Significant Coastal Property Conserved in Southern Maine
Conservation Easement protects 400 acres of Gerrish Island
Topsham: Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), a statewide land conservation organization, today announced the protection of an ecologically significant property on Gerrish Island in Kittery, Maine. MCHT was granted a conservation easement on the 400 acre coastal property, which has been owned by the Delano family for more than 60 years.
The coastline of the protected property extends for approximately three quarters of a mile and includes rocky headlands and cobble beaches. Directly behind one of the cobble beaches is a large freshwater marsh providing habitat for migratory birds, including black ducks, green winged teal, and great blue herons.
The majority of the land is forested and supports numerous vernal pools, as well as a number of plant species of concern, such as sea beach sedge, white wood aster, and spicebush.
The conserved land, while not open for public use, offers an exceptional scenic resource for the area. Adjacent to town-owned Fort Foster Park, it provides park visitors and those at sea with sweeping views of undeveloped shoreline, now permanently protected by this conservation easement.
“Our mother and father shared a deep appreciation for this special place,” said Sara Delano. “My brothers and I were pleased to work with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and its partners to honor our parents’ wish that this property always remain in an unspoiled state.”
“This is one of the largest properties with coastal shore frontage in southern Maine,” said Chris Fichtel, MCHT Project Manager. “With the constant pressure of development in York County, it is gratifying to be able to preserve such an important natural habitat.”
Maine Coast Heritage Trust purchased the conservation easement from the Delano family at a substantial discount from appraised value and received financial assistance from the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative.
Helen Winebaum, campaign chair for the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative, expressed her appreciation to the Delanos, saying, “This is an extraordinarily generous gift from the Delano family. We think of Libby and Warren and how thankful and moved they would be that their beautiful upland forest and rocky coastline on the Atlantic Ocean is to be conserved.”
Gerrish Island forms the southern tip of the State of Maine, bounded on the East and South by the Atlantic Ocean, on the West by Portsmouth Harbor and the Piscataqua River, on the North by Chauncey Creek, and on the Northeast by Cutts Island and the Seapoint Beach conservation area.
About Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Coast Heritage Trust is a statewide land conservation organization committed to protecting the character of Maine. Since 1970, Maine Coast Heritage Trust has permanently protected more than 130,000 acres in Maine, from the Isles of Shoals to Cobscook Bay, including more than 275 entire coastal islands. Working together with landowners, land trusts, and other community partners, Maine Coast Heritage Trust conserves and stewards coastal lands and islands for their renowned scenic beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, ecological diversity, and working landscapes. A membership and nonprofit organization, Maine Coast Heritage Trust counts on the ongoing support from members and people who love the coast of Maine. For more information, visit www.mcht.org.
About Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative
The Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative is a 10 member coalition of federal and state governmental agencies, national and regional land-protection organizations, and local land trusts, including the Kittery Land Trust. Its goal is to conserve a mosaic of critical lands, waterways and working landscapes in the six-town area between the Tatnic Hills of Wells and Gerrish Island in Kittery Point. Working together, the partners of the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative are protecting both community values and environmental health across a project area spanning 48,000 acres in southernmost Maine. Since October 2002, the partners of the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative have collectively protected more than 2,200 acres of land. For more information, visit www.mta2c.org.
Contacts:
Chris Fichtel, Project Manager, MCHT, 207-729-7366
Rich Knox, Director of Communications, MCHT, 207-729-7366
