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 Photo credit: Maine Coast Heritage Trust
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.
 Camden Hills, Photo by Kate Doiron
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’s Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program applications due March 9, 2012
Considering placing a restrictive covenant (to be held by the state of Maine) on your Commercial Fisheries
property in exchange for a monetary award?
The Land for Maine’s Future program provides funds to help purchase development rights in order to preserve and protect key properties on the coast that provide access to and support commercial fisheries activities.
This is your last chance to apply for the foreseeable future. Please visit www.wwapp.org & contact CEI staff below for more info.
- For York, Cumberland & Sagadahoc County, Hugh Cowperthwaite at 772-5356 ext. 120 hsc@ceimaine.org
- For Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock & Washington County, Dick Clime at 882-7552 ext. 191 rdc@ceimaine.org
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.
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 specificexamplesand suggestions of what local officials and residents can do to support farming in theircommunities.
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.
Land for Maine’s Future funds help conserve 45 acres of the Pisgah Hill conservation area
September 15, 2011 — This New Gloucester property is a recreational corridor that will connect to Bradbury Mountain State Park and trails at Pineland Farm. The purchase will enhance public use of trails and conserve one of New Gloucester’s highest points. It also conserves a dense, mixed hardwood forest of white pine, hemlock, and balsam fir that is home for wintering deer, game birds, raptors, and other species. The land is owned by the Royal River Conservation Trust. Find additional information.
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.
Yale Berkley Scholars assessed the value of jobs, revenue, and watershed protection provided by the conservation of eight completed Land for Maine’s Future projects. The study concludes that LMF projects provide substantial returns.
A recent poll conducted by Portland-based Critical Insights showed strong public support for the Land for Maine’s Future program. Eighty-six percent of respondents approved or strongly approved of providing funding for the Land for Maine’s Future program, “which conserves land for public access, traditional uses, and preserves farmland and working waterfronts.” The Natural Resources Council of Maine commissioned the poll.
LMF conserves King Hill Farm in Penobscot, April 2011
 
Photos from: Blue Hill Heritage Trust
A highly diversified, family-owned, organic farm established in 1971 is the latest project protected with Land for Maine’s Future funds. In conjunction with the Maine Department of Agriculture and the Blue Hills Heritage Trust, LMF purchased from the landowners an agricultural conservation easement for 85 acres to conserve one of the premiere organic farms in the mid-coast region. Conservation of the King Hill Farm will help support the agriculture resurgence occurring on the Blue Hill Peninsula and preserve the region's agricultural heritage.
The Maine Economic Growth Council reports that Maine has achieved the benchmark set for lands on which public use is currently allowed.
LMF provided its biennial report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. The report provides an overview of the program, changes to the scoring criteria, and examples of LMF projects. Since 1987, 532,000 acres conserved (roughly 55% easement and 45% fee).
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