Heritage Trust typically acquires conservation easements when landowners donate or sell certain rights to their land. Occasionally, though, owners of a property with high conservation value may support the land’s protection without wanting to go through the easement process themselves—particularly if they are trying to sell their entire parcel. The property may even be on the market by the time MCHT learns that it is available.

In such cases, the Trust may choose to purchase the property outright, place conservation restrictions on the portions that merit protection, and then resell some or all of the property to a private buyer. “In situations where we might lose all of a parcel’s conservation values, the ‘buy-restrict-resell’ technique allows us to step temporarily into the chain of title, preserving the land features we deem most essential,” explains David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection. “This approach works well when a property and the larger community are best served by the land continuing in private ownership.” Reselling the parcel with restrictions keeps the land on local tax rolls, while helping MCHT recoup some of its initial investment and transactional costs—freeing up vital funds for other conservation projects. “This strategy might not be appropriate,” MacDonald adds, “if a property has sensitive ecological features or public recreational use that would be better protected by longterm conservation ownership.”

MCHT recently completed a buy-restrict-resell transaction on Vinalhaven’s Winter Harbor, purchasing 62 shorefront acres that were slated for subdivision. The parcel lies near many conserved properties and offers a landing for small boats. After purchasing the property, the Trust began planning how best to protect the land’s scenic value and traditional shore access. MCHT staff consulted with a land use planner and a landscape architect, doing computerized photo simulations to assess the scenic impacts of potential new construction. After carefully considering the options, the Trust retained 13 acres as a community preserve and sold 49 acres as a single lot—requiring the primary structure not to exceed 900 square feet and all buildings to be limited to 20 feet in height and fit within a 1⁄2-acre building envelope set back from the water. “This process was complex and time-consuming,” acknowledges MCHT project manager Betsy Ham, “but it allowed us to take all the measures we felt were needed to protect the site’s scenic integrity, ecological values, and traditional water access, while stretching our limited acquisition dollars.”

MCHT currently has two additional buy-restrict-resell projects listed with real estate brokers: a smaller shorefront parcel on Vinalhaven’s Winter Harbor and an island property in Frenchman Bay near Mount Desert Island. For more information on these projects, visit the Trust’s web site at www.mcht.org/mchtnews.

Stewardship Endowments: Providing for the Long Term

Every conservation easement that Maine Coast Heritage Trust accepts represents a commitment in perpetuity. “As the easement holder, we agree to protect the conservation values of a property for countless generations,” reflects Jane Arbuckle, MCHT’s Director of Stewardship. “That major responsibility will place real demands on our organization over time.”

The commitment to long-term stewardship carries a financial cost— for the organization and often for the easement donor. “Our annual cost of stewarding a single easement typically runs around $300 (with a range in any given year from $100 to $10,000, depending on the property’s size and accessibility, the easement’s complexity, the landowners’ needs, and whether or not MCHT holds affirmative rights such as maintaining trails or fields),” Arbuckle notes. When an easement is first drafted, MCHT staff compiles topographic and aerial base maps of the property and completes baseline data documenting its natural and built features. Every year thereafter, stewardship staff commits to visit the property to ensure that easement conditions are being upheld.

The extent of restrictions in a given easement affects how expensive it is to steward over time. Easements that involve forest management plans or public use often require extra staff attention. The most time-consuming easements tend to be those that allow for future home sites and require staff to review and approve building plans. One such easement that involved multiple building reviews consumed more than 100 hours of MCHT legal and stewardship staff time.

Stewardship costs can increase when conservation properties change hands as new owners often have questions about the easement that require interpretation. And if a violation occurs, the Trust must be prepared to defend its easement (a legal process that can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars).

To cover the legal defense and ongoing monitoring of its easements, Maine Coast Heritage Trust generally asks easement donors to contribute at least $6,000 to a pooled easement monitoring fund (assuming that a 5 percent interest income per annum from this gift will cover the Trust’s routine annual easement costs). “It can be hard to make this request of families who are generously giving away much of their land’s market value,” observes David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection. “We don’t make this a condition of acceptance, and we try to be flexible. Many landowners who can’t afford a gift at the time of the easement signing are able to make their donation over several years or pledge a future donation (such as a bequest in their will or a commitment to contribute if they ever sell their land in the future).” In some instances, neighbors even contribute—appreciating the benefits they receive from those lands.

Most landowners readily recognize that their contribution helps to ensure long-term care of a property they cherish. Annie Faulkner, whose family donated an easement on Norton Island and a stewardship endowment to MCHT, reflects that “with an easement donation, the landowner and land trust become partners in the long-term stewardship of the property. The endowment helps the land trust fulfill its role in that partnership.”

Marshall Island Trails Update

The State’s Land for Maine’s Future Program has awarded Maine Coast Heritage Trust $70,000 from its access improvement fund to construct a 6-mile trail system on Marshall Island over the next two years. The Maine Conservation Corps will begin work this coming summer, constructing trails for 6 weeks (with work continuing in 2007). MCHT will be recruiting citizen volunteers to lend additional support with trail construction. Anyone interested in helping should contact Terry Towne (244-5100, ttowne@mcht.org).

MCHT SUMMER FIELD TRIPS

WHALEBOAT ISLAND WORK TRIP

MAY 13 Bring your clippers and help keep at bay the meadow saplings on Whaleboat Island.(Boat departs from Harpswell)

HAMILTON COVE BOG-BRIDGING

WORK TRIP JUNE 10 Help construct bog bridging over wet trail areas at MCHT’s Hamilton Cove Preserve in Lubec.

JORDAN’S DELIGHT BIRDWATCHING

(BY BOAT) JUNE 17 Come observe the guillemots that frequent the cliffs of Jordan’s Delight Island in Narraguagus Bay. (Boat departs from Milbridge or Winter Harbor)

CALDERWOOD ISLAND WORK TRIP

JULY 7 Enjoy a picnic and help out colleagues from North Haven Conservation Partners with juniper pruning on Calderwood Island. (Travel to and from North Haven on the State Ferry from Rockland)

FRENCHBORO WALK ’N’ ROLL

JULY 14 Walk the length of Frenchboro’s incredible shoreline trail and conclude this hike with lobster rolls at Lunt Harbor. (Boat departs from Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island)

MARSHALL ISLAND

JULY 19 Experience one of Maine’s most impressive undeveloped islands. (Boat departs from Bass Harbor on MDI)

MERCHANT ROW BOAT TRIP

JULY 20 With our friends from Island Heritage Trust, enjoy a boat tour of the spectacular Merchant Row archipelago. (Boat departs from Stonington)

MARSHALL ISLAND

AUGUST 9 Here’s another chance to explore this unspoiled 981-acre island. (Boat departs from Bass Harbor on MDI)

BOLD COAST BY BOAT

AUGUST 19 Enjoy a dramatic stretch of shoreline unlike any other on the eastern seaboard. (Boat departs from Cutler)

WHALEBOAT ISLAND HAWK WATCH

SEPTEMBER 23 Watch for hawks during their peak migration: last year’s trip participants sighted hundreds. (Boat departs from Harpswell)

To sign up for these trips, please contact Warren Whitney (wwhitney@mcht.org, 729-7366).

Sand Island, Deer Isle Thorofare

Sand Island off Stonington is a popular picnicking destination with a fine shell beach that lures area residents and passing boaters. For more than four decades, the island’s two owners—Steve Ives and Junius Hoffman—allowed public use of their undeveloped 10-acre property, and periodically brought their own families to picnic. If the island were held in conservation ownership, owner Steve Ives reasoned, then their families and the broader public could continue enjoying the place for generations to come. He found unanimous consent when he broached this idea with his children: “we all felt immediately that it was the right thing to do,” says his daughter Cathy Cornell. Having put the island’s conservation foremost, both families agreed to sell the island to MCHT for approximately 20 percent of its appraised value. “This was a chance for us to do something good for everyone—for now and for the future,” Cornell reflects.

MCHT will work to integrate this island and newly acquired Bill’s Island into its growing network of conserved lands in the Merchant Row archipelago (which includes Saddleback, Nathan, Green, The Fort, and Eastern Mark islands).

Bill’s Island, Merchant Row

Bill’s Island, just north of Isle au Haut, encompasses 12 acres of meadows and woods rimmed by granite ledge. Mary M.B. (Polly) Wakefield owned Bill’s Island for more than three decades until her death last year. “Polly and my father loved Bill’s Island,” observes her stepdaughter Joan Millspaugh. “It was for them a sacred place, a haven, a jewel.” Mrs. Wakefield’s properties went into a charitable trust last year and the trustees sought an owner who would respect Mrs. Wakefield’s wish to have the island remain a natural haven. “Polly was trained as a landscape architect,” notes her stepdaughter Betsy Doermann, “and her whole life was devoted to the protection of natural landscapes.” Knowing that Mrs. Wakefield had respect for Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Wakefield trustees decided to donate the island to MCHT. “The island is a glorious setting for communing with nature, and Polly wanted people to enjoy its magnificent beauty,” says Tom Belknap, one of the Wakefield trustees. “We sought to transfer the island in a way that complied with Mrs. Wakefield’s desires for the place.” Immediately after the transfer of title, MCHT filed a Declaration of Trust (a written commitment recorded at the Registry of Deeds) as a second layer of protection over the island, ensuring that Bill’s will remain natural and open to the public.

Big Baker Island, Swans Island

A conservation easement donated to MCHT now protects Big (or Outer) Baker Island, an undeveloped 24-acre island with an attractive mix of spruce woods and some open areas. The island lies off Swans Island just south of Inner Baker Island, an MCHT preserve since 1998. Irving Forbes, whose father purchased Big Baker in 1929, has generously allowed gentle community use of the island for decades (since he and his sister Florence Locke inher ited the island in 1964). He has maintained a mile-long perimeter trail around the island that is enjoyed by local picnickers and walkers, as well as the Outward Bound students and Maine Island Trail Association members that Forbes permits to camp on Big Baker.

The voluntary conservation agree ment will keep the island undeveloped (except for limited tent platforms) and guarantees continued daytime public access. “I’m 83 and not going to last forever,” Forbes says. “As long as MCHT is watching over the island, I think it’s in pretty good shape.” Forbes is transferring title to the island to his sons Douglas and Ebenezer. “The island has meant a lot to me and my sons. I’m glad to know that it will be available still to the public—so they can enjoy the island as they have in the past.”

Crow Island, Muscle Ridge and Two Bush Island, Matinicus

MCHT has ensured permanent protection of Crow Island at the southernmost end of the Muscle Ridge archipelago and Two Bush Island, a top-ranked seabird- nesting island frequented by eiders, gulls and guillemots. The Island Institute transferred both these islands to MCHT, concluding that they should be owned and managed by a land trust since the Institute’s mission now focuses primarily on sustaining island communities and working waterfronts.

Bald eagles have nested on 10-acre Crow Island for decades and, according to Charlie Todd, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “the eagles have a stellar history of above-average nesting success and eaglet production. They have nested actively during 14 of the last 16 years,” he notes, “suc cessfully hatched on 12 occasions, and contributed 19 fledgling eaglets to the recovering eagle population over this period.”

After Maine’s eagle population hit its lowest ebb in the early 1970s, Crow Island was one of the first nesting areas to be established in West Penobscot Bay. “The eagles tend to select optimal habitats first,” Todd explains, “and Crow Island remains a strategic site. Their original nest fell in 1995 but the eagles soon rebuilt it and the new nest is now about 7 feet in diameter.” Extending his congratulations to MCHT for ensuring this island’s protection, Todd adds “conservation of Crow Island sets the stage for decades of future use by successive generations of nesting eagles.”

Renewed Commitments: President’s Column

by Jay Espy

Not long ago, a developer from out of state called me about a property he was interested in on the Maine coast. During our conversation, he mentioned that he’s buying as much land as he can up here because “Maine is still so undervalued.” While coastal prices in the latest real estate boom seem exorbitant to many of us, people from other parts of the country clearly see Maine land as a great (and affordable) investment.

His offhand remark illustrates the powerful forces that are making land conservation more difficult and expensive. How, in the face of these, can we continue achieving our goals? Maine Coast Heritage Trust just spent more than a year exploring this question–assessing threats and opportunities, reviewing pressing issues, and reflecting on our values, mission and vision. We came out of this intensive process, not only with a strategic plan to guide us in the coming five years, but with a renewed appreciation for the importance of innovation, collaboration and focused effort.

MCHT was one of the first land trusts in the country to pioneer use of conservation easements in the 1970s, and our willingness to innovate helped establish easements as a vital land protection tool nationwide. MCHT continues to take bold steps to advance conservation efforts— like our ambitious Campaign for the Coast. To ensure that we keep pace with changing land uses and demographic trends, the Trust is committed to developing innovative conservation methods in coming years. We are also seeking new ways to protect lands that foster sustainable economic growth (whether through farming, sustainable forestry or sensitive forms of ecotourism).

MCHT plans to be more active in the communities where we have major holdings, assisting with local needs and encouraging residents to experience our preserves. We expect to see more volunteers and supporters emerge at the local level—people who appreciate how much conserved lands enhance their quality of life. The Trust also plans to work more closely with towns and partner groups on land planning efforts, particularly those involving smart growth and regional cooperation. Our longstanding collaboration with local land trusts is likely to deepen in the years ahead as we support expanded training opportunities and capacity building for our local partners.

With land values and the costs of conservation rising, more of the Trust’s coastwide efforts must center on landscape-scale projects that protect multiple parcels in settings with significant ecological, scenic and recreational assets. Over time, this approach should help weave a fabric of conserved lands that compliments the built environment and allows the Maine coast to retain its unique and irreplaceable character.

Our dedicated board and staff, by taking time to think strategically about the future, have crafted a clear vision to guide the Trust through the challenges of the coming years. With effective partnerships, clear priorities and a willingness to embrace new tools, I am confident that we can save Maine’s priceless natural places.

Land in Print: MCHT works with Photographer Paul Rezendes

Last summer, professional photographer Paul Rezendes did a marathon assignment along the Maine coast, spending much of his time taking images of MCHT preserves. Rezendes concentrates on landscape photography, and his work is routinely featured in books, calendars and magazines like Down East. He sailed the coast for nearly two months, traveling from the Isles of Shoals east to Pleasant Bay (off Milbridge). Along the way, Rezendes stopped at more than 10 MCHT preserves and 28 conserved properties to capture images for use in Trust publications. “This was the best assignment I’ve ever had,” Rezendes reflects, “because it focused entirely on land conservation. That’s where my heart is. It was so wonderful to be working with people of the same mind and heart.”

Rich Knox, MCHT’s Director of Communications, coordinated the photo assignment with Rezendes. “Paul is a true craftsman and has a deep appreciation for the Maine coast and the work of MCHT,” Knox observes. “We’re looking forward to featuring Paul’s work in upcoming publications.” Rezendes used primarily large format, “4 x 5” inch transparencies, assuring excellent resolution and photo quality. Look for some of his images in MCHT’s 2005 Annual Report, due out late in the Spring!

Stewardship in the Field: Contributing to Place

Ongoing stewardship of MCHT preserves requires a daunting array of tasks—from ecological monitoring and trail maintenance to trash cleanups and educational outreach. This workload is lightened by dedicated volunteers who step forward to care for a particular preserve.

The ways that people contribute to preserve stewardship are as varied as the properties themselves. Some supporters, like Marnie and Ken Crowell of Stonington, keep an eye on numerous conservation properties. As trained naturalists, the Crowells have informally monitored islands off Stonington since 1962—tracking bird populations, noting changing conditions and collecting debris. They support all the conservation groups in the area and encourage them to collaborate since, in Marnie’s words, “there’s a connected net of people caring for the islands, including many area fishermen.” The Crowells see “outreach as the invisible arm of stewardship,” and work to inform community members about the ecological value of islands.

Volunteers who visit one preserve frequently can help to relay important information to Trust staff. MCHT’s Hamilton Cove Preserve benefits from having North Lubec resident Michael Bozoian visit several times each week throughout the year. Bozoian enjoys how “ there’s always something new to observe,” and he reports to MCHT’s downeast stewardship assistant Melissa Lee on matters that need attention. “It’s a privilege to help Melissa,” he says, of the additional work he’s done to repair the Preserve’s bog bridges.

Ongoing stewardship work offers volunteers a way to simultaneously enjoy and support a treasured place. Nik DeMaria, who grew up near Aldermere Farm (now an MCHT preserve), soon found himself back at the Farm when he returned to his home community after decades away. Nik uses his computer skills to support farm staff, while the rest of his family assists with MCHT mailings, sap-to-syrup walks and the annual art auction. “We want our kids to learn to give and be part of things,” DeMaria says. “Our work at the Farm offers a nice way to give back to a beautiful place and great people.”

Another Aldermere volunteer, Bill Peace, works routinely in summer months greeting visitors at the Farm’s visitor center. It’s a role, he says, that allows him to meet a lot of interesting people and share his passion for the place: “I love the farm and my enthusiasm comes across to people. The more I learned about Aldermere’s history and mission,” he adds, “the more I became attached to the Farm.”

Some conservation-minded landowners transfer their properties to MCHT but remain engaged in the land’s ongoing care as volunteer stewards. Since Steve Ives and his co-owners donated Calderwood Island to the Trust in 1997, Ives and his family have spent many hours continuing to clip juniper and spruce—keeping trails and meadow areas open. The job has grown more difficult with the spread of woody shrubs: “I don’t know too many people who will climb through the nasty stuff to trim young spruce,” Ives says. “I still do it, but in a more limited way now that I’m 81.” Ives plans to continue caring for Sand Island as well, which he recently transferred to MCHT. He and his family have done annual shore cleanups on Sand for years, and he values that tradition. “It’s not our island anymore,” Ives reflects, “but we still care.”

Kingsbury Browne, Jr., 1922-2005

Kingsbury Browne, Jr., a well-known conservationist and tax lawyer, died recently in Kennebunkport, Maine. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Browne became an expert in conservation and land use, spearheading the formation in 1982 of the Land Trust Exchange (later the Land Trust Alliance) and serving as LTA’s general counsel for years. “Kingsbury was one of those rare people whose huge heart matched his enormous intellect,” reflects MCHT President Jay Espy. “Despite his many commitments, Kingsbury always made time to mentor even the most inexperienced recruits to the land trust movement. His vision and his kindness helped to launch the modern era of land conservation in America.” Memorial gifts in Browne’s name can be made to your local land trust or LTA.

More Land for Maine’s Future

On November 8, Maine voters renewed their strong support for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program. The Question 5 ballot results demonstrated Maine citizens’ continued commitment to land conservation: 65 percent of voters statewide supported the LMF bond, with at least 55 percent support for the measure within each of Maine’s 16 counties. MCHT worked closely with many other organizations to complete this year’s successful LMF campaign. Thanks to all who played a part in securing this important Election Day victory by volunteering, contributing and voting. The LMF board hopes to invest the $10 million that was approved as soon as possible. They have set a February proposal deadline and plan to announce award recipients in May. In addition, the board and the Department of Marine Resources are developing a pilot program for appropriating the $2 million set aside for working waterfront preservation. MCHT will track these developments and will work closely with other LMF supporters during the upcoming legislative session to assess future funding opportunities. For more information on LMF activities, please contact Jeff Romano, MCHT’s public policy coordinator, at jromano@mcht.org.

Conservation groups have worked cooperatively for decades to protect two exceptional “whole places” downeast—Cobscook Bay and the Tunk/Donnell Pond region in eastern Hancock County. The Frenchman Bay Conservancy and Quoddy Regional Land Trust (QRLT), with help from Maine Coast Heritage Trust, recently protected three significant properties in these areas, totaling more than 1,100 acres. “It took great initiative and persistence on the part of the local trusts to make these projects happen,” notes David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection.

When residential development threatened a 128-acre property with more than a mile of Cobscook Bay frontage, QRLT joined with the Regional Medical Center at Lubec (which runs experiential education programs on site) to preserve the beautiful setting. “The Pike Lands lie at the heart of Cobscook Bay,” says Alan Brooks, QRLT’s Executive Director, “and offer an incredible diversity of habitats—from productive clam flats and a barrier beach to bold shore frontage. Generations of local families have enjoyed these lands for walking, hunting and apple harvesting, and we wanted to keep those traditions alive.”

MCHT helped assist in early appraisal work and provided bridge financing through the Trust’s Revolving Loan Fund. “This ambitious project arose just after QRLT had completed a capital campaign,” says MCHT project manager Patrick Watson, “and yet they rallied to successfully organize a very impressive second campaign.” A grant from the Land for Maine’s Future Program was also critical to the project’s success.

Another regional trust, Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC), recently completed two projects that will enhance the value of the State’s 15,000-acre Donnell Pond Unit. MCHT led discussions with landowners who generously donated an easement to FBC on 567 acres of their private property surrounding Duck Pond (including key portions of Duck Pond Hill). The easement, which allows for sustainable forestry, preserves an entire wetland ecosystem and helps to protect views from Donnell Pond.

FBC acquired another nearby tract that will further protect views from State lands and provide improved trail access for hiking and nature study. The FBC purchased 500 acres of woods and wetlands at the base of Schoodic Mountain (including all of the 135-acre Schoodic Bog wetland). MCHT opened discussions with sellers, funded the property appraisal, and helped to prepare a successful application to the Land for Maine’s Future Program. “By working with MCHT to complete these two projects,” says FBC Executive Director Barb Welch, “we were able to secure lands that greatly enhance the value of conserved places people already enjoy.”

President’s Column by Jay Espy

Learning as We Grow

When Maine Coast Heritage Trust formed 35 years ago, its founders thought that the organization would facilitate land protection for a decade or so—and then, when key places were conserved, it would close up shop. In those days, MCHT did not hold easements: it negotiated projects and then conveyed the long- term stewardship responsibilities to other conservation entities.

Once the Trust began accepting interests in land in 1981, it became clear why the work of conservation never ends. As land protection successes multiply, so do stewardship responsibilities. MCHT hired its first stewardship staff person in 1996 when the organization had 12 fee properties to manage and 68 easements to monitor. Now the Trust has 65 properties and 140 easements entrusted to its care. Needless to say, stewardship of these lands consumes a larger part of our focus and resources each year.

In this issue, we launch a series featuring the many facets of MCHT’s long-term stewardship work—from routine responsibilities like easement monitoring to unforeseen challenges like invasive plant control. The opening piece focuses on our interactions with visitors at some of the Trust’s most popular preserves. Our preserve caretakers wear many hats— doing hands-on projects; learning from visitors about their needs and interests; and sharing information about MCHT’s mission.

The work of community outreach represents a new and critical part of our effort to manage lands in ways that foster the best possible experience for visitors and protect the integrity of place. To find that critical balance, we need to gather extensive data on how each property has traditionally been used, what are its ecological sensitivities, and what are the needs of the surrounding communities.

Throughout this process, we must look and listen attentively—being sensitive to the needs of both people and place. Each protected property has a unique set of considerations that can’t be addressed by a “one-size-fits-all” management plan.

The work of stewardship, we are learning, is a collective enterprise that succeeds best when it engages all the people who care most about the land. We welcome public participation in every facet of the process, from site planning to trail work. As the photo collage on page four illustrates, we have begun offering more opportunities for members to join us in the field. We hope to see you on upcoming trips to MCHT preserves, and look forward to hearing your perspectives on land stewardship.

Stewardship in the Field: Reaching out to Preserve Visitors

At a growing number of its preserves, Maine Coast Heritage Trust is working to inform visitors about sound stewardship practices. This past season, MCHT had caretakers at Whaleboat and Marshall islands, alongside its regional land stewards who routinely monitor Trust preserves.

When visitors to MCHT’s Western and Boot Head Preserves in Lubec find land steward Melissa Lee at work, they often offer to help and she gives them small assignments: “they like to take part in caring for the places they love,” Lee observes. Lee looks for small, incremental ways that people might improve their stewardship, being careful not “to lecture or to make it personal. All of us can only do things in little pieces,” she reflects. Lee credits a Leave No Trace course she took with deepening her own practice of stewardship and challenging her assumptions. “I’d always considered myself a pretty attentive hiker,” Lee says, “but I realized that didn’t necessarily make me a careful steward.”

Like Lee, Marshall Island caretakers Stacy Pavich and Zack Reidman took a gentle and reserved approach with visitors. Knowing their presence could change the experience of traditional visitors, Reidman says, “we were really aware of not being intrusive and sought to preserve their private experience. We tried to maintain a friendly atmosphere, being good ambassadors and clearing up misconceptions.”

Part of their caretaking responsibility involved tracking visitor numbers, which were high in fair weather. At Sand Cove, they noted up to 16 boats at a time and peak visitation one day of 90 people.

Marshall Island has few educational signs at present, and while Reidman sees “the human presence as far more effective than signage,” he envisions the Trust providing more signs in coming seasons. “For example, we’d like to have a step-by-step description of how to go about carrying out waste —since it’s awkward to cover that in face-to-face discussions.”

Caitlin Gerber, co-caretaker of Whaleboat Island this summer with Brad Grillo, also felt the need for more prominent signs since people routinely asked her questions that were answered on the island’s few small signs. Both Whaleboat caretakers found some traditional visitors not adhering to the MCHT guideline that parties over six people make advance reservations. Gerber hopes that this pattern will change as more groups become aware of the new guideline, and understand the importance of “leave no trace” camping. “Most visitors to the island consider it special,” she says, “and want to care for the place well.”

Leave No Trace Principles of Outdoor Ethics
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more detailed guidance, visit the website www.lnt.org.

MCHT Receives Charitable Remainder Trust Gift

Elizabeth (“Leila”) Bright came to Mount Desert Island every summer from childhood on, and moved permanently to the island in 1975. She lived in Northeast Harbor and summered on Islesford, enjoying sailing, hiking and cross-country skiing. When Leila Bright passed away last spring, she left a charitable remainder trust to support conservation of the places that she loved.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust, one designee of the Bright Trust, put the proceeds toward the Schoolhouse Ledge project that protects traditional hiking trails around Northeast Harbor. “This generous bequest helped us complete the Schoolhouse Ledge campaign just as the deadline was drawing near,” notes Jonathan Labaree, MCHT’s Director of Development. “We are so grateful for the foresight of donors like Leila Bright who make planned gifts for the future.”

Bright came to know of MCHT through her contacts with Peggy Rockefeller, and both women shared a deep commitment to conservation. Leila’s son, Jim Bright, recalls how she “really enjoyed the island and realized a long time ago that it had to be preserved. She devoted a lot of time to preserving what’s essential.”

For more information on planned giving opportunities such as charitable remainder trusts, please contact Jonathan Labaree at 207-729-7366 or jlabaree@mcht.org.

Summer Field Trips

Marshall Island, Jericho Bay

Responding to popular demand, MCHT hosted two trips in August to its spectacular Harold E. Woodsum Preserve at Marshall Island. Participants enjoyed great weather on both days and spent time exploring the island’s pristine beaches and spruce forests.

A series of field trips this past summer gave Trust members an opportunity to explore some of MCHT’s newer preserves. Participants greatly enjoyed these outings, and the Trust plans to offer more trips next summer.

Whaleboat Island, Harpswell

A diverse group of 25 people (ranging in age from 2 to 80) joined MCHT in late May for a morning of bird watching on Whaleboat Island. Participants spotted 23 different species, including greater yellowlegs and northern harrier.

The Spring 2006 edition of Maine Heritage will provide details on next year’s scenic trips and tours. In addition, MCHT members will receive an advance mailing with the summer trip schedule.

Thanks to North Haven Conservation Partners, Vinalhaven Land Trust, Paul and Theresa Donahue, Aram Calhoun, Rob Sanford, Nate Hamilton, Ann Hooke, and Thomas Urquhart for generously volunteering their time to help make the 2005 outings a huge success.

Groundswell: Stories of Saving Places, Finding Community

Groundswell, a new release from Chelsea Green Publishing, celebrates how land conservation helps to preserve community character and connect people. Author Alix W. Hopkins, an MCHT board member from Pownal, Maine, offers inspiration and plain-spoken advice for those who want to work collaboratively to strengthen their communities. Groundswell features six stories of complementary projects from around the country, including a community forest in the Northwest; a river restoration in New York City’s Bronx; collaboration among ranchers along the Rocky Mountain Front; community supported agriculture in the Midwest; rural economic development in the South and Hopkins’ own experience directing the urban land trust Portland Trails. These stories show how community-based conservation is, in Hopkins’ words, “complex, collaborative and entrepreneurial work—difficult at times, yet intensely satisfying.” To acquire a copy of Groundswell, contact Chelsea Green Publishing (802-295-6300 or www.chelseagreen.com). For information on upcoming presentations and book signings, contact the Maine Land Trust Network at 207-729-7366.