MCHT News

Strong Year for Coastal Conservation

2010-01-27T14:59:17Z

Spurred by land and easement donations, MCHT completed 40 projects (including 10 coastal islands) in 2009. The year's projects spanned the entire coast from York to Lubec, highlighted by the following:

Eagle and Sheep Islands: Long-time MCHT supporters donated conservation easements on these two gems located north of Swans Island in Blue Hill Bay. They provide valuable bald eagle and seal habitat.
Treat Island: Lying at the gateway of Cobscook and Passamaquoddy bays, scenic Treat Island has a rich history dating back to Colonial America.
Ash Island: Just offshore from a popular state park and a public boat launch site in Owls Head, much beloved Ash Island was conserved thanks to the generous support of more than 100 community members.
Sears Island: When the State and local partners reached a much heralded agreement, MCHT received an easement permanently protecting two-thirds of this 940-acre State-owned island in Penobscot Bay.

Ash Island on a foggy, summer day.

In addition to new land acquisitions, 2009 also saw MCHT make great strides connecting more people to the land. New initiatives resulted in unique partnerships and greater opportunities for people to experience the special places protected over the past four decades. Beyond traditional land conservation, MCHT took on new challenges such as leasing part of our Bog Brook Cove Preserve to local organic blueberry growers and providing grant funding to develop markets for berries in the region. We expanded our network of trails by more than seven miles. MCHT now maintains more than 52 miles of paths along the Maine Coast available for the public to explore. MCHT's Stewardship staff also hosted more than 40 field trips. These adventures, from nature hikes to kayak tours, offered more opportunities than ever for people to get out and learn about MCHT's many conserved treasures.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the generosity of our countless members, supporters, and partners. As we begin to plan our activities for the upcoming year, MCHT's 40th, we are looking forward to working closely once again with all who share our love for the Maine coast to ensure conservation successes continue in 2010.

MCHT’s New Office Awarded Gold Standard

2009-12-10T22:15:39Z

The U.S. Green Building Council has certified Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s (MCHT) new office building in Somesville as LEED™ Gold. This is only the second time an office building in Maine has received the LEED gold standard. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System encourages adoption of sustainable green building and development practices.

Bar Harbor architect Stewart Brecher designed an efficient office that minimizes water and energy use, incorporates solar energy, and uses materials from local and environmentally responsible providers. “Meeting the design objectives required the active participation of our client, consultants and contractor. Fortunately, we had such a team,” says Mr. Brecher. When compared to local building code, the office achieves 57% energy savings and 42% water savings. In addition, 18% of the building’s energy use comes from renewable sources, including solar.  Twelve MCHT staff work from the new office building, which is surrounded by a 35-acre preserve where the public is welcome to enjoy walking trails along Babson Creek.

“We’re thrilled to have been awarded LEED gold status on our new office—in addition to the low environmental impact, this building is very energy efficient and reflects our values as a member of the MDI community,” says MCHT’s Director of Land Protection David MacDonald. The Office was constructed by Nickerson and O’Day, Inc. who are based in Bangor and have worked on a number of LEED certified projects in Maine.

More Information

MCHT Conserves International Landmark

2009-11-24T14:49:57Z

Treat Island is one of the most significant coastal islands in easternmost Maine, lying at the gateway of Cobscook and Passamaquoddy bays. The 73-acre island sits along the international border, an attractive focal point highly visible from Eastport, Lubec and Roosevelt Campobello International Park in New Brunswick.

This fall, Maine Coast Heritage Trust purchased the two privately owned halves of Treat Island from families that for decades have cared well for their lands. “Both families were excellent partners dedicated to the project,” notes MCHT project manager Marty Anderson. “They recognized that Treat was a natural fit for conservation, and they understood the importance of conserving both halves of the island simultaneously.”

Treat Island has an interesting cultural history, dating back to when early tribal travelers stopped by the island to harvest the area’s rich resources. The island contains the burial site of island owner and Revolutionary War hero, Colonel John Allan, who served as Military Commander of the Eastern Area (District of Maine) under General George Washington. Col. Allan defended eastern Maine against the British by mobilizing settlers and gaining the support and trust of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Allan continued his close relationship with the Tribe following the War, establishing a trading post on the island. “He was a friend of the Passamaquoddy Tribe,” notes Tribal historian Donald Soctomah, “providing support in treaty obligations by reminding the President and Congress about the services of the Tribe. The Passamaquoddy Tribal Historic Preservation Office thanks Maine Coast Heritage Trust for its hard work saving this important place of tribal history and national history.”

While the island is largely undeveloped now, Treat supported farming families for generations and served other uses as well. There are remains of an artillery gun battery constructed in the 1860s to repel Confederate raiders. A tidal dike built in the 1930s stretches to Dudley Island, part of a failed tidal power project that sought to harness the 70 billion cubic feet that flow in and out of Passamaquoddy Bay daily. A dock built in 1936 as a Natural Weathering Exposure Station for testing marine concrete still stands on a 3-acre parcel owned and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Treat Island is readily accessible from Lubec and Eastport, with several natural boat landings that provide access to a traditional picnic destination at the island’s southern end. Even those who never land appreciate views of the island from afar, notes Harold Bailey, Natural Resource and Planning Manager with Roosevelt Campobello International Park. “The Park has an observation deck at Friar Head that looks directly out to Treat Island,” Bailey says. “The Park Commission is pleased to know that this natural vista will remain through time."

Part of what makes the island such a visual asset is its varied upland habitats, with coniferous and hardwood forests, marshes, grassland, shrub land and open ledges. This diversity also makes Treat a rich resource for the area’s abundant wildlife. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has designated Treat a nationally significant coastal nesting island, and one pair of bald eagles has nested consistently on the island for 21 years (using three different sites). The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has documented up to 30 eagles on the island at once when local food is abundant.

“Treat Island is a place on the edge,” says Anderson. “It lies at the entrance to one of the richest wildlife areas along the entire Eastern seaboard, at the far end of the country, and on the leading edge of American history. Yet the island is readily accessible to surrounding communities, and now it will remain a public asset far into the future.”

MCHT's Community Outreach Efforts Recognized

2009-09-24T18:22:50Z

In recent years, MCHT has implemented a number of initiatives to broaden our outreach to local communities. These efforts have included increasing the publicity of our preserves, developing new trails, bolstering ties between land conservation and local economies, and hosting dozens of preserve field trips. Recently, these efforts were recognized in three stories appearing in two of the State's daily newspapers:

Saving, Working the Land (9/19/09): This Bangor Daily News editorial highlights the Trust's efforts to work more closely to help support the economic needs of local communities while preserving properties of statewide importance.

Paddle to Whaleboat Island (9/20/09): Deirdre Fleming, outdoor writer for the Maine Sunday Telegram, captures the lure of kayaking to MCHT's Whaleboat Island Preserve.

This land is our land (9/24/09): Focused on MCHT's Bog Brook Preserve, this Bangor Daily News article highlights a newly created handicap accessible trail, our work with local blueberry growers, and efforts to get more people connected to the land.

If you wish to stay up to date on the latest MCHT news, please consider following us on Twitter or Facebook. Thanks for your continued interest and support.

Maine Freedom Trail Site Dedicated at MCHT's Malaga Island Preserve

2009-08-19T21:58:28Z

MCHT, in partnership with Maine Freedom Trails Inc., hosted a dedication ceremony for Malaga Island as Maine Freedom Trail site at MCHT's Malaga Island Preserve. Speaking to a group of 40 diverse stakeholders from throughout the state who gathered on the Island, MCHT's President' Paul Gallay remarked, "Having Malaga Island permanently conserved benefits local and statewide communities. We're proud to be partnering with Maine Freedom Trails Inc., and many other organizations to assure that the public can enjoy and learn from this special place for generations to come."

Located in eastern Casco Bay, 41-acre Malaga Island was the home of a mixed race community that was forcibly removed by the State of Maine in 1912, due to racial prejudice and other pressures. In 2001 Maine Coast Heritage Trust conserved the island, thanks to a generous landowner. In recent years the Trust has partnered with the University of Southern Maine, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Maine Chapter of the NAACP, Maine Freedom Trails, Inc., and others to learn about and promote Malaga's cultural history. For more information about Malaga Island, read MCHT's overview of the Island's Natural and Cultural History.

Rachel Talbot Ross, President of Maine Freedom Trails Inc. and the Portland NAACP branch said, "Having Malaga Island as a Maine Freedom Trail site will be a permanent reminder of the compelling story of those who lived here and of the tragic story of their mistreatment. We're grateful that Maine Coast Heritage Trust has conserved this island so that it can always be a place for people to come and connect with this important chapter of Maine's history."

MCHT staff recently completed a walking trail around the island that winds through a mature spruce forest, passes through the historic community site, and affords spectacular views of the Casco Bay. The Preserve is open to the public for low-impact recreation.

Aldermere Farm marks its 10th Anniversary with MCHT

2009-07-23T15:12:42Z

In 1999, Mr. Albert Chatfield’s generously bequeathed to Maine Coast Heritage Trust his 136-acre saltwater farm in Rockport. Over the past decade, Aldermere Farm has grown into a thriving community hub, hosting dozens of public events each year—ranging from natural history walks and youth farming programs to moonlit cross-country ski outings. Aldermere Farm has also strengthened its reputation as a statewide leader in sustainable agriculture—offering educational workshops and helping establish and manage the Northeast Livestock Expo (marketing beef, sheep and goat farms) and new Knox County Farmer’s Alliance.

In addition to helping area farmers achieve economic and ecological sustainability, Aldermere Farm has strengthened its own operations. It has nearly quadrupled annual farm revenues through the sale of beef and hay. Construction of a manure storage building greatly reduced runoff, and MCHT received State Department of Environmental Protection support to fence cattle out of sensitive areas in the Lily Pond watershed. Staff members have begun work to eliminate Japanese barberry, honeysuckle and bittersweet, thanks to a grant from the Maine Forest Service.

Aldermere Farm takes an active role encouraging community gardening, providing more than 20 raised beds tended by area families and volunteers (some of which supply produce to the local elementary and high school). The Farm hosts “how to garden” workshops, a youth gardening project, and an agricultural poster contest for children. It helps support the annual garden tour organized by the Camden Garden Club and solicits gardening help at the Farm from Master Gardeners trained through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.

The acquisition of the Erickson Fields property in 2008, with more than 70 acres of hayfields and woods in a prominent location near Aldermere Farm, has furthered MCHT’s partnership with the local community. More than 375 area residents and businesses helped support the purchase of this prime farmland, which was secured in partnership with Maine Farmland Trust and the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.

Aldermere Farm’s most impressive achievement over the last decade may well be the diversity of community support it has garnered—from local businesses and families to livestock owners and managers throughout the Northeast. That support is likely to grow in the coming decades. As Catherine Tanzer, whose daughter participated in the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club notes, “I look forward to many years of supporting the Farm and its imaginative endeavors to involve the community.”

Two Entire Islands Preserved in Blue Hill Bay

2009-07-01T14:55:45Z

Donated Easements Preserve Two Entire Islands

Through the efforts of a long-time supporter of island preservation and the cooperation of another landowner, Maine Coast Heritage Trust will hold permanent conservation easements on two privately owned islands in Blue Hill Bay. The easements preserve bald eagle nesting habitat, significant seal haul outs, and the scenic integrity of an archipelago visible from Casco Passage and the Swans Island Ferry. Together, the two conserved islands have more than one mile of wild shoreline.

The easement on 18-acre Sheep Island, a picnic spot long enjoyed by area residents, prohibits all future development while allow for daytime public access. Eagle Island’s six acres is now protected with an easement that allows for a small, screened tent platform set back from the shore (note: the easement does not guarantee public access). Acadia National Park holds easements on all of neighboring Johns and Pond islands, and a small portion of Opechee Island.

Peter P. Blanchard, III, a naturalist who purchased an interest in Sheep more than two decades ago and now owns the island in entirety, says “it’s wonderful to reunite places that have been fragmented.” Sheep is mostly open, providing habitat for nesting yellow warblers and song sparrows. For Blanchard, the conservation easement offers a way to “take right steps for the long term while enjoying the pleasures of ownership and keeping the place open for others to use with respect.” Within this exceptionally beautiful archipelago, he adds, you can enjoy a pristine landscape similar to what early European settlers encountered: “it’s a very magical place.”

MCHT Field Trip Inspires Youth to Explore and Write

2009-07-01T13:41:06Z

At MCHT’s recent vernal pool walk at the Witherle Woods Preserve in Castine, field trip participants learned all about the natural history and significance of vernal pools and the animals that depend on them. Then with nets in hand folks got to scoop and search the vernal pool waters for a hands-on experience/interaction with many aquatic critters taking advantage of this wonderful habitat (there were loads of spotted salamander eggs and wood frog tadpoles). The group also explored the surrounding woodland habitat and the discussed importance of downed logs as a habitat, turning many logs over in search for red-backed salamanders and any other critters they could find. 3rd grader Apple Lieser from the Adams School in Castine was so thrilled with her day that she took the time to share her experience in a wonderful note sent to MCHT regional Steward Kirk Gentalen (trip leader). Here’s Apple’s note in its entirety. Enjoy!

“And there we were at the vernal pool in the Witherle Woods in Castine on Sunday morning. Doug and Curt were our guides. Doug is a forester and steward from Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Curt is a Steward from Vinyl haven. We were joined by Lizzie (my grandmother), my great Aunt Brooke, and my Great uncle Gil and their dog Denali.

When we made our way into the woods, Doug and Curt showed us some yellow spotted Salamander eggs and wood frog tadpoles that they had collected that morning from the vernal pool.

The spotted salamander eggs were all in a big jelly-type mass with little eggs protected inside. Curt told us that the Spotted salamanders came to the vernal pools to lay their eggs around the first rainy days in April. I learned that vernal pools are great homes for salamander because the pools dry up after the eggs are hatched so fish can’t survive in there. If they could, the fish would eat the Salamanders.

The wood frog tadpoles that they had brought were tiny, smaller than my fingernail. They a tiny head and a short tail and when their tail was tucked underneath it’s little round body, I almost went right by it because it looked just like a clump of mud.

I learned that wood frogs, spotted salamanders and ferry shrimp are what make a vernal pool a vernal pool.

The fun began when Curt handed us some nets and said we could go ‘scooping’ in the vernal pools for animals. The first animal I caught in the vernal pool was a dragonfly larva. Dragon flies actually live a few years in the vernal pools as wingless dragonfly larva (they look like wingless overgrown crickets) eating mosquito larva and then when they are grown they come up and fly around and eat grown mosquitoes. Lizzie caught a mosquito and we should have put it in with the dragonflies but she squashed it between her fingers instead.

I also caught a lot of tadpoles and one water beetle. Water Beatles actually breathe air. They come up to the surface to breath and they get an air bubble, and then when they go diving under water, the air bubble goes onto their backs and when their air bubble runs out, they return to the surface again.

We then moved to a different spot in the vernal pool.

Since it had rained the night before, most of the salamander eggs were in the center of the pool. But there was one clump that the salamander parents had attached to a tree root in the water. I very carefully scooped them up in the net so as not to hurt them, and then I called Curt over to show him what I had found. He took a picture of them and Said that ‘that was a good find’ we put it in a bucket and curt said that I could keep them and watch them grow. I’m going to release them back to the vernal when they are strong enough to survive.

As we left the vernal pools and started our walk up the path, Curt said, “You can find red back salamander if you turn over damp logs that are lying on the ground, but always put the logs back because there might be other animals who use the logs as their home”.

After a while, I saw a very damp log lying on the ground and I slowly turned it over and guess what I saw?!

I saw what appeared to be two snakes with red backs. I picked both of them up and called Curt over. And he said they were actual red back salamanders! At that point I noticed their little legs under their bodies.

We returned the red back salamanders to their logs and that ended our adventure. It was one of the best times I have ever had in the Witherle Woods. I couldn’t have imagined anything I would have rather done on a Sunday afternoon.”

MCHT Contributes to Community Trail

2009-06-19T15:27:33Z

The Narraguagus River, Milbridge

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) recently donated $6,000 to help the Town of Milbridge improve a waterfront trail that runs along the Narraguagus River. The Town plans to use the funds to improve the trail surface and upgrade it for handicapped access. "We are grateful for this partnership with MCHT, and for their ongoing support of conservation in the region" said Lewis Pinkham, Town Manager of Milbridge. MCHT is working with a number of partners in Washington County on projects that have direct community benefits and fit with the Trust's conservation mission.

"We're thrilled to be helping the town of Milbridge on this important project," said Patrick Watson, Project Manager at MCHT. "This is a beautiful trail, and offers folks a great chance for wildlife viewing and getting outdoors. We hope that more people will have a chance to use it after the improvements are made."

The trail runs from behind the Town Office to the shore and along the shore to Route 1A with a spectacular view of the Narraguagus River and Narraguagus Bay. The trail includes an impressive wooden bridge that crosses a small tidal inlet. Eagles, Osprey and other wildlife are frequently sighted from the trail.

Conservation Success at Sears Island

2009-04-28T14:05:28Z

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) was recently granted a conservation easement by the State of Maine through its Maine Department of Transportation that permanently protects 601 acres of Sears Island, a prominent landmark in upper Penobscot Bay. Commenting on the agreement that granted the easement, MCHT president Paul Gallay remarked, "Maine Coast Heritage Trust is honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility of holding this permanent conservation easement. We admire the community planning efforts that led to this historic agreement, we are glad to play a role in the Island's future, and we are truly enthusiastic about the opportunities that this conservation success will create for the local community."

Governor John Baldacci congratulating MCHT president Paul Gallay on acceptance of a conservation easement on 600 acres of Sears Island.

The easement is part of an agreement crafted by the State and local partners that allows for development of the remaining 334 acres of the island, possibly as a cargo port. James Gillway, Town Manager of Searsport commented on the easement saying, "The Town of Searsport is thrilled at this result--one that has the potential to provide so many benefits to our community. We look forward to working with Maine Coast Heritage Trust as a partner for many years to come."

The conserved portion of Sears Island contains a highly unusual combination of marine and freshwater habitats including beaches, tall and low shrub zones, softwood forests, hardwood forests, fern meadows, grassy meadows, coastal salt marshes, and freshwater wetlands including numerous vernal pools. More than 160 bird species have been spotted on Sears. The island is also home to a number of state and federally listed rare species of mammals and amphibians, including the ribbon snake.

In addition to its ecological significance, Sears has a long tradition of low impact recreation that has now been secured for future generations thanks to the conservation easement. There are more than 5 miles of traditional trails on the island that include stunning views of Penobscot Bay, and there are plans for trail expansion and improvement by local stakeholders such as the Town of Searsport and the Friends of Sears Island. The island also affords the possibility for people to recreationally fish and clam on its 5 miles of coastline.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust will further its relationship with the Maine Department of Transportation (the owner of the island), as it works to uphold the terms of the conservation easement. MCHT's regional stewardship staff will be making regular visits to the property and will be a point of contact for those interesting in providing educational and recreational opportunities.

Maine in Chile: International Conservation Finance Conference

2009-01-27T18:52:09Z

Posted by Katherine Birnie, Conservation Innovation Program Manager

I’ve just returned from Valdivia, Chile and am still adjusting to the near-ninety degree temperature differential. Chile and Maine share some similarities, among them: latitudes with lingering summer light; a beautiful rocky coast; and an evolving history of visionary conservation work.

MCHT Board member Forrest Berkley and I had the good fortune to join 100 land conservation practitioners and students from both North and South America last week for shared learning at the Conservation Capital in the Americas conference, convened by Harvard University and the Universidad Austral de Chile. Maine was well-represented. Jim Levitt, Director of the Program on Conservation Innovation at the Harvard Forest, directed the conference and has protected over 100 acres of land on Little Tunk Lake in Sullivan. Blair Braverman, Chris Morrell, Laura Wurst, and Emily Guerin - students at Colby, Bates, University of Southern Maine, and Bowdoin respectively - were selected to attend based on outstanding conservation finance ideas they submitted to the Conservation Finance Forum. Our deep appreciation to the Horizon Foundation for generously enabling Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Maine students this opportunity.

Together, the assembled students and practitioners spent five days discussing experiences and insights on new methods for financing conservation. We explored topics ranging from limited conservation development to sales of forest carbon credits to municipal transfer fees dedicated to conservation. We also shared notes with Chilean colleagues on the evolution of private land conservation in the US, of which Maine Coast Heritage Trust was an integral part. Chile is poised to pass national legislation enabling conservation easements and related tax benefits. Their work will serve as a catalyst for other South American countries to follow suit. We look forward to continuing this dialogue with our Chilean colleagues and to continuing the dialogue about new financing mechanisms with colleagues from both hemispheres.

If you’d like to share your ideas with me directly, you can email me at kbirnie@mcht.org.

Land Conservation & Affordable Housing on Mount Desert Island

2009-01-22T17:52:22Z

Maine Coast Heritage Trust Protects Traditional Access to Northeast Creek and Helps Island Family Obtain Affordable Housing

Mount Desert: Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) recently helped advance two community goals—shore access and affordable housing—in a conservation project on Northeast Creek in Bar Harbor. “We’re thrilled to have protected the traditional canoe access to Northeast Creek, which has such a long history of public use and enjoyment. Just as important, this project allowed us to help a local working family solve the challenge of finding affordable year-round housing here on the Island,” says MCHT Project Manager Brian Reilly.

When a traditional access point to Northeast Creek from Route 3 was threatened by sale on the open market, MCHT purchased the 3-acre property last year. The parcel included an adjacent house and outbuildings that were not critical to the conservation values of the creek and were therefore appropriate to re-sell to a private buyer. The Trust will work with Acadia National Park to maintain the undeveloped creek frontage as permanent and publicly accessible open space. Working with the Island Housing Trust, MCHT placed permanent covenants on the adjacent house lot to ensure its affordability, and then sold the house in December to Christina Costello and John Sanders, a local nurse and firefighter. Reflecting on the purchase, Christina said, “We are truly grateful to the Island Housing Trust and Maine Coast Heritage Trust for the opportunity to live near the places we work and near our community of friends. It already feels like more than a house, it feels like home”. L.S. Robinson Real Estate charged a reduced commission to help facilitate the sale due to its community value.

Commenting on the project, Chris Spruce, Executive Director of Island Housing Trust said, “Increasingly we’re seeing benefits of working with land conservation organizations and other partners to advance our mission of affordable housing. Putting a family into an affordable home and helping protect an important ecological resource is a true win/win.” Island Housing Trust encourages viable, year-round island communities by facilitating reasonably priced rental and purchasing opportunities for the work force on Mount Desert Island.

In 2008, MCHT conserved more than 3,000 acres of coastal land in Maine, including a number of important projects on MDI. MCHT’s conservation success on MDI and across the Maine coast reflect statewide and national trends of balancing economic considerations like housing with the protection of places that preserve the quality of life for local communities. Reilly says MCHT is looking for new and effective ways to work with landowners and other partners to meet the needs of the people of MDI.

MCHT on the Martha Stewart Show

2008-12-04T01:34:14Z

This fall, Martha Stewart invited David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection to walk with her on Mount Desert Island and explain the benefits of land conservation for landowners, the public and other stakeholders. Ms. Stewart has a summer home in Seal Harbor and frequently takes hikes on trails in Acadia National Park and other places on Mount Desert Island.

David and Martha walked the Hunters Beach trail, which crosses land on which MCHT holds a conservation easement. They completed their hike at Hunters Beach, a small cobble beach in Acadia National Park.

The show aired November 18th, and you can view it by following this link. As Ms. Stewart mentions in the segment, land conservation is one of many ways you can get involved in making the world a little bit greener. For those who wish to support our work, Maine Coast Heritage Trust makes it easy with online donations. Your tax-deductible gift will help us protect the character of Maine for future generations. Thank you.

Photo Contest Winner Announced

2008-10-10T13:07:38Z

Seven participants in MCHT's summer field trips entered the 2008 Field Trip Photo Contest and, in total, submitted 60 photos for consideration. A committee of five MCHT staff members evaluated the submissions and chose John Rivers' panoramic shot of Marshall Island as the grand prize winner. The winning photo will be featured in the fall edition of MCHT's Maine Heritage newsletter and John will receive a free registration on a 2009 MCHT Field Trip (value up to $75). The grand prize, trip winning, and a handful of other photo entries can be seen in the online slideshow

Grand Prize winning photograph of Marshall Island, by John Rivers.

In addition to the grand prize, four other photos were chosen as winning entries for those trips in which submissions were made. The trip winners included Karen McFarland (Frenchboro Island), Sam Cohen (Northeast Creek), Alana Ranney (Hamilton Preserve), and Alec Richardson (Merchant Row).

Trip First Prize Photos
Karen McFarland (Frenchboro Island)	Alana Ranney (Hamilton Preserve)
Sam Cohen (Northeast Creek)	Alec Richardson (Merchant Row)

Thank you to all who submitted photos and congratulations to our five winners. We look forward to seeing each of you on one of next year's trips (schedule will be posted in the spring). Hopefully, you will entice others to join the quest to be crowned grand prize winner of the 2009 MCHT Field Trip Photo Contest.

North American Wetlands Grants Awarded to MCHT & Partners

2008-10-06T22:31:47Z

Two Maine Coast Heritage Trust projects were recently awarded funds from a federal program aimed at protecting valuable wetlands and bird habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) program granted $1 million in funds to support MCHT’s efforts to conserve lands at Cobscook Bay and along the Bold Coast in Washington County. In addition, $1 million in funds were allocated to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on behalf of the Lower Kennebec Estuary project, in which MCHT is a partner. Both proposals were endorsed by the Maine Wetlands Protection Coalition, a group of conservation partners established in 1989 to support habitat conservation efforts in the state. Lands conserved with grant funds will also open new areas to compatible public access.

Cobscook Bay and the Bold Coast have been recognized as offering high-quality habitat for water-dependent birds and some rare or endangered species, such as the yellow rail and least bittern. The area also offers relatively undisturbed habitat for 14 species of breeding waterfowl, 29 species of migratory ducks or geese and 16 species of wintering sea ducks, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s partners in the project are Quoddy Regional Land Trust, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local landowners.

The Lower Kennebec estuary is one of the nation’s largest intact systems of saltwater, freshwater and brackish tidal marshes. The area provides critical breeding, migrating and wintering habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, wading birds and fish, including several endangered and threatened species.