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.”