Land For Maine’s Future wraps up conservation of Cobscook Bay Peninsula property.

On Friday March 2nd the Land For Maine’s Future program closed on 16 acre parcel that permanently guarantees public access to the shores of northern Cobscook Bay in the Town of Perry.  LMF funding assisted the Maine Coast Heritage Trust with their acquisition and allowed LMF and IF&W to forever guarantee public access to the ecologically significant and unique 16-acre peninsula with 4,300 feet of shorefront at the very narrow entrance to inner Sipp Bay, containing a gravel beach, ready-made picnic sites and opportunities for small boat access. The property contains a bald eagle perching site, as well as several state documented archaeological sites.  Large portions of both the eastern and western shores include commercially valuable and easily accessible shellfish habitat. This former campground site has great potential for public use as a coastal park/preserve, with grassy fields and attractive views up and down the bay.

Aerial view of acquired parcel (center).

LMF funds help conserve Cheeseman Farm in Unity.

LMF funds helped keep a 100-year-old farm as a farm. Gordon Cheeseman wanted to protect his farm in honor of his wife’s love of the land and commitment to the community. The sale of development rights has allowed him to abandon plans to sell the land for house lots. The Cheesemans have operated a small dairy farm and leased its fields to another dairy operation for corn and hay production. LMF’s funds helped acquire the agricultural conservation easement on 185 acres, which include field and mixed woods along Sandy Stream. Sebasticook Regional Land Trust will hold the easement, which was also supported with funds from the federal USDA NRCS Farmland and Ranchland Protection program. Cheeseman Farm is part of a larger Fields & Forests Forever Campaign initiated by the ME Department of Agriculture that has assured nearly 900 acres remain available for agricultural production and wildlife habitat in the Unity area.

LMF parcel adds to regional trail network.

Another parcel has been added to the Damariscotta River Association’s holdings supporting their ongoing work to create an unbroken trail between the Sheepscot and Damariscotta rivers, called River-Link. The 69-acre Ripley parcel in Edgecomb funded by LMF comprises forested uplands, with noteworthy outcrops and stepped cliff bands and boasts several productive perched ponds and marshes. River-Link now includes an extensive series of lands and trails in the towns of Newcastle, Edgecomb, and Boothbay, traversing along the backbone of the peninsula, providing trail connections and creating a wildlife corridor protecting over 1,500 acres of contiguous land in Lincoln County.

LMF funds help conserve Willard Point. 

LMF funds helped acquire the bold headland of Willard Point located in Harrington, Washington County. The 127 acres of conservation land contains majestic stands of mature spruce, fir and pine used by nesting eagles and conserves nearly 1.5 miles of wild shoreline, as well three islands. Conserving these lands keeps the southeastern end of Harrington’s Ripley Neck in a natural state for wildlife habitat and scenic views and for public access for traditional outdoor recreation. The new landowners, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, plan to create a loop trail for hiking and a parking area to make Willard Point more accessible.

LMF funds expand Camden Hills State Park.

LMF funds acquire a 69-acre inholding parcel at Camden Hills State Park. The project, which was approved by the LMF board in July 2011, had been acquired by the Department of Conservation earlier in 2011 and purchased in part with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and with bridge financing from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The 69-acre, undeveloped property is surrounded on three sides by Camden Hills State Park and not only enhances and improves the state park, but protects an ecologically-rich area with high recreational and scenic values. The land lies on the slopes of Mount Megunticook and includes some of this mountain’s highest elevations with water views of out to Penobscot Bay and over to Megunticook Lake.

Maine ranks high in land conservation

According to a report from the Land Trust Alliance, Maine ranks second in the nation behind California and first in the Northeast for the highest amount of conserved land. Land trusts in Maine have conserved a total of 1,796,387 acres. In 2010, Maine had 88 land trusts with 433 paid positions using 3,846 active volunteers and supported by 41,767 members and financial contributors.

National Forest Federal solicits grant proposals

Grant funds are available to support conservation and restoration projects benefiting wildlife habitat, recreation, watershed health, and community-based forestry. There are two rounds of proposals; one due January 17, 2012 and one due July 2, 2012. Find out more information

Wharf and commercial fishing site protected

The North End Lobster Co-op on Westport Island in Lincoln County has restricted nearly five acres of shorefront property from future development in order to ensure commercial fishing access in perpetuity. In October, co-op members sold their development rights to the State and placed a permanent restrictive covenant on their property, which supports 21 boats and over 40 fishermen and their families. With all tide deepwater access, a 2,340 sq. ft. wharf, expansive parking area, multiple buildings, bait and fuel storage, and yard space for all the boats, the property supports a strong business which the owners are committed to preserve and expand. The Co-op received $135,250 from Maine’s Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP) in exchange for the development rights. The WWAPP is funded through bond funds approved by voters, which is designed to protect properties critically important to coastal Maine’s fishing economy.

Kents Hill agricultural lands conserved

New owners of the Kents Hill Orchard in Readfield have permanently conserved 92 acres of prime agricultural lands for farming. Committed to their farm heritage, the Drake Family sold their orchard to the Maine Farmland Trust in 2010 under the condition that it be resold to a new farmer who would keep the lands in production under an agricultural conservation easement. The new owners, the Belle Vue Farm LLC of Manchester, will grow zucchini, squash, and cucumbers replacing the 100-year old dead and dying apples trees. The Land for Maine’s Future program contributed $50,000 towards the purchase of the easement, which was finalized on October 31. Maine Farmland Trust will hold the easement under an agreement with the Maine Department of Agriculture that will enable this important farmland property to continue to be available for agricultural use, along with preserving its open space and scenic views. 

New Guide for Towns Working to Encourage Local Farming

A new guide by Maine Farmland Trust and American Farmland Trust provides specific examples and suggestions of what local officials and residents can do to support farming in their communities.

The newly published guide, Cultivating Maine’s Agricultural Future, describes some of what’s been done in many Maine communitie including Unity, Turner, Cape Elizabeth, Monmouth, and Bowdoinham. Beyond this, the guide provides a set of tools from which a town can chose those best suited to its circumstances and situation.

The Land for Maine’s Future Board selected 22 projects

The Board’s action commits all of the available state funds for farmland and conservation/recreation. But $1.2 million remains for future water access projects. These projects will conserve 76,000 acres of undeveloped land along Maine’s pristine rivers and lakes, in her vast forests and mountain lands, aside her rugged coast, and within her scenic farm country.