Annual Report 2013 Value, Outdoor Recreational Opportunities, and Mount Desert Island Office Contribution to Community Well-Being

Main Office Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) conserves 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 201 and stewards Maine’s coastal lands and islands MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST Topsham, ME 04086 for their renowned scenic beauty, ecological 207-729-7366 Annual Report 2013 value, outdoor recreational opportunities, and Mount Desert Island Office contribution to community well-being. MCHT P.O. Box 669 provides statewide conservation leadership Mount Desert, ME 04660 through its work with land trusts, coastal 207-244-5100 communities and other partners.

Downeast Field Office P.O. Box 4 As a membership organization, MCHT is supported Sullivan, ME 04664 by individuals committed to protecting Maine’s 207-422-1130 natural beauty and resources. The Trust invites your support and involvement. Aldermere Farm 70 Russell Ave. Rockport, ME 04856 207-236-2739

www.mcht.org HEATHER S AHRIA © T COVER IMAGE: SUNRISE AS SEEN FROM NEWLY PROTECTED LONG POINT IN MACHIAS BAY, A

HEATHER HEADLAND WITH PETROGLYPHS DATING BACK S 3,000 YEARS.

AHRIA PRINTED ON ASTROLITE PC

B OARD OF D IRECTORS C OUNCIL M EMBERS FOUNDERS For decades, Maine Coast Heritage Trust has been steadfast in its commitment to protect significant shorelands and ensure that people can enjoy the magnificence of the Maine coast. We have met great success due—in large THOMAS ARMSTRONG, JR. RICHARD A. SPENCER, CHAIR ELIZABETH B. JOHNSON THOMAS D. CABOT (1897–1995) measure—to our focus, expertise and persistence. FORREST BERKLEY RACHEL F. ARMSTRONG JOHN M. KAUFFMAN PETER P. BLANCHARD III ANNE T. BASS E. VAN R. (MORLEY) MILBURY MARGARET M. ROCKEFELLER Over time, the work of coastal conservation and land stewardship has grown far more complex. Fulfilling our mission (1915–1996) CAROL DONNELLY ELMER BEAL, JR. GEORGE PUTNAM III today takes more flexibility, creativity and innovation than it did in the Trust’s early years. Italian writer Giuseppe JOSEPH W. HAMMER PATRICIA H. BLAKE PETER QUESADA Tomasi di Lampedusa beautifully captured the paradox that now faces those engaged in land protection: “If we THOMAS HASLETT ROBERT O. BLAKE PETER W. RAND want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” To sustain the integrity of Maine’s famed coastline, we THOMAS IRELAND THOMAS E. BRADBURY MARY C. REA have to successfully navigate the increasingly complex dynamics that shape landscapes and communities. This DAWN E. KIDD ALBERT M. CREIGHTON, JR. EVAN D. RICHERT report attests to some of the ways that MCHT is changing and growing in order to stay true to our mission. BURKS B. LAPHAM GALE L. DAVIS JOHN R. ROBINSON JENNIFER R. MAHONEY PHILIP DENORMANDIE ROXANA ROBINSON In this ongoing work, the Trust is fortunate to have remarkably dedicated partners and supporters—as The President’s ARTHUR C. MARTINEZ CHARLES W.H. DODGE LINZEE WELD Circle pages in this report testify. We are grateful to each and every one of our donors, and to all those who help LUCY MCCARTHY DIANNA EMORY JEAN WHEELER advance our mission in whatever ways they can. MELISSA PALY ANNE M. FRANCHETTI HAROLD E. WOODSUM, JR.

DAVID REIS HORACE A. HILDRETH, JR. WILLIAM J. ZWARTJES

RICHARD G. ROCKEFELLER ALIX W. HOPKINS

DORIS (DIDI) STOCKLY

ANNA MARIE THRON Tim Glidden, President Kurt Klebe, Chair of the Board PAULA VOLENT NOX K ICH R 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW Maine Coast Heritage Trust completed 30 projects in 2013, helping to conserve 3,612 acres and 12 miles of saltwater frontage. A third of the year’s projects involved outright gifts of land or conservation easements. Since its founding in 1970, the Trust has conserved more than 140,000 acres in partnership with diverse landowners and partners (from private individuals and local land trusts to larger entities like Acadia National Park). For more information on project successes and to view MCHT’s most recent financial statements, visit www.mcht.org.

2013 Land Project Accomplishments © Daniel Casado Daniel © A challenge gift by landowner Bob Brack in 2013 helped MCHT complete a successful effort to acquire 66-acre Long Point in Machias Bay, a regional landmark with traditional public access and prehistoric petroglyphs.

2 3 Connecting Teens to the Coast What began as a Maine Outdoor Film Festival rafﬂe prize ended up—for more than a dozen teens—being “a priceless, boundless opportunity” (according to Windham High School Outing Club advisor Jeff Riddle). Through the joined forces of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Teens To Trails (T3) and Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, two outing clubs in 2013 enjoyed a kayaking weekend based

“There’s no better island in Maine,” Riddle says, “for introducing kids to the outdoors.” T3 Development Coordinator Todd Devenish recalls how one night a group lay out on the ledges of Saddleback watching the Milky Way and falling stars: “To see nature’s light show in such a spectacular setting was a very powerful experience for these kids.”

Devenish hopes the program will expand in coming years: “Partners like MCHT are vital to us.” The Trust offered free access to a safe, comfortable, convenient setting that accommodates large groups, and Old Quarry donated a night of tent camping and use of kayaks. Bill Baker of Old Quarry says this was a “win-win proposition because it got kids outdoors and everyone involved had a great experience.” The students couldn’t find words adequate to their experience of Merchant Row. In an award-winning video created by Windham High School student Asa Reed and shown in the 2013 Maine Outdoor Film Festival, one student observed, “This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been…Everyone says ‘thank you’ at the end, but I feel like that never EIS W quite does it justice.” © Bridget Besaw RENDA B

4 © 5 The Land for Maine’s Future Reinvigorating the (LMF) Program, a cornerstone of land protection in the state for 25 years, has always enjoyed Land for Maine’s Future Program strong and consistent public support. Yet by late 2012, the Program was ﬂoundering. A gubernatorial decree against borrowing had frozen voter- approved funds, and the LMF board and staff had experienced a near-complete turnover in

less than three years. Public © Tahria Sheater questions were going unanswered, approved projects were threatened with failure, and more than $10 million in available funds sat idle despite a plethora of deserving projects.

During 2013, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy led efforts to break this log jam and reinvigorate the Program. By year-end, LMF had reinstated its Director position, resumed work on active projects, and announced a 2014 round for new proposals. MCHT facilitated communication between the Program and the conservation community throughout the year, helping new staff and board members better understand how LMF worked historically, why established procedures for project appraisal had been effective, and how to improve future funding opportunities. “MCHT was, in a word, invaluable,” notes LMF Board Member Ben Emory. “It set an effective

THE LMF PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED CRITICAL FUNDING FOR MANY OF tone and worked tirelessly with legislators, conservation partners, and the Administration to ensure that the LMF program ESAW MCHT’S CONSERVATION PROJECTS—INCLUDING SIPP BAY IN PERRY B got back on track.” (ABOVE) AND MARSHALL ISLAND IN JERICHO BAY (FACING PAGE). RIDGET 6 7 © B Forging Partnerships with Towns

Municipalities are increasingly turning to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for help with community conservation projects. MCHT supported a transfer of 220 forested acres from the nonprofit Friends of Acadia (FOA) to the Town of Trenton. FOA’s gift maintains public access to a 2-mile hiking trail that includes an attractive platform with interpretive signage. MCHT helped the Town resolve right-of-way and easement concerns, and now holds a conservation easement on the Trenton Town Forest. Bob Deforrest Bob MCHT recently helped Pembroke acquire 4 acres along the Pennamaquan River estuary traditionally used by clammers and wormers. The Trust held this gift from a private landowner before transferring it to the Town with a reserved © Bridget Besaw conservation easement. Through Partridge Foundation funds, the Trust donated $10,000 to help Pembroke improve Expanding Trail Linkages with Acadia National Park water access at the site.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust recently completed two projects with Acadia National Park that expand trail networks. Near Mount Desert Island High School, an improved pedestrian trail through Park land leads into MCHT’s Kittredge Brook Forest Preserve, securing community access to this 500-acre property.

Across Frenchman Bay, the Park’s Schoodic district will benefit from trail linkages into an adjoining, privately owned 1,400-acre tract, newly protected by a conservation easement that Schoodic Woods LLC granted to Acadia National Park. MCHT provided a $1 million bargain-sale payment for the easement, which protects the land’s bold shoreline and wildlife habitat and allows for hiking and biking trails. Construction began in 2013 on a trail network that will link to the Park.

8 9 Marty Anderson Through a consistent focus on island preservation, Maine Coast Heritage Trust Generous Donations Protect Key Islands has conserved more than 300 entire coastal islands. Additions in 2013 ranged from wildlife-rich islands downeast to prime recreational destinations in Casco Bay. Generous landowners were instrumental to this success, with a collective donated land value of more than $2 million.

The owners of 28-acre Lanes Island in Yarmouth, Leon and Lisa Gorman, spent four decades acquiring it parcel by parcel with a view toward long-term conservation. This attractive island—with a long history of local recreational use—lies near two public boat launches. Having ﬁnally secured full ownership, the Gormans granted the entire island to MCHT for use as a public preserve.

Landowner Violetta (Larney) Otis offered MCHT a conservation easement on 44 acres at the southern end of Lower Goose Island in Harpswell’s Middle Bay. This easement provides for day-use access to a planned trail system near a popular cruising anchorage. The Otis easement gift helped MCHT secure a purchase option on the neighboring Gosling Islands, an acquisition the Trust will be raising funds to complete in 2014.

MCHT received a donated easement on Outer Bar Island in Gouldsboro that prevents future development from impinging on wading bird habitat or diminishing scenic views from Corea. MCHT purchased Mathews and Spectacle islands off Eastport, the ﬁrst as a preserve and the second for transfer to the US Fish & Wildlife Service as a seabird-nesting site.

From winter tracking sessions to fall birding expeditions, Maine Coast Heritage Trust offered 56 opportunities during Given the rapid spread of invasive non-native plants like 2013 for field trip participants to experience the wild beauty of its preserves. Several events coincided with the statewide bittersweet and barberry, Maine Coast Heritage Trust is Great Maine Outdoor Weekend held each February and September. training staff and working with owners of easement land in Early Detection Rapid Response. Without early action, “Because we offer such a diversity of programs,” says MCHT’s Membership Manager Kristen Drinkert, “people of all plants can overtake an area and control becomes much harder. ages and interests find appealing choices.” Some members opt for relaxed boat tours or woods walks, while others challenge Their spread can undermine much of what first justified the themselves kayaking or hiking rugged island terrain. Those eager to learn may visit a petroglyph site or take in a warbler land’s conservation. MCHT is in a multi-year effort at several walk. Whatever their choice, participants give their trip experiences high marks. “It was honestly the perfect day,” one preserves (like Witherle Woods and Marshall Island) battling noted, “to get both pampered and educated in the same afternoon.” heavy infestations. “It’s costly because it takes a lot of time,” notes Regional Steward Amanda Devine. “We need to keep mobilizing more staff, volunteers and equipment.”

Land managers throughout Maine are handicapped by the lack of a statewide plan or regulations controlling the sale and importation of invasive plants by nurseries. That larger strategy is desperately needed, Devine says, because additional invasive species could expand

into Maine as climate warms. MCHT

12 MCHT Sheather Tahria © 13 Advancing Local Land Conservation More than 25 stewardship staff members from local trusts attended, rating it—in one’s words— Maine Coast Heritage Trust provides extensive and varied an “A+ day.” In the span of 2013, MCHT support to the state’s local land trusts. During legislative coordinated two other all-day trainings, four sessions, for example, the Trust tracks proposed bills and regional land trust meetings, and a gathering sends regular updates. In 2013, MCHT worked against two for regional conservation collaboratives. measures that threatened land trusts—assessing service fees At its annual spring Land Conservation and taxes on nonprofits. “MCHT helps local trusts keep an Conference, MCHT named Andy Cadot, ear to the ground in Augusta and Washington D.C.,” notes founding trustee and former Freeport Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN) Steering Committee Conservation Trust (FCT) board member, Chair Jim Dow, “so we can advance local work and still weigh in on relevant legislation.”

Through MLTN activities, MCHT provides guidance to Rich Knox local trusts on numerous relevant issues—offering conference MCHT provides land conservationists with training opportunities throughout the year—such as this forestry research workshop at calls and day-long training sessions. “Eight times a year, the 2013 Maine Land Conservation Conference. MLTN members join in a call to discuss topics useful to land trust leaders,” notes Land Trust Program Coordinator its 2013 winner of the Espy Land Heritage Award. With Donna Bissett. “And in 2013 we hosted a new annual characteristic modesty, he acknowledged, “this was an tradition, a Stewardship Field Day filled with valuable award for showing up… if you are a foot soldier who… networking, site visits, and guided discussions on topics like works at land conservation for over 30 years, good things signage, stewardship technology and managing public use.” can happen.” Cadot donated the $5,000 award to FCT.

14 15 Rich Knox Legendary Herd Marks MCHT Expands Its 60th Year at Aldermere Farm Kids Can Grow Partnership

The first Belted Galloway cattle came to Aldermere Farm in 1953, evolving into Maine Coast Heritage Trust launched a new today’s renowned herd through the steadfast efforts of the farm’s former owner, Kids Can Grow (KCG) Program in 2013 at its Albert Chatfield, Jr. Under Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s management, Aldermere Babson Creek Preserve on Mount Desert Island, sells $80,000 of beef each year to local families, restaurants and schools, and runs helping 15 school-age children and their families a successful breeding program. Its cattle take many coveted awards at agricultural fairs, grow vegetables in raised-bed gardens. Overseen thanks to the hard work of the Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club: two heifers won Grand by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Champion honors in 2013, and the Farm itself won best of all breeds at two shows. (UMCE), the program offers group classes at

© Devin Altobello MCHT’s community garden and mentoring for Aldermere Achievers member Ellie Pendleton was one of four Maine students gardening at home. “We received tremendous chosen to represent the state at the 2013 National 4-H Congress in Atlanta. support this first year,” notes MDI Regional Steward Billy Helprin, “with Her mother, Paige, says the bond her two daughters have to Aldermere “has businesses donating materials and a dozen UMCE Master Gardener volunteers changed the trajectory of our family’s life.” supporting participating families.” A short video highlighting the first KCG season at Babson Creek is available at www.mcht.org.

The new Babson Creek program complements a successful KCG Program that MCHT hosts at its Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport. Since that program began since 2009, more than 40 families have gained gardening skills through five growing seasons. All photos © Tahria Sheather