Seabird and Turtle Habitats Protected
In the first half of the year, Maine Coast Heritage Trust has secured permanent protection of many critical and diverse coastal habitats from York to Washington County. Working closely with federal, state, and local partners the Trust has successfully conserved remote islands, fragile wetlands, as well as shorelines in some of the State’s most developed areas. The year’s highlights thus far include the following.
Cranberry Marsh is part of a 1,350-acre block of undeveloped land in Southern Maine.
In early March, MCHT worked closely with the Saco Valley Land Trust to protect Cranberry Marsh, an area that provides essential habitat for threatened spotted and endangered Blanding's turtles in Biddeford.
In April, MCHT transferred three nationally significant seabird nesting islands and a portion of a fourth island to the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. At the same time, the Refuge, with help from MCHT, Maine's Congressional Delegation, and the Friends of Seabird Nesting Islands, was able to establish a new home and visitor center in downtown Rockland.
In June, MCHT secured a conservation easement on a 54-acre parcel that abuts Maquoit Bay in Brunswick. The property includes 2,000 feet of shoreline frequented by wading birds, waterfowl, and migratory shorebirds.
In recent years, MCHT, the town of Brunswick, and other partners have protected 220 acres on Maquoit Bay.
