Maine Heritage: Winter 2008

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Notable Conservation Gains in 2007

Saddle Island, Penobscot Bay

Visitors to Camden Hills State Park who ascend Mount Battie look out at a chain of islands that extend south from Islesboro—just a few miles out from Camden Harbor. Near the end of that chain lies Saddle Island, a 10-acre wildlife haven with an active osprey nest, eagle perching sites and seal haulouts. A conservation easement recently given to Maine Coast Heritage Trust will protect forever the ecological and scenic values of this wooded gem and guarantee that people can continue to enjoy its two beaches.

Saddle Island belongs to David and Jack Taylor, whose father purchased the property in 1940 (for the princely sum of $250). Their family has enjoyed picnics and outings on Saddle over the intervening decades and wanted to pass the island on to the next generation without it being a financial burden. The easement precludes all future development (save for a possible tent platform), while granting public access to the two cobble beaches and a trail that links them. Jack Taylor says his family is pleased with their decision to preserve Saddle in perpetuity: “Now we can continue to enjoy the place,” he notes, “knowing it is well-protected for future generations.”

Small Point, Phippsburg

A conservation easement donated to Maine Coast Heritage Trust now protects the easternmost point in Casco Bay, a 30-acre peninsula in Phippsburg. With more than a mile of shore frontage, this property encompasses a wide array of habitats—including rocky headlands, scrub brush, woods, dunes and two small beaches. The easement precludes all future development, preserving the land’s exceptional scenic and ecological values (but it does not provide for public access).

The property is jointly owned by members of the Lee and MacFadyen families, two branches of the Sewall family that has held the land for decades. The owners are deeply committed to conserving their land and several generations of the family worked for more than 15 years to ensure its permanent protection. Family members credit their grandmother, Camilla Sewall Edge, and their mothers, Camilla Edge Lee and Mary-Esther Edge MacFadyen, for the foresight to pursue preservation of this land. “Our families have always wanted Small Point to remain wild and now we know that it will,” reflects Richard Lee, one of the property’s owners. Camilla MacFadyen Lewis, another family member, adds, “With the signing of this conservation easement, our families are finally realizing a dream that is several generations old—to preserve the Point forever.”

Little Kennebec Bay, Machiasport

During 2007, MCHT secured several new properties totaling nearly 70 acres along the western shore of Moose Snare Cove in Little Kennebec Bay, a “whole place” that the Trust has worked for more than two decades to protect. The recent purchases conserved lands along Moose Snare Cove and Johnson Point that had been slated for subdivision into 11 lots.

The newly conserved acreage adjoins lands that MCHT protected in 2006 in cooperation with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and lies just across the water from MCHT’s Hog Island and 425 acres on Mill Pond owned by Bill Coperthwaite, who completed an easement with MCHT in 2003.

“The beautiful lands surrounding Moose Snare Cove and Mill Pond contain exceptional wildlife habitat and may afford opportunities in the future for shorefront trails that the public could enjoy,” notes MCHT Project Manager Patrick Watson. “Our most recent acquisition includes a trail easement along the eastern shoreline of Narrows Mountain. Within this 1,500-acre area, we now have more than 6 miles of undeveloped shoreline permanently protected. And work is still underway.”

One Member’s Steady Support

Ann Cort moved to Maine in 1990 following decades of summer visits that had deepened her love for the Maine coast. Since settling on Orr’s Island, Ann has felt a strong commitment to conserving this coast’s precious heritage. In 2001, inspired by the campaign to protect Whaleboat Island, Ann became a member of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. “I’ve seen how things have changed in Maine,” she reflects, “and I can’t bear the thought of the whole coast being vulnerable to development.”

Since joining the Trust, Ann has mailed in a contribution every month. She says simply, “it’s just a priority for me.” MCHT’s Development Director, Jonathan Labaree, notes how much this consistent support means to the Trust: “Receiving Ann’s monthly gift always brightens our day. Her dedication is both humbling and inspiring: we are grateful for the trust she places in us and we always work to match her passion for the coast.”

Ann’s family ties in Maine stretch back three generations: she first came as a child to Kittery with her grandparents who had a summer camp there. “Through the generations, we all seem to gravitate here,” she observes. “There’s just something about the Maine coast.” Ann lives in the spot where her brother once had a small camp, a few minutes’ walk from dramatic cliffs overlooking Lowell Cove in Casco Bay. “I try to get out for a walk every day,” she notes. “It helps remind me of how special the Maine coast is.”

L.L. Bean Regrant Program Builds Local Land Trust Capacity

For the past four years, L.L. Bean has funded a grant program that has provided more than $75,000 to Maine’s local land trusts, helping expand their capacity for land protection and stewardship. Maine Coast Heritage Trust is a partner in this effort, selecting grant recipients and administering the program. The L.L. Bean grants have gone toward a wide array of projects—from membership development and conservation planning to public outreach. “These grants have a big impact because they cover dimensions of land trust work that can be hard to fund through other sources,” explains Megan Shore, MCHT’s Maine Land Trust Coordinator. “L.L. Bean’s consistent and generous support has given a meaningful boost to 19 land trusts throughout the State.” The company’s contribution has been supplemented by a personal donation to the grant program from Lisa and Leon Gorman, who chairs the board of L.L. Bean.

2007-2008 Grant Recipients

Mahoosuc Land Trust – $4,000 for a fundraising consultant to help strengthen the Trust financially
Woodie Wheaton Land Trust – $2,000 for a summer intern who will conduct landowner outreach
York Land Trust – $4,000 to help support municipal outreach work as part of the Mount Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative
Bangor Land Trust – $4,725 to help develop collaborative management plans for two well-loved preserves
Western Foothills Land Trust – $4,025 to help launch an acquisition campaign for a 150-acre farm in Norway
Cape Elizabeth Land Trust – $4,000 to create and distribute strategic outreach materials

Land for Maine’s Future Program: Celebrating Two Decades of Success

Maine voters extended funding in November for the State’s popular and far-sighted Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program. For the fourth time since the Program’s creation in 1987, voters resoundingly approved LMF funding (with a majority vote recorded in all 16 Maine counties).

MCHT and Maine’s land trust community worked actively in the coalition that garnered support for the $35.5 million measure ($17 million of which will go to the LMF Program). Maine Coast Heritage Trust extends thanks to all the individuals and organizations who worked and voted in support of the latest LMF bond.

Over the past two decades, the LMF Program has helped fund more than 200 land conservation projects across Maine (two dozen of which MCHT had a key role in).

LMF Support for MCHT Projects

(most of which were completed in partnership with local land trusts)

Beech Hill in Rockport
Crowley Island off Jonesport
Cutler Coast
Donnell Pond/Tunk Lake Region around Franklin
Flag Island in Casco Bay
Grand Lake Stream in Eastern Washington County
Jasper Beach in Machiasport
Indian Point in Ellsworth
Lower Kennebec River Estuary near Merrymeeting Bay
Mackerel Cove and Skolfield Shores, both in Harpswell
River-Link Partnership in Newcastle and Edgecomb
Marshall Island in Jericho Bay
Mowry Beach in Lubec
Nicatous and West Lakes
Pettegrow Beach in Machiasport
Seward Neck in Lubec
Pleasant Bay, encompassing lands in Harrington, Addison and Steuben
Robinson Woods in Cape Elizabeth
Schoodic Bog in Sullivan
Thorne Head near Bath
Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds
Tinker Island in Blue Hill Bay
Whaleboat Island in Casco Bay

For more information on these and other LMF projects, visit the Program’s project directory at http://www.maine.gov/spo/lmf/index.htm.

Caring for Conserved Lands: MCHT’s Regional Land Stewards

As Maine Coast Heritage Trust has taken on more lands and easements, its stewardship responsibilities have grown. MCHT now has six land stewards working along the length of Maine’s coast to ensure that its 60 preserves are well managed and its easements are monitored annually.

“We moved to a regional stewardship model so that our staff would be part of the communities we serve and be able to respond quickly as needs arise,” notes Jane Arbuckle, MCHT’s Stewardship Director. “Having regional land stewards has proven more efficient and cost-effective.”

In this and the next Maine Heritage, we’ll introduce you to MCHT’s regional land stewards who help maintain and improve the Trust’s preserves, monitor its easements, and work with local communities and volunteers.

Andy Walsh, Southern Maine

Andy Walsh came to the Trust recently from the Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts where he worked as a regional ecologist—helping develop preserve management plans, conduct plant and bird surveys, initiate habitat restoration projects and control invasive plants. Prior to that role, Andy worked as a wetlands scientist.

Andy is thrilled to be back in Maine (he earned his graduate degree in geology at University of Maine—Orono and did extensive freelance photography here). “It’s wonderful to be working on behalf of this landscape and enjoying the coast with my family,” he says.

In addition to caring for lands in his region, Andy will help coordinate preserve management planning. “Management plans are key to the Trust’s ongoing stewardship and its work toward accreditation,” Andy explains.

Ron Howard, Midcoast

Ron Howard found himself coming full circle when he was hired in 2000 to manage Aldermere Farm (after MCHT received the 136-acre saltwater farm in Rockport through a bequest from Albert H. Chatfield, Jr.). “I had worked at the Farm summers, weekends and holidays through my youth,” he notes, “because my father was Chatfield’s farm manager.”

During college, Ron pronounced he would “never have anything to do with farming again,” and headed off for a 23-year career with Bass Shoes.However, his path then led back to Aldermere Farm where he found that his human resources work experience helped in his farm management duties.

Ron oversees farm operations and public programming, and supports sustainable agriculture through work on numerous regional and statewide boards. He also monitors MCHT’s easements in the area and works closely with those who own hayfields managed by Aldermere Farm.

Tax Incentive Bill Progress

In 2006, Congress approved a bill (originally set to expire December 31, 2007) that expanded federal tax benefits for donating conservation easements. Under this measure, individuals could 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 up to 15 years (up from 5 previously). Qualifying farmers and ranchers could deduct up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income (if 50 percent or more of their gross income is from farming).

MCHT worked closely with the Land Trust Alliance throughout 2007 to make this bill’s provisions permanent. All four of Maine’s Congressional delegates and more than 170 other members of Congress cosponsored legislation to make the incentives permanent. The Senate Finance Committee, with the help of Maine Senator and Committee member Olympia Snowe, passed conservation easement tax incentive language in September and sent it to the full Senate for their consideration. In response, Senate leadership attached the language to the Farm Bill reauthorization, which they approved in December.

For the conservation tax incentive provisions to become permanent, the House and Senate must iron out differences in their respective Farm Bills and pass a measure the President is willing to sign. The two bodies were scheduled to conference on the Farm Bill in late January. For the latest update visit www.lta.org.

Wanted: A Seaworthy Boat

To assist with island stewardship during upcoming field seasons, MCHT is looking for a seaworthy lobster-boat hull ( 22-26’ long) in good condition with a hardtop and small cabin space. Gifts or bargain sales welcome! Please contact Douglas McMullin at MCHT’s Somesville office (244-5100).

Staff News

Joanne Favreau has joined Maine Coast Heritage Trust as a Staff Accountant in Topsham. She will assist with the annual audit and help meet the Trust's ongoing financial administration needs. Joanne spent the past six years as the finance director at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport.

From MCHT’s Board Chair

Maine Coast Heritage Trust made tremendous progress during 2007 and is well-positioned for a productive 2008. More than 50 land conservation projects were completed this past year (a record for MCHT), including nine entire coastal islands and nearly 20 miles of shoreline. To ensure that all the lands entrusted to our care are managed well, and to deepen our connections to the communities we serve, we’re expanding our regional stewardship work (see page 5). I’m also pleased to report on the continued advancement of the Maine Land Trust Network, which now includes our new Circuit Rider Program launched in the spring of 2007. With one-to-one training assistance, this initiative is helping local land trusts work more sustainably and efficiently—furthering statewide conservation efforts.

In December, the Board named David MacDonald, MCHT’s long-time Director of Land Protection, as interim President while it engages in a national search to find Jay Espy’s successor. We all miss Jay greatly, but the staff and board are both benefiting from David’s experience and wisdom in this transition time. And David is excited to take on this assignment: “It’s an honor to lead the Trust at a time when so much good work is underway with landowners and partners statewide,” he notes. “Our staff and Board are fully committed to realizing many ambitious goals in the coming months.”

We expect to have a new president aboard by summer, and will keep you posted on progress in the next newsletter.