Winter 2007
Conserving the Shores of the Bagaduce River
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."
