Protecting the Land You Love

No. 69 fall 2018

This Season’s Stewardship We hope this year’s stewardship have trails, we’ve given attention to work will have a positive impact on the visitor experience and cleared the communities in which you all brush and downed trees. We started live! Much like every year, we’ve some bigger maintenance projects kept busy this season, not only em- as well, such as introducing water Charles Lee phasizing the upkeep of our existing bars into the trail at our Little Tunk Schamle Fairbanks trails, but also forging ahead with Preserve to prevent further soil planning and clearing of new trails. erosion. The water bars are just the With the hard work of our won- First, an update on the mainte- beginning of this project that will derful volunteers, we also made nance of our established preserves eventually provide a more sustainable great progress on four new trails! and trails. On our ever expanding trail connecting you to a gem of FBC’s Weekly Trail Workdays on map of 17 preserves that currently Sullivan. Wednesday mornings from June through September provided an outlet for stewardship volunteers to use their trail-building skills and produce remarkable results. We can’t thank them enough for making these projects possible: • A new trail system cleared at the Jordan Homestead property in Ellsworth. • A new loop trail completed at Schoodic Bog Preserve in Sullivan. t i n s c huver Planning for a trail at the new Day

o aus • t Ridges Preserve in Gouldsboro. p ho • And we’re excited to announce Everyone stopped to gaze at Schoodic Mountain while building the new trail at Schoodic that a new trail system is being Bog Preserve. Stewardship continued from page 4

Tidal Falls Preserve Revitalization Update Groundbreaking began in August on a major restoration project at Tidal Falls Preserve in Hancock. As the excavator began demolition, the old buildings and failing seawall soon gave way to a panoramic view. Today, set back from the shore, a new pavilion and observation deck take shape. Stay tuned for the Grand Re-Opening of Tidal Falls Preserve in the summer of 2019.

t i n s c huver Lower Tidal Falls Preserve will remain closed until construction work is completed. FBC’s offices and Exploration Center will remain open year-round. o aus t p ho photo left Demolition of old buildings at Tidal Falls began on August 20, 2018. FBC to Apply for President’s Column Accreditation Renewal At our Annual Meeting this summer, Jim Levitt of the Harvard The land trust accreditation program Forest Program spoke about the power of a small, enthusiastic, and recognizes land conservation organiza- determined group of people. His prime example was the small tions that meet national quality stan- group who accumulated the lands that eventually became Acadia dards for protecting important natural National Park. They had a vision that the mountains and lakes of places and working lands forever. were uniquely beautiful and should be preserved Frenchman Bay Conservancy is pleased for the enjoyment of the nation. They persuaded landowners to sell to announce it is applying for renewal of or donate the lands, and then persuaded the federal government accreditation. A public comment period to take them as the Lafayette National Monument, later to become is now open. . The Land Trust Accreditation Com- Frenchman Bay Conservancy was likewise started by a small mission, an independent program of the group who felt that the lands on the north side of Frenchman Bay Land Trust Alliance, conducts an exten- were also unique and worthy of preservation. sive review of each applicant’s policies We do not aspire to having a national park on this side of the bay, and programs. Frenchman Bay Conser- but we do now manage over 8,000 acres of land and some 28 miles vancy is proud to apply for renewal, a mark of excellence for land trusts that must abide by strict standards and prac- tices in land conservation to achieve accreditation. The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Frenchman Bay Con- servancy complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards, see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/ help-and-resources/indicator-practices. To learn more about the accreditation President Lisa Heyward (far right) led Preserve Walks each Monday this summer. program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email of trails. We are still a relatively small group with grand aspirations your comment to info@landtrustaccredi- for protecting the unique qualities of this region. tation.org. Comments may also be faxed One way a small group can be successful is by inspiring and invit- or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation ing others to join in its work. FBC’s volunteer program helps with Commission, Attn: Public Comments: stewardship projects and events. In this newsletter, our 2018 (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Conservation Corps Steward and our chair of our Stewardship Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY Committee tell a story about working with volunteers to create our 12866. newest trails. In addition, our Volunteer of the Year, Indra Guertler, Comments on Frenchman Bay writes about what draws her to volunteering for FBC. Conservancy’s application will be most One of our very special preserves is our Tidal Falls Preserve that useful by December 14, 2018. allows shorefront access to the remarkable reversing falls at the mouth of Taunton Bay. Thanks to the contributions of so many of Thank you. you, we are progressing with the revitalization of this preserve. Look for photos of that progress in this issue of our newsletter. At our office Aaron Dority building on the preserve, come visit the new Exploration Center, Executive Director another way we invite others to be involved in the exciting work of land conservation in our area. More power to small, enthusiastic, and persistent groups! Please join us with your support, your enthusiasm, and your volunteer work! — Lisa Heyward President, FBC 2 Volunteer of the Year I’m in the back of serving butter for dipping and then the many interesting events made the audience for scooping the ice cream sundaes. me proud to be a member of FBC. the outdoor Annual As a perpetual foodie this was very I loved talking to visitors about the Meeting at Jordan satisfying work. I also could make renovations-in-progress and all our Homestead, my small talk with the dinner guests. future plans. husband’s good Scooping ice cream became my Being a volunteer at FBC is like camera ready to FBC reputation, and I reveled in having a second home where I get Indra capture the surprise the role. As my first summer ended, to welcome guests and sing the praises Guertler on a lucky person’s I was sad as always to return south of all that we do. I now have new face as Executive Director Aaron for work, but now I was even more people in my life that I care about, Dority announces the “Volunteer of disappointed to leave all my new and I look forward to getting to the Year” Award. I’m hearing only acquaintances at FBC. know people more as time passes. about half of what he says in the kind review of this yet-to-be-named person because I don’t want to miss the camera shot, but it starts to sound somewhat familiar. When my name is called there is a moment of shock, then mild embarrassment, and then warm joy. I am so grateful to be part of Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC), and to have them appreciate the small things that I do to help. My husband and I bought a rough property in Sullivan in 1981, hoping to live year-round. Years later, our whole family began to walk our Bernese e w i n s o ra ndy Mountain Dogs at Baker Hill and t Long Ledges Preserves, excited to p ho have found public trails near our Indra, Lisa Heyward, and Aaron Dority after the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year award. home. The trails were beautiful in the summer, and the parking lots Being a volunteer at FBC is like having a second well-plowed in the winter. What home where I get to welcome guests and sing the more can you ask? With so many trails to choose from, the dogs and I praises of all that we do. were never bored. Clint and Elea- nor Ritchie would stop to say hello, In the summer of 2018, since I I hope that in reading about which started the connection to was slightly more experienced I my experiences that you too will FBC. We also knew Jeremy Strater, was given the opportunity to be on consider volunteering for FBC. We and learned how he wanted FBC to a committee, thanks to Iris Simon. have lots of things to do and volun- have some of his land for posterity. They even listened to some of my teers get to choose projects that they I knew him well enough to know ideas! There were new people to enjoy. We are very friendly and that his high standards had fully meet and new tasks to work on. I welcoming to all. You can be part vetted FBC. started to feel more connected to the of this amazing group that works so So when I had some extra time, I trails, and began walking the dogs hard to protect and share nature so decided to volunteer for the organi- on more distant, less traveled trails. near where we live. Please look for zation that had given so much to us. As we walked I cleaned the trails me and my dogs on the trails—we In summer of 2017 it was so and reported to the Trail Steward, are always happy to have another easy to join FBC. I was welcomed Charles Schamle, any jobs too big hiking buddy. v immediately and given fun tasks. for me to handle alone. Volunteering Everyone was so friendly and trust- at the headquarters at Tidal Falls ing. I first worked Lobster Dinner, with Austin Schuver for some of

3 How a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world The history of the end that many generations and growth of the national Land land conserva- may receive all possible benefit and Trust Alliance, which today serves tion in Downeast enjoyment from the sight of it.”1 some 1,100 land trusts across the Maine over the nation. past century offers • In the subsequent four decades, living testimony to a group that included George Dorr, • Thinking that it was “simply the the idea that small Charles W. Eliot and John D. right thing to do,” Hazel Bryan Jim Levitt groups of dedicated Rockefeller, Jr. led the charge to Tracy and her husband Ernie in individuals can protect nearly five thousand acres 1976 donated to the State of Maine achieve significant and lasting change. of Mount Desert. The organization an easement on a modestly-sized As Margaret Mead, the celebrated they formed to hold that land, the forested property they owned on anthropologist, is reported to have Hancock County Trustees of Public the shore of Tunk Lake in Sullivan. said in the late 1970s: “Never doubt Reservations, was one of the earliest The Tracys’ small act of kindness, that a small group of thoughtful, land trusts established in the United followed up with a decades-long committed citizens can change the States. The acres protected were effort spearheaded by Hazel’s world; indeed, it’s the only thing that eventually donated to the federal brothers James and Robert Bryan ever has.” How so? Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, Consider the following chain of initiatives, undertaken by small committed citizens can change the world; groups of citizens associated with indeed, It’s the only thing that ever has. the academic, private, civic (non- profit) and public sectors in south- east Hancock and southwest Wash- government and became the core and the rest of the Bryan family, has ington Counties in Maine. of the first National Park east of resulted in the protection of tens of the Mississippi. Acadia National thousands of acres in the vicinity of • In the early 1880s, Charles Eliot— Park now stands as a deeply loved Schoodic Mountain, Schoodic Bog, son of the president of Harvard Uni- national treasure. Donnell Pond, Little Tunk Pond, Tunk versity Charles W. Eliot—brought Lake, Lake and the small groups of undergraduates • Around the turn of the twentieth headwaters of the . by boat, over the course of several century, John G. Moore, a native summers, to Mount Desert Island. Mainer, made a fortune on Wall • In 1987, a small, committed group While camped out there, the young Street and purchased a large tract of of conservationists that included scholars collected natural history land on Schoodic Point for possible Steve Perrin, Sheila Denny-Brown, artifacts and knowledge as members summer cottage development. After Oliver Crosby, Mary McCormick, of what they named the “Champlain Moore passed away, his wife and Bayard Ewing, and Weyman Billings Society.” In the course of these daughter donated that land to create formed and helped shape the early explorations, Eliot in 1883 wrote in the Schoodic District of Acadia, history of the Frenchman Bay Con- his personal diary that “[t]he scenery establishing the mainland section of servancy. Since their first project, of Mount Desert is so beautiful and Acadia National Park. which involved the protection of the remarkable that no pains should be beach at Little Tunk, FBC has become • In 1970, Peggy Rockefeller and a key land protection catalyst in the spared to save it from injury—to Tom Cabot founded the Maine region, protecting some 8,000 acres Coast Heritage Trust to protect the across 12 towns and townships in islands and seashores of the state. the and Frenchman MCHT helped to establish the legal Bay watersheds. Like us on Facebook! precedent for the tax deductibility Stay in touch with the latest of donated conservation easements, • Today, Frenchman Bay Conservancy FBC news, or post photos an innovation which led to the rapid and Maine Coast Heritage Trust of your friends and family growth of the land trust movement are working together to protect a enjoying a preserve or event. in the United States. MCHT has also corridor of open land that reaches facebook.com/frenchmanbay instrumental in the establishment from Schoodic Point to Schoodic 4 Mountain and beyond. In recent years, the Schoodic-to-Schoodic project has made significant prog- ress towards its goal of protecting landscape corridor that will stretch, largely uninterrupted, from the salt water to the inland mountains and forests. All of these efforts illustrate the growth of a culture of conservation in the Acadia region that extends over a surprisingly large range of space and time—space marked by the increasingly dense patchwork t i n s c huver quilt of protected lands from Mount o aus Desert to the West Branch of the t Narraguagus, and time marked by p ho six or seven generations of “small Eleanor Fairbanks ties a trail marker to a tree while building the new trail at Schoodic Bog groups of thoughtful, committed Preserve in Sullivan. citizens” striving to change the One of the highlights of this season is the new loop world for the better. It is of course up to those of us trail on Bayside Road’s Jordan Homestead Preserve, blessed to enjoy Downeast Maine which provides folks with views of the beautiful today to keep the faith and earn trust, passing it along to our children, Union River, old growth pine trees, and the babbling grand-children, and their descendants, of Whitaker Brook. as well as our families, friends and fellows citizens, for many generations Stewardship continued from page 4 to come. v created at Tidal Falls, our flagship trail only enhances this experience. preserve, as part of the Revitalize Although not a short or easy trail to During the summer, Jim and Jane Levitt Tidal Falls project. undertake, the new 1.5-mile exten- and their three children are residents One of the highlights of this season sion of the trail system takes you on the shore of Tunk Pond in Sullivan, is the new loop trail on Bayside Road’s through shimmering birch groves, Maine, and work over the Internet. Jordan Homestead Preserve which passes over several mossy rock During the rest of the year, Levitt provides folks with views of the nubbles and around wild blueberry serves as the Director of the Program beautiful Union River, old growth patches, and sports the occasional on Conservation Innovation at the pine trees, and the babbling of but beautiful view of Schoodic Harvard Forest, Harvard University and Whitaker Brook. The whole trail Mountain. This trail took four weekly leads the Land Conservation Programs is approximately a mile long and trail workdays, 16 volunteers, and at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy took five trail work days to reach its nearly a month to clear. It now in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When present state. The volunteer crew provides a continuous 3.6-miles not in Maine, Jim and Jane Levitt live installed bridges in the rain and of trail around the bog to explore. in Belmont, Massachusetts. cleared blowdowns and debris in Expect a grand opening of this trail the summer heat. Hard work and in spring 2019. v 1. https://friendsofacadia.org/the-champlain-society- transcriptions/ passionate hands have given you this new opportunity to enjoy more If you’d like to be a part of trail work, of the Union River. Expect a grand you don’t need prior experience, just opening in summer 2019. a desire to volunteer and have fun! For over a decade, our Schoodic Contact FBC’s Community Engagement Bog Preserve has given hikers access Coordinator, Austin Schuver, to get to a splendid section of the Downeast involved. For more information about Sunrise Trail as well as the Schoodic existing trails and additional trail Mountain Trail and all the views that updates, visit our website at www. accompany them. The new loop frenchmanbay.org and be sure to sign up for email updates.

5 Conservation Stories They say every The work of land trusts is daunting Now in Maine, I am pleased to adult with a pas- at times and stupendously rewarding work with landowners around FBC’s sion for conserva- at other times. I worked with an service area who are ready to take tion can tie their elderly landowner in Massachusetts action to protect the intrinsic value ethic to formative who reminded me of time spent of their land. Currently, we are in childhood experi- with Miss Marshall. She appreciated conversation with a neighborhood ences in their own the inherent value of the land she of landowners around Hog Bay in kat deely backyard. I’ve owned and loved relaying stories of Franklin. One landowner came to heard conserva- the critters that lived there. She also FBC with the idea to conserve, and tionists’ stories of urban life with had family that she had to provide from there the project has grown to sidewalk ant colonies inspiring a for. She thought our goals were at multiple landowners and multiple sense of wonder. I, too, fall into this odds with each other the first time successful grant awards. Not all land categorical truth myself. we met. Through conversation, a should be considered for a con- My story takes place in an un- plate of cookies, and three grant servation outcome, but in coastal developed tract of a few hundred cycles, we found common ground Maine’s unique ecosystems where acres neighboring my suburban and a conservation outcome that threatened and endangered species childhood home. A short scramble take refuge, there doesn’t seem to be over a stonewall and the sounds of a lack of need. The growing threat of the forest hushed the cacophony of development and the high property life in a family of five kids. White-tail values of coastal land makes conser- deer came close enough to rustle my vation outcomes challenging. But hair with their breath as I sat like a that’s the whole purpose of a cata- stone piled into the wall. If I was lyst—it makes the reaction happen, patient enough, shy wood ducks it gets the deal done. I look forward would come out to feed in the open to acting as a catalyst for conserva- water of the vernal pool. tion in this landscape and someday This land belonged to Miss hearing your story of becoming a Marshall—a family homestead since conservationist. v pre-Revolutionary War times, she welcomed neighbors to visit the land and explore. Miss Marshall shared with us her greatest desire to have her land turned into a wildlife Honorary Gifts preserve. She was a steward of this in memoriam land—she appreciated the intrinsic Hog Bay in Franklin (town boundary shown in red). Martha K. Dagg value of the land for non-human Anne Dean residents as well as for future human One landowner came Anne & Lyall Dean stewards. Sadly, at the time of her Joan Crothers death, there were no legal documents to FBC with the idea to Shepard Brown in place to require this action by her conserve, and from there David Sanderson heirs. Within a year, they subdivided Greer Gilka the project has grown to Liz Weaver her land at maximum density and multiple landowners and Louisa Worthington Rogers put it on the market. George & Doris Anne “Dodie” It was a crushing blow to my multiple successful grant Younger brother, myself, and all the young awards. neighborhood naturalists. Frustra- IN HONOR tions grew when the subdivision satisfied everyone’s goals. I am so Polly Ceckler survey stakes continually relocated thankful for having the legal mecha- Blake Ewing & Beth Mortimer themselves during the night, until nisms in existence that allowed Benita McMullen one day the steady thumping of a that outcome to happen and for Lee & Eleanor Fairbanks Phil Reville fence post-pounder thwarted our the opportunity to work for a land Deborah Kooperstein & Jacqui LoFaro explorations and denied our access trust and catalyze conservation permanently. outcomes. 6 New Staff at FBC I’m excited to an- tidal waterfowl and wading bird nounce the newest habitat through donated conserva- Frenchman Bay addition to FBCs tion easements and a grant from the Conservancy talented team— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She Kat Deely! Kat is is also working on a new trail on Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s our Land Protec- our recently acquired Abraham’s mission is to conserve distinctive tion Manager, and Woods Preserve, generously donated aaron dority ecosystems, lands, and waters she joined us in by Alan Hershey in Eastbrook and for the benefit of all, from the early September, Franklin, and on preparing the Union River and Frenchman Bay having worked most recently with Jordan Homestead in Ellsworth for watersheds east to the Hancock Westchester Land Trust in New a grand opening in 2019. v County line. York, and Kestrel Land Trust in Mas- sachusetts before that. We’re thrilled Board of Directors that she has joined us at FBC. In Lisa Heyward, President her prior positions, Kat focused on Steve Weber, Vice President land acquisitions intended for pub- Randy Ewins, Treasurer lic use, managing complex projects Frank Dorsey, Secretary from strategic identification through Mark Berry acquisition and into the development Mary Brennan of public access. Kat also worked for Lee Fairbanks the Student Conservation Associa- Stephen Gurin tion managing their field leader and Mac Hunter national crew programs, traveling Paul Parshley around the United States leading Ken Perrin and training trail building teams Tricia Rouleau in places like Mt. Rainier National Henry Sharpe Park, Washington; Joshua Tree Iris Simon National Park, California; Hawaii Benjamin Speed Volcano National Park, Hawaii; and Fred Stocking George Washington and Jefferson y Stephen Weber

National Forests, Virginia. With her t d eel Staff o ka depth of stewardship, land acquisi- t Aaron Dority, Executive Director tion, and community conservation p ho Kat Deely, Land Protection Manager experience, Kat is a great fit with Kat Deely, FBC’s new Land Protection Manager. Austin Schuver, Community Frenchman Bay Conservancy! Engagement Coordinator This position is made possible Thomasina DiBiase, Office Manager through your generous support, Please join me in welcoming Kat Deely and Development Assistant and we couldn’t do this vital work to Frenchman Bay Conservancy! without you. This addition of Kat’s For more information on Frenchman position to our staff is a direct result Bay Conservancy, please visit our Eileen Bader Hall was FBC’s Land office at Tidal Falls, or contact us by of our successful Revitalize Tidal mail, phone, or e-mail: Falls Preserve capital campaign, Protection Manager until spring of this and an operating endowment that is year. Having worked with FBC for over Frenchman Bay Conservancy now over $1 million. We can begin three years, Eileen took a position with PO Box 150 Hancock, Maine 04640 to draw a conservative return from The Nature Conservancy in Maine, this endowment, providing much- where she is now their Watershed (207) 422-2328 needed annual operating support so Restoration Specialist, helping to protect [email protected] that we can conserve and steward vital habitat for species including wild www.frenchmanbay.org more land. Atlantic salmon. Since early September, Kat has taken the lead on our land acquisi- tion projects on Hog Bay in Franklin, where we are protecting high value Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit #76 Bangor, ME 04401 PO Box 150 Hancock, Maine 04640

Subscribe to FBC’s Monthly E-Newsletter FBC has a monthly e-newsletter, which includes updates on recent and upcoming news, events, and activities. It is easy to subscribe via the sign-up box in the footer of our website, or email Austin Schuver at [email protected].

Business Memberships Thanks to the following businesses for helping protect the lands we love. Gold Bar Harbor Bank & Trust John Edwards Market Silver Darling’s Auto Mall Dennis J. King Masonry Hammond Lumber Peacock Builders RM Davis Bronze Join us TODAY! Atlantic Art Glass Your membership and donations help us protect and conserve the Camden National Bank character at this very special region. We welcome donations of all levels. Members receive our bi-annual newsletter, special event Fogtown Brewing Company invitations, and more. Furbush-Roberts Printing Hawkes & Quirk Blue Heron Society Herrick & Salsbury Please consider joining the Blue Heron Society with a gift of $1000 Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home or more each year for general operating support. You can also support the Conservancy through a bequest. Remember us in your will or explore other estate planning options with your lawyer. Contact Aaron Dority for more information. 8