Fall 2008
Partnership Effort Protects 408 Acres on Maine’s Southernmost Coast
Ongoing efforts to protect critical habitat in coastal York County took a leap forward with the recent transfer to Maine Coast Heritage Trust of a conservation easement on 408 acres in Kittery Point. This private land of the Delano family, with nearly one mile of ocean frontage, represents 40 percent of Gerrish Island and affords valuable habitat for amphibians and migratory birds. “The Delano property is one of the largest remaining wild shorefront tracts in southern Maine,” notes MCHT project manager Chris Fichtel.
MCHT worked closely for years with family members, the Kittery Land Trust and the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative (MtA2C) to complete the easement. The MtA2C coalition has protected more than 2,200 acres in a six-town area stretching from the Tatnic Hills in Wells to Gerrish Island. MCHT board member Carol Donnelly, who helps lead MtA2C, notes that “from the outset, we knew the Delano property was a critical part of this conservation mosaic, so for all of us this easement is a dream come true.”
Three Delano siblings, Lyman, Warren and Sara, granted the easement. “Our father, Warren Delano, first acquired 100 acres and a small, 150-year-old house on Gerrish Island in 1946—two years before he married our mother Libby,” notes Lyman Delano. “Through the years, our family purchased additional acreage when it came available, completing a total of 15 transactions.”
“All three of us grew up on Gerrish Island and came to love the land as our parents did,” reflects Sara Delano. “For years we talked about how we might protect this beautiful place from development so it was very satisfying to accomplish our goal with the help of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Mt. A to the Sea, and the Kittery Land Trust.”
Nearly all of the family’s acreage will remain in its natural state. “We designated a limited area for residential use near the two existing homes,” explains Warren Delano, “with only one further residence allowed. We simply decided it was more important to preserve the property than try to provide for all the future demands of an expanding family.”
With funding from the Campaign for the Coast and MtA2C, MCHT acquired the conservation easement at a small fraction of its market value—thanks to the family’s great generosity and strong conservation ethic.
Ward Feurt, manager of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in southern Maine, was delighted to learn of the easement. “This region has been settled for 400 years,” he notes, “so large blocks of undeveloped land along the coast are exceptionally rare—and critically important to birds that migrate along the coastline.” To have a family preserve this extensive acreage in a single transaction is historic, Feurt says: “I don’t know of too many examples of this kind of personal investment in conservation along the Maine coast.”
The Refuge has 800 acres just north of Gerrish Island and the diverse habitats on the Delano land (scrub shrub, old orchards, woodlands, a freshwater pond, and a salt marsh) will help sustain the migratory birds that the Refuge seeks to protect—many of whom, Feurt says, are “species whose numbers are going the wrong way.”
Wing Goodale, with the Biodiversity Research Institute, conducted a bird survey on the Delano property last May and reports that it had “the highest diversity of species” among the 30 or so properties he has surveyed for MCHT to date. Ornithologists believe that Gerrish Island represents a particularly important staging area for migratory birds since it extends out from the mainland and there are no wooded offshore islands nearby. A Birder’s Guide to Maine reports large concentrations of migratory birds on Gerrish Island, with sightings of “all of Maine’s regularly occurring migrant landbirds—more than 110 species.”
The State’s Beginning with Habitat Program identifies the Delano land as a high-priority parcel with valuable wetlands and vernal pools that afford critical breeding habitat for amphibians and invertebrates, and support the threatened spotted turtle. Gerrish Island also has many plants that are at their northernmost range in Maine, including spicebush (a species of concern), the endangered scarlet oak and striped wintergreen.
The spectacular shoreline of the Delano property adjoins 88-acre Fort Foster Park, which is owned and managed by the Town of Kittery. “The Delano land forms a kind of greenway outside the park entrance and protects the coastal views that park visitors enjoy—greatly adding to the experience of place,” notes Rob Nichols, a Kittery Land Trust board member. Since Nichols first came to Gerrish Island in 1988, the number of houses there has doubled. “If the Delano land had been subdivided and developed,” he reflects, “it would have completely changed the character of Gerrish Island. We’re absolutely thrilled to see this land protected and are deeply grateful to the Delano family.”
Message from the President
First Impressions
As this is my first Maine Heritage column, perhaps I should introduce myself: I’m the uniquely fortunate fellow chosen to be Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s new President.
My first awareness of MCHT came even before my first interview. The Trust’s stellar work has earned it national recognition in the land conservation field. Everyone I spoke with considers MCHT one of the most visionary and effective land trusts on the scene today.
My admiration for the Trust's board, council, staff and partners grows stronger daily: it’s a joy to work alongside so many dedicated and capable conservationists. Maine is unparalleled in the breadth and energy of its land conservation community, and MCHT is certainly at the forefront in supporting that community and encouraging its growth.
Nearly everywhere I go along the coast these days, I see evidence of strong and growing partnerships that are helping local communities preserve places and traditions they cherish. This was apparent on a sunny August evening when MCHT staff joined in an outdoor celebration with partners from Maine Farmland Trust and scores of local supporters who helped secure the productive future of the beautiful Erickson Fields in Rockport (see page 4). In a community that has lost much of its farmland, this property offers hope for reversing that trend and reenergizing local agriculture.
Our cover story highlights the protection of 408 shorefront acres in Kittery Point. This is a great moment for the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative (a coalition effort MCHT helped launch 7 years ago that seeks to assemble a mosaic of critical open space in fast-growing southernmost Maine). Ten organizations, hundreds of donors and some exceptionally generous landowners have all come together to accomplish a series of truly astonishing landscape-scale conservation projects.
MCHT is working to invite greater community engagement in conservation at many levels, and we’ll be reporting on more of these initiatives in coming issues of Maine Heritage. I believe we will succeed best—as a land conservation community—when everyone feels like they have some ownership in the work we are doing.
Before I joined MCHT, I never really knew the wisdom of the phrase “standing on the shoulders of those who came before you.” I’m deeply indebted to former Trust president Jay Espy for his remarkable leadership and to Director of Land Protection David MacDonald for the hard work he did to keep the organization moving forward this past year (with much support from Tom Ireland, Linzee Weld and all MCHT’s great board members).
Nearly four decades ago, MCHT’s visionary founders challenged us to do extraordinary things to assure that the singular beauty of Maine’s coast would always be here for people to enjoy. I welcome your ideas on how we can advance that vision, and look forward to working with all of you to save the coast’s most cherished places.
Stewardship: Erickson Fields
Just west of Rockport village on a gently sloped hill overlooking the local elementary school lies an expanse of farm fields and woods that has been in productive use for more than two centuries. That agricultural legacy was nearly lost when the longtime owner and farmer of Erickson Fields was compelled to sell the land. With prime soils and frontage along Route 90, the property could easily have become an office park or residential subdivision.
Thanks to a cooperative landowner, fantastic community support, and the collaborative efforts of Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), the 33 acres of fields (used by MCHT’s Aldermere Farm for haying and grazing of its Belted Galloway cattle) and 37 acres of woodlands will remain in productive use. “This was a true partnership,” observes Aldermere Farm General Manager Ron Howard, with both organizations sharing in the work of raising the $1.1 million needed to cover the acquisition costs. MFT secured a federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program grant of $300,000 that helped launch the successful fundraising initiative. Contributions from 375 local residents and businesses enabled the purchase loan to be repaid in August, with MCHT assuming title to the land and MFT holding an agricultural easement on the property.
MCHT will continue using the fields for hay and grazing, and has begun inviting local input on other ways that the land can provide tangible community benefits. The property lies close to Rockport Elementary School and Camden Hills Regional High School, making it a good candidate for farm-to-school programs that supply local food to students and offer opportunities for youth to become engaged in food production.
Last June, Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Shelley Johnson helped Aldermere Farm’s 4-H Club members prepare three raised beds constructed from cedar cut and milled at Aldermere Farm. Youthlinks program participants helped maintain the beds through summer, with early harvests going to a local food pantry. Later harvests were donated to the high school cafeteria, where the manager has committed to match each contribution with purchases from other local farmers.
In addition to the 70 acres now secured on the south side of Route 90, two 5-acre farm parcels lie north of the highway. Two local residents purchased the easternmost parcel and plan to construct a retail market and small café specializing in Maine-grown food and offering educational programs. The westernmost parcel adjoining the elementary school is still on the market, but there is strong community interest in protecting this land as well.
“In our stewardship work, we’re increasingly interested in forging strong local partnerships and having our lands meet multiple community needs,” observes MCHT Stewardship Director Jane Arbuckle. “The Erickson Fields project is a perfect example of how a land protection effort can catalyze community energy and help people deepen their ties to place. Many community members already were strongly committed to local foods and sustainable agriculture: now this property offers a place where—literally and figuratively—some of those seeds can be planted.”
2008 Field Trip Highlights
More than 200 members and friends participated in Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s summer field trips (see our trip blog. If you weren’t able to join us this year, we hope you’ll participate in 2009.
Vinalhaven Sea and Shore Overnight
On MCHT’s first overnight trip, members enjoyed two days of biking, hiking and kayaking.
“We couldn’t have enjoyed our trip more! We loved every activity and particularly enjoyed learning about the local economy and culture—not something you can do as a tourist.”
~Anne and Dick Jackson, Yarmouth
Marshall Island Trail Dedication
More than 50 MCHT members gathered to celebrate the official opening of a 10-mile trail network on this spectacular island.
“There is nothing like being on the ground to fully appreciate a place as special as Marshall Island and the dire consequences had not MCHT come to the rescue.”
~Emily Beck, Seal Cove
Malaga Island’s Past
Archaeology professor Nate Hamilton and graduate students captivated 25 Malaga Island trip participants—sharing finds and inviting visitors to dig for artifacts.
“The USM archaeologist and students were full of enthusiasm and information”
~Suzanne Ewing, Portland
Petroglyphs on Machias Bay
Visitors listened eagerly as Passamaquoddy tribal historian Donald Soctomah explained the stories behind the ancient petroglyphs.
“It was a treat to combine kayaking in one of Maine’s most scenic areas with the opportunity to learn about Native American culture.”
~Norman Alt, New York City and Brooksville
2008 Field Trip Photo Contest Winner: John Rivers
John River's panoramic image of Sand Cove at Marshall Island was chosen as the winning entry for the first annual MCHT field trip photo contest. John will receive a free MCHT field trip next summer. Thanks to all who participated in this year's contest.
Staff News
Kris Campbell, MCHT’s new Assistant to the President, worked most recently as an Executive Assistant at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation in South Portland. A resident of Topsham, Kris is pleased to be working close to home. She holds a Political Science degree from the University of Southern Maine and enjoys spending time with her daughters Alicia and Carmen.
Work on MDI Field Office Begins
Maine Coast Heritage Trust has begun site work at its new office location near Babson Creek in Somesville, with spring 2009 as a target date for the building’s completion. Bar Harbor architect Stewart Brecher helped design an efficient, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified office that will minimize water and energy use, incorporate solar energy, and use materials from local and environmentally responsible providers to the greatest extent possible. The new office will have a low visual profile so that it best suits the 35-acre preserve along Babson Creek.
In Memoriam: George Taber
MCHT staff, board and council members were saddened to learn of the loss of George Taber, a former Board member and Council member for two decades, who died this September at age 79. Mr. Taber chaired the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for nearly two decades and served as a Vice President of the Richard King Mellon Foundation (known for its generous land conservation grants within the U.S. and abroad). “George was a true conservationist,” recalls David MacDonald, MCHT’s Director of Land Protection, “and we will greatly miss his wise guidance. He was instrumental in protecting the 12,000-acre Cutler Coast lands in Washington County and helped build the political support and funding necessary to conserve 4,400-acre Long Island in Blue Hill Bay.”
