Summer 2008
Preserving a Storied Casco Bay Island
Lying at the seaward edge of Eastern Casco Bay, Ragged Island is a 77-acre landmark rich in history and ecology. Much of this offshore island provides valuable nesting habitat for eider ducks (325 pairs at last count) and guillemots, while a traditional farmstead area adds ecological diversity and cultural interest—with overgrown orchards, pastures where oats, hops and timothy have gone wild, and a lobster pound painstakingly hand-crafted from stone.
For decades during the 19th century, people lived year-round on Ragged. One of the better-known residents, Reverend Elijah Kellogg, served Harpswell as a Congregationalist minister for long stretches between 1843 and 1901—happily situated equidistant by boat from his parishioners on Bailey and Orrs Islands and those in Cundy’s Harbor. Kellogg was one of Maine’s most prolific writers, completing 30 books for boys—including an Elm Island series of adventures set on Ragged Island.
Abandoned for a time in the early 20th century, Ragged Island became a favorite spot of rumrunners during Prohibition. In 1933, poet Edna St. Vincent Millay bought the island and summered there with her husband until her death in 1950.
Paul and Claire Sifton purchased Ragged Island the following year, and their three grandsons—Sam, John and Toby Sifton—now share ownership. Late this summer, they will transfer a conservation easement to Maine Coast Heritage Trust that prevents future subdivision and limits future construction—clustering it near the existing house. The easement provides for continued public use of a traditional picnicking beach at the island’s northern end. “Ragged has always belonged to the people of Harpswell as much as to us,” John Sifton says, noting how area residents use it both for fair weather enjoyment and foul weather emergencies. “We’re preserving it for them as much as for us.”
“Our mother has always wanted the island to be protected,” Sifton adds, “and none of us cared to see a building or lifestyle here that wouldn’t serve the wildlife well.” That desire lay dormant for years until—in just three years—the island’s property taxes rose 250 percent, motivating family members to take action. The Siftons sought to keep Ragged Island in their family and give the fourth generation of Siftons a chance to experience the place as their great grandparents had. By selling an easement to MCHT (even at a very generous “bargain sale” rate 40 percent below appraised value), they could generate funds to cover future taxes and upkeep while ensuring that—in John Sifton’s words—“the island will stay the way it is forever.”
Thanks to Ragged Island’s high conservation values, MCHT has been able to secure a diverse array of grants to help fund the easment acquisition. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which has long viewed Ragged as a top priority for permanent habitat protection, awarded funds toward the project, along with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, the Julie N. Oil Spill Settlement Fund, and Ducks Unlimited. “To complete the purchase,” notes Project Manager Betsy Ham, “we still need $75,000 in private contributions. We hope that those who know and love Ragged Island will step forward to help us secure the future of this exceptional place.”
From MCHT’s Board Chair
Tom Ireland
Over the last six months I have had the opportunity to be more deeply involved in MCHT’s work than ever before. It has proven to be an exhilarating experience, watching the Trust’s staff and board members advance ongoing programs; organize an inspir-ing and informative conference for 400 conservationists; launch several new initiatives (like the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program,
The Norumbega Society and “carrying capacity” assessments, all highlighted in this issue); and complete a successful search for a new president.
Our capable and hard-working Search Committee, under the very able leadership of Chair Linzee Weld, found a new president for MCHT with the skill, passion and energy to sustain this fabulous momentum. We are delighted to welcome aboard Paul Gallay, who comes to us from Westchester Land Trust in New York State where he served for eight years as executive director—achieving a seven-fold increase in conserved lands and creating five local conservation chapters. He had worked previously in the New York Attorney General’s Office on wetlands issues and as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Paul will be using this column—in future issues—to express his ideas and initial impressions.
It has been my great pleasure over the past six months to share the helm with David MacDonald, MCHT’s experienced and insightful Interim President, and to get better acquainted with so many of the Trust’s energetic and dedicated staff, board and supporters. I want to extend particular thanks to David from the entire Board for his especially committed service during this interim period. I look forward to continued work with all of you during this exciting and energizing time at the Trust.
First Espy Land Heritage Award Honors David Getchell, Sr.
At the 2008 Maine Land Conservation Conference, MCHT announced that it had renamed the Land Heritage Award in honor of former Trust President Jay Espy and that several generous donors had personally endowed it to provide a $5,000 cash gift that could go to any land conservation organization of the recipient’s choosing. The Trust then presented the first Espy Land Heritage Award to David Getchell, Sr., a pioneering conservationist who founded both the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) and the Conservation Trails Program at Georges River Land Trust (GRLT), and was the inspiration behind the Georges Highland Path (an ambitious 36-mile footpath involving nearly 40 different private landowners). He also co-founded the North American Water Trails Association and served for 12 years on the Maine Trails Advisory Committee. Getchell has chosen to share the cash award with MITA, GRLT and Friends of Baxter State Park (where he serves as an Honorary Director).
In receiving the award, Dave Getchell emphasized the importance of good relationships with landowners and a well-educated public in creating conservation success. “In these somewhat cynical times,” he observed, “it’s heartening to see so many private landowners willing to share their land with a caring public. In my experience, the vast majority of hikers and boaters do not need strict rules or policing. They respond with respect and appreciation, feeling privileged to enjoy these beautiful places.”
Getchell has shared his prodigious knowledge of trail construction and management, boating and other outdoor skills through service on numerous committees and through informal counsel to others. “Dave is one of those rare individuals who—through his unique gifts and talents—has greatly advanced the cause of conservation in Maine and has left indelible impressions, not just on the land he loves, but also on the people who work with him,” reflects Rachel Nixon who worked closely with Getchell in her former role as GRLT’s Executive Director. “He has inspired people, brought them together, extended their collective vision, and set high standards that others then follow. Working with Dave improves the quality of one’s own work.”
The Norumbega Society
Maine Coast Heritage Trust has established The Norumbega Society to recognize those who have invested in the Trust’s future with a planned gift. Over the years, a number of donors have chosen to support MCHT during their lives and beyond by incorporating the Trust into their estate planning (through such means as charitable bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts). These gifts play an important role in supporting our conservation work and through The Norumbega Society we seek to honor the vision and generosity of donors who make these special gifts.
Europeans exploring the coast of New England in the 16th century frequently wrote about a mythical setting of great riches—called Norumbega—reported to lie by a great bay (and often situated along the coast of Maine on their maps). MCHT chose this name for our planned giving society because we believe that the splendor and bounty of the Maine coast gave rise to this prevalent myth, and we feel that the allegorical wealth of Norumbega still lies in the natural landscape of this spectacular coast.
If you have already named MCHT as a recipient of a bequest or other planned gift, please be sure to inform us so that we can welcome you as a member of The Norumbega Society. Members of The Norumbega Society will be invited to special events and receive a dedicated newsletter. If you are considering your estate plans and would like information on our planned giving opportunities, please contact MCHT’s Development Director, Jonathan Labaree, at 207-729-7366 or jlabaree@mcht.org.
Maine Land Conservation Conference Highlights
MCHT held its annual Maine Land Conservation Conference in early May, welcoming 400 conservationists from around the state for an enriching two days of activities. Participants enjoyed an inspiring keynote address by author Janisse Ray, a field trip to Merrymeeting Fields Preserve in Woolwich, and a choice of more than 30 workshops at all skill levels—on topics ranging from legal and logistical mechanics of land transactions to fundraising and community outreach.
The conference also marked the launch of the new Espy Land Heritage Award and the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program. This new program, created through the generosity of private donors and the Pew Charitable Trusts, will offer competitive grants of up to $18,000 to 20 small and mid-sized Maine land trusts, providing them with individualized coaching, board and staff training, and technical assistance to help them prepare for accreditation and build their capacity for land conservation and stewardship. MCHT is administering this program over the next five years in partnership with the national Land Trust Alliance.
Stewardship: Planning for Public Use
Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s recent strategic plan commits the organization to expanding opportunities for public use of its preserves. The Trust now owns more than 50 island preserves and 18 mainland preserves where visitors can go to experience the wonder and beauty of undisturbed settings. “People need to experience natural lands first-hand in order to appreciate the value of land conservation,” reflects MCHT Stewardship Director, Jane Arbuckle. “MCHT wants to offer more opportunities for people to enjoy its lands, but we want to do that in a thoughtful, deliberate way that ensures these lands and the visitors’ experience of them aren’t degraded through too much use or the wrong kinds of use.”
Over the last year, MCHT has developed a standardized process for assessing a preserve’s “carrying capacity” (i.e., how many people can enjoy a preserve without diminishing its natural resources or detracting from the experience of those who visit it). For each preserve, stewardship staff members:
- Gather thorough natural resource data (including information on rare/endangered or invasive species, types of soils and ecological communities, sensitive habitats or notable features, current and traditional human uses, archaeological/historical significance, and the conservation intent of the landowners or donors);
- Determine what visitors will be seeking from this property (e.g., solitude, quiet, expansive views) and how the physical infrastructure (such as trail width and parking limitations) can sustain that experience;
- Identify indicators for measuring potential human impact (e.g., soil compaction, vegetative trampling);
- Gauge the acceptable limits of change, and decide what actions are needed to keep within these limits; and
- Monitor the property over time to assess impacts and update management recommendations as needed.
MCHT’s stewardship staff now incorporates this “carrying capacity assessment” into the detailed management plans created for each of the Trust’s preserves. “This systematic process helps us think through the implications of each management choice we make—whether it’s the size of a parking lot, the routing of a trail, or how we publicize the property,” notes Andy Walsh, a regional land steward active in management planning. “It’s a lot easier to make those decisions of scale and capacity early on than to limit use once signs of heavy impact appear.”
“We want to offer MCHT preserve visitors the best possible experience,” Arbuckle adds, “while being sure to maintain the ecological well-being of each property. It’s a challenging balance to strike, but our carrying capacity work should give us the information we need to make good decisions.”
Staff News
MCHT is pleased to welcome Nancy Mooney as its new Development Assistant. Before joining MCHT, Nancy worked in the health care data field for several organizations. Nancy holds a degree in Business from the University of Maine at Orono and lives in Brunswick.
Staff members extend their best wishes to John Tooze, who held this role formerly, as he embarks on a new life in South Korea.
Field Trip Opportunities
Experience first-hand some of the spectacular places Maine Coast Heritage Trust has helped conserve: sign up for one of the remaining spaces on these field trips by contacting Patty Renaud (prenaud@mcht.org or 207-729-7366).
August 13, 9 AM – 3:30 PM
Discover the Islands of Blue Hill Bay
Learn about the cultural and conservation history of many local islands while enjoying breathtaking views. We will stop for a picnic on MCHT’s Tinker Island. $55. Departs from Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island.
September 27, 9 AM – 1 PM
Whaleboat Island Cleanup and Hawk WatchJoin in Maine’s annual Coastal Cleanup during Coastweek, helping collect flotsam and jetsam on MCHT’s Whaleboat Island in Casco Bay. If weather permits, there will be chances to spot hawks in their annual migration. Bring your lunch, or have some at a waterfront chowder house on your return. Free. Departs from South Harpswell. Rain date: September 28.
