Library Use Only JUNE 1988 ■nr Maine Legacy Storehouse The Nature Conservancy

Donnell Pond BEHIND THE SCENES: Chapter helps state protect Donnell Pond

“Have you been there?” homesites, this agreeable state of affairs state, Patten, and the timber company “You should go. It’s beautiful!” could not last forever. A year ago, the Prentiss and Carlisle (the current land­ “You know, somebody ought to do “open to the public” illusion dissolved owners), had reached an impasse: price. something to protect this place; it would abruptly when the Patten Corporation They were still several million dollars apart be a shame if anything ever happened to it.” announced its intent to buy 1,500 acres with no foreseeable hope of narrowing the Donnell Pond was one of those places around Donnell Pond and divide it up into gap. Patten wished to make a profit by buy­ everyone talked about. 10-acre cottage lots. ing and reselling the land. The state, which For more than 50 years, the federal and Public outcry was loud and long. For had tried the year before to buy the state governments discussed protecting many, Donnell Pond is one of Maine’s property from Prentiss and Carlisle at less Donnell Pond. Unfortunately, all of the treasures. Faced with its imminent loss, than half of Patten’s asking price, was plans to make the land public never worked people made their distress clearly heard. unwilling and unable to raise its offer. After out. Still, the area did not seem to be ter­ The Maine Chapter received many letters negotiations had fallen apart twice, the ribly threatened; as long as anyone could and calls from members asking us to help Bureau of Public Lands asked the Con­ remember, people had been coming to en­ save the pond. servancy to bring a fresh perspective to the joy the wild ponds and mountains with the The state also heard its citizens, and situation by acting as intermediary. tacit approval of the private landowners. approached the company in a renewed to page two Given the exponential increase in the attempt to buy the land and head off the demand—and price—of prime lakefront development. But by the end of 1987, the MAINE STATE LIBRARY JUN 2 1 1988 mountains, Tunk Lake, and the major cerned with Donnell Pond, and also began points of access to the entirejegion. If these contacting landowners and others with Donnell Pond lands were left unprotected, it was entirely interest in the adjacent lands. The Con­ from page one possible that we could succeed at saving servancy was already working with Dia­ Donnell Pond, only to lose the near- mond Occidental, the owners of the Back to the drawing board wilderness that made it so special. 5,280-acre Black Mountain tract. Several As we looked into the problem, it became Looked at from this perspective, the months earlier, the company had decided immediately apparent that the Donnell problem seemed no smaller, but the to dispose of its landholdings throughout Pond land was just the beginning. This number of options available increased the country, und had offered TNC the 1,500-acre tract was indeed the keystone; dramatically. Associate director Kent chance to bid on tracts of particular if it was closed off to public, access to the Wommack set to work devising a protec­ interest. pond’s nine miles of beaches and its quiet, tion scheme that would be agreeable and At this stage, Kent and Mason were in wild beauty would be lost. But the Donnell beneficial to all parties—especially to the contact daily, sometimes hourly, with the Pond property was only one piece of the people of Maine. Bureau of Public Lands’ negotiating team, near-wilderness area—the adjoining lands Kent and Chapter executive director bureau director Ed Meadows and his included Black, Caribou and Catherine Mason Morfit met with the key players con­ assistant Tom Doak. Ed and Tom,

April 27, 1988

Mason Morfit Executive Director The Nature Conservancy 122 Main Street Topsham, Maine 04086

Dear Mason,

Thank you for your efforts to assist the State in acquiring the truly outstanding parcel of land around Donnell Pond and Tunk Lake. I know that you and Kent Wommack personally assisted the parties involved in working through the many difficult issues that stood in the way of reaching an agreement.

I also want to thank you for your willingness to commit your staff's time and energy, along with the resources of The Nature Conservancy, to make the acquisition possible. It is clear that the transactions would not have been possible without the help of the Conservancy.

The people of the State of Maine truly owe The Nature Conservancy a debt of gratitude. The preservation of Maine’s precious resources have been greatly enhanced by your work. I hope we can continue to work together to ensure that the Maine we all know and love is maintained for the enjoyment of future generations. Please share my thanks and appreciation for a job well done with the other members of your organization.

I have enclosed the photographs taken prior to the news conference on April 6. Again, many thanks for all your help. “This acquisition is an outstand­ ing example of what can be ac­ complished when the state ap­ proaches land conservation with a clear vision and determination.” JRM/mpm

Associate Director cc: Frank Boren, President Kent Wommack The Nature Conservancy

Sherry Huber, Chair Maine Chapter Trustees

Maine Legacy, June 1988—2 supported by Department of Conservation value. The Bureau of Public Lands will Commissioner Robert LaBonta and trade 12,000 acres of its forestland else­ Governor John McKernan, made Donnell where in the state and pay $1.4 million for Pond their first priority. They devoted a tre­ the properties. Since money from the mendous amount of personal energy and $35 million public lands bond issue will not time to keeping the negotiations alive and be available in time, the funds will come finding the means to make the deal become from the BPL’s normal acquisition account. a reality. The land purchase bill was sponsored by After months of meetings, dozens of draft Senator Tom Perkins, Senator Ron Usher, proposals, and lots of phone calls, travel Representative Frank Farren, and Repre­ miles and 16-hour days, separate purchase sentative Paul Jacques. It was approved contracts for each tract were signed within overwhelmingly by the Legislature and hours of each other. Brought together at signed into law by the Governor on long last, all of the interested parties learned April 28. for the first time that they were part of a The announcement that Donnell Pond much bigger picture. was safe was greeted with great public ac­ Having started with the goal of resolv­ claim and celebration. All parties involved □ acquisition ing the fate of 1,500 acres at Donnell Pond, were praised; even the much-castigated Pat­ □ easement Ed, Tom, Kent and Mason were now ready ten Corporation received words of praise to help announce a deal that would allow for its change of heart. Once again, as with the state to acquire an area nearly five times Big Reed Pond, the net result of combin­ Putting the puzzle together larger. ing public and private resources was suc­ Taking each tract separately, the deal sorts (For a closer look, please see Kent’s cess far greater than any individual effort out this way: journal on page four) could have accomplished. 1. Donnell Pond Acquisition: (1,460 acres) After all the tension and demands of Includes eight miles of unspoiled shoreline on Complicated to arrange, hard to negotiating the deal, and the excitement Donnell Pond with its two popular beaches, and explain, easy to celebrate and pride of announcing the news have the summit of Schoodic Mountain. Acquired Governor McKernan, speaking at the passed, there remains the quiet, soul­ from Prentiss and Carlisle in trade for 10,500 press conference held to announce the satisfying knowledge that one more of our acres of BPL forestlands. agreement, said it best: “Quite literally, this state’s special places belongs to Maine 2. Donnell Pond Easement: (344 acres) The is a gem of a deal for the State of Maine. people forever. It’s a good feeling to share. state will hold a conservation easement with We’ve acquired some incredibly valuable by Ruth Ann Hill strict setbacks on this parcel, ensuring protec­ tion of the shoreline. The Patten Corporation property; over 16 miles of undeveloped lake will be allowed to develop no more than eight frontage on the two lakes and numerous We’d like to say it again. Without you, single-family house lots on the land. ponds and thousands of acres of undevel­ Maine Chapter members, we would not be 3. Black Mountain Acquisition: (5,280 oped forest with enormous recreation writing about a success story. Without your sup­ acres) Includes Black and Caribou mountains, port, it would not have been possible. So please and scenic potential will be preserved for Shillalah, Wizard and Rainbow ponds. Also take your rightful places and join us in public use.” protects two main access points: Route 182 to celebrating a wonderful gift to the people of The lands to be protected by the state add the north, and Route 183 to the south. Acquired up to more than 7,200 acres. It will be ac­ Maine. from Diamond Occidental, which is liquidating quired for perhaps half of its estimated The staff its Maine timberland holdings, through a land trade and purchase. 4. Tunk Lake South Acquisition: (210 acres) Protects 15,000 feet of shoreline on Tunk Lake. Acquired from the Bryan family of Massachusetts, who originally acquired the land from Admiral Richard E. Byrd. For many years the Bryans, with the assistance of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, have worked to protect Tunk Lake. They consider the area, left in a natural state, to be a memorial to the late Admiral Byrd and Marie Byrd, and to their parents James T. and Hazel L. Bryan. 5. Tunk Lake North Acquisition/Ease- ment: 146 acres) Originally owned by Diamond Occidental, this property was traded to the state, which will trade it to the Bryans in exchange for the 210-acre Tunk Lake South parcel. The land will be protected by a conservation ease­ ment held by the Bureau of Public Lands. At the Donnell Pond announcement: (left) Maine Chapter Executive 6. Tunk Lake Existing Easement: (850 Director Mason Morfit, Bureau of Public Lands Director Ed acres) Owned by the Bryan family, this parcel Meadows, Governor John McKernan, Chapter Associate Director Kent already had a conservation easement held by Wommack, Conservation Commissioner Robert LaBonta. the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

3—Maine Legacy , June 1988 by Kent Wommack Donnell Pond Black Mountain Tunk Lake

Before From 1920 on, proposals made to protect region, addition to Acadia N.P. suggested. Informal discussions In 1983, the Bryan family donates an 850-acre 1986 inconclusive. conservation easement to state with help from Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

1986 Bureau of Public Lands (BPL) renews negotiations Fall with Prentiss and Carlisle (P&C) for 1,500 acres.

1987 In June, Patten Corporation signs purchase agree­ Diamond Occidental decides to liquidate 800,000 The Bryans contact TNC for help with Dia­ Summer — ment with P&C. Plans for 150 house lots. BPL acres in Maine. TNC negotiates review of holdings mond’s and family’s lands. Fall re-opens negotiations with Patten. Talks break down nationwide. twice over price.

December Talks between state and Patten collapse. Still TNC reviews possible Diamond acquisitions with Conservationist Charles Fitzgerald buys option several million dollars apart. state. Idea of a major Donnell Pond, Black Mt., on selected Diamond lands, including Tunk Tunk Lake acquisition explored. parcel.

1988 Legislative leaders urge Patten back to negoti­ 23: TNC submits 1st bid on 5,287 acres to 28: Fitzgerald unable to exercise option. Land February ating table. Diamond on BPL's behalf. goes back on market.

March 2: At BPL’s request, TNC meets with Patten. 4: Through TNC, Bryans offer to sell 200 acres and 3 miles of shorefront to state at bargain price.

7: Diamond rejects bid.

8: Limited development concept achieves break­ 9: BPL re-assesses land to determine fair-market through in talks. value.

10: Parties brought within $1/2 million by using 11: State agrees to Bryan offer, pending out­ exchange lands. come of Donnell/Black Mt. negotiations.

14: Negotiations continue between TNC, state, and Diamond.

15: Exchange parcels identified; values agreed 17: Bryans and state agree to submit joint bid upon. on Diamond’s Tunk land.

21: Details worked out, purchase price set. 21: TNC submits 2nd offer for BPL purchase.

22: P&C approves acquisition proposal.

23: Governor approves acquisition proposal.

24-31: Legal documents, conservation easement 25: Diamond accepts offer. 26: TNC, state, meet with Bryans in Florida, drafted and reviewed. reach agreement on 356-acre purchase and easement.

28: Last minute hitch on timing of purchase over­ come by Attorney General's office.

April 1: Purchase contract signed on Donnell Pond. 1: Purchase contract signed on Diamond's Black Mountain and Tunk Lake parcels.

4: Key legislative leaders briefed on state's proposed acquisition of 7,200 acres at Donnell Pond, Black Mountain and Tunk Lake. Legislative sponsors identified.

6: Press conference to announce acquisition held in State House.

15: Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approves acquisition.

20: Maine Legislature approves acquisition in closing hours of regular session. Ruth Ann Hill unspoiled. and The that to knolls An

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A WINDOW of sail”: boats of the island’s fishermen (who and there burnt howses and kilet catell.” now numbered 13 year-round) and visitors They later returned, taking one sloop and kill­ TO THE PAST. who stopped in to trade fish, furs and other ing one person. goods. Damariscove’s owner, Captain Richard o the Abnakis it was Aquahega, a Damariscove easily qualifies as Maine’s Patishall, was killed that same year. An In­ place of marking or landing place. earliest permanent European settlement. The dian raiding party caught him in Pemaquid Every spring, they came out from importance of the settlement was emphasized aboard his sloop, beheading his corpse as befit­ the mainland to fish, collect duck by John Pory, Secretary to the Governor and ted an honored enemy. His body, along with gull eggs, and enjoy the ease of Council of Virginia, who reported in 1622 that of his dog, were said to have fetched up r2’ summer. that there was after the Plymouth and Wessa- on the island’s shores. From that day, By the early 1600s, European explorers had gusset colonies, “a third in Canada at islanders have reported the nocturnal wander­ discovered abundant cod in the waters near Damerill’s Cove.” ings of the ghostly headless captain, who Damariscove. Captain George Popham wrote Surfeited with cod, supplied regularly strides the island in the company of his equally of cod that were “bigger and larger fyshe than through trade with Europe and the natives, ethereal dog. thay wch coms from the bancke of the New and provided with gardens and some stock, The fishermen never completely abandoned Found Land.” including hogs that were fed on fish refuse, Damariscove. They returned with their fam­ The island was a perfect base for the cod the residents of ‘‘Damarils Iles’ ’ were doing ilies during lulls in the fighting and successful­ fishing operation of the time. Its harbor was considerably better than the new arrivals to ly defended their island on several occasions. ideal for the stocky 17th century fish boats, Plymouth, some 150 sea-miles to the south. These people were a tenacious lot indeed; a sheltering them from nearly all winds. The Threatened with starvation after the first long contemporary stated in 1721 that the only boats sailed to Damariscove every spring, and winter, the Pilgrim settlers sent Edward house remaining between Georgetown and returned to Europe loaded with dried salt cod Winslow to Damariscove for help. He re­ Pemaquid was on Damariscove. in the fall. The atmosphere of the harbor corded in his memoir: “It was about the end About 1725 the heirs of Captain Patishall, would have been redolent with fish: fish being of May 1622, at which time our store of vic­ including Paul Revere’s mother, divided the gutted and split on the wharves; fish drying tuals was wholly spent, having lived long island into eight lots bounded by stone walls. on wooden racks (flakes) set on every clear before with bare and short allowance.” At They apparently did not build on the separate surface around the harbor; fish layered with Damariscove, he found “kind entertainment lots, but kept a central farm. They fished and salt and stacked where convenient; and nice, and good respect with a willingness to supply farmed much like their predecessors. full barrels of cod livers, left to quietly rot our wants and would not take any bills for With the defeat of the French in 1759, the and release their oil. same but did what they could freely.” wars were finally over. The good times The Damariscove fishermen had the time returned on a wave of new settlers from the and inclination to be festive. A visitor on his south. Life was prosperous, especially for way to the Plymouth Colony in 1622 related fishermen and traders. David Knight, who that they “had set up a may pole and weare maintained homes in'Pemaquid and on Dam­ very mery.” In 1645, a complaint was filed ariscove, had bought the island four years against the person held responsible for mak­ earlier. He and his family raised sheep and ing a ship’s crew “so drunke for severall daies crops on the island until the Revolutionary together that his men could not go to sea in War forced them to return to the mainland. the prime tyme of fishing.” Throughout most of the war, the British The Puritans brought law and order—and kept the Maine coast firmly in their grip; taxes—to Damariscove in 1671; they even British privateers ranged up and down the licensed a “house of public entertainment,” coast, burning buildings, shooting cattle, and In the 17th century, Damariscove’s harbor which was allowed “to retayle beere, wyne confiscating provisions. In 1775, Captain would have looked much like this fishing and liquors.” Henry Mowatt’s men paused to burn David station. However, the mantle of official colonial Knight’s house and collect his 78 sheep and government could not protect the islanders three hogs before they sailed on to burn When the Europeans first came to Damar­ from the dangers of life in 17th century New Falmouth (now Portland). iscove, it was largely covered with evergreen England. Living on an island did offer some Peace came in 1790, and by 1800 there were trees. They undoubtably cleared an area near safety, but the Damariscove fishermen had 40 people on Damariscove. The island families the harbor for their flakes and sheds, as well no hope of aid in case of attack. raised sheep, along with a few pigs, cattle and as for their camps and gardens. Legend has In early 1676, King Phillip’s War (the domestic fowl. They also fished, clammed, that wild roses were brought to the island French and Indian War) came to Damaris­ gathered wild berries, and kept gardens. Ten by French traders and planted by the cove. The coastal Indian tribes attacked the years later, 19 people were living on the fishermen. English villages of Sheepscot, Damariscotta, island—evidently keeping close company in In 1608, Sir Humphrey Damerill, a seaman Arrowsic, Pemaquid, and Newagen. Some just two dwellings. and agent for Sir Fernandino Gorges, the 300 settlers fled from their burning homes Over the years, the islanders had cleared British nobleman who controlled most of to the island. Finding insufficient shelter and land for their fish curing operations, houses Maine at the time, is believed to have fished little peace of mind, the refugees eventually and pastures. Although contemporary ac­ the Damariscove area and established a trading made their way farther south. counts are scanty, later historians report that post on the island. People took to calling the For more than 75 years, the wars severely during this period the island still appeared to island Damerill’s Cove. disrupted life along the coast of Maine. In be “...covered by noble evergreen trees.” Less than 20 years after the first boatload 1677, there were apparently some stoics (or After the Revolutionary War ended, newly of cod was sent back to England, Damariscove optimists) still on Damariscove, for the In­ freed American shipping blossomed, threaten­ was a bustling harbor filled with “thirty ships dians reportedly ‘ ‘went downe to damerscoue ing trade routes traditionally held by the Fishing schooners in the harbor, around 1895, from a tourist pamphlet.

Mowing in the pond field.

The new Coast Guard Life Saving Station and its crew in 1896.

Lyman Poole and companion, in front of the White House. Damariscove Island, in its entirety, was named a National Historic Land­ mark in 1978.

Relaxing near the wharf.

“It is not too much to affirm that Damariscove was, from 1608, let us say, to about 1625, the chief maritime port of New England. Here was the rendezvous for English, French and Dutch ships crossing the Atlantic, and for trade between Damariscove and New Netherland as well as Virginia to the south.”

CHARLES BOLTON The Real Founders of New England

The island Jarm in 1916. The Farmhouse is the foreground, with the New Barn and White House (the island school) in the rear. The Yellow House, an outbuilding, is barely visible next Photographs courtesy of Dr. Alaric Faulkner and Gretchen Faulkner, University of Maine Anthropology Department. to the bam. A window to astonished to find themselves accosted by an the natural world. irate muskrat awakened by their footfalls. Much to the surprise and interest of ecologists, Damariscove’s vegetation has not nder the Conservancy’s protec­ reverted to forest since the pastures were aban­ tion, Wood End has become a doned. Although there is one clump of trees haven for a thriving breeding near the harbor, the rest of the island is colony of common eiders. Each blanketed with shrubs and grasses, and shows spring more than 1,000 pairs no sign yet of becoming “covered by noble return to nest here; by mid­ evergreens.” In fact, although a few strug­ summer squadrons of mother gling saplings of birch, aspen and cherry can eiders and their chicks cruise be found, there is not a single spruce or fir through the crashing surf. on the island. Common eider populations have re­ Bayberry, steeplebush and clover are among bounded remarkably in recent years, but these the most common plants, but botanists have beautiful sea ducks still find relatively few safe found more than 300 species on the island. nesting islands in Maine. The Damariscove Wild roses grow profusely in the wet colony is one of the largest in the United meadows and along the old stone walls. Advice to Company States. Scattered cranberry bogs give the island a about to make a Visit. reddish hue in late summer. Typical coastal tundra vegetation, including fragile lichens and mosses, grows on the dry, exposed granite ledges. Damariscove is an ideal laboratory for scien­ tific studies. Biologists curious about the

Common eiders DKMAfUSCCWC 15LAHD

More than 150 species of birds have been spotted on Damariscove. Black guillemots, herring gulls, and double-crested cormorants ’Poa'"- ’TV'4. VwAkv p also nest on Wood End. Osprey are frequently seen fishing just offshore. The island’s freshwater pond, a rare resource on coastal Muskrat islands, attracts a wide variety of sea birds in summer and migratory land birds in special habits and adaptations of island animals fall. Snowy owls regularly winter on have studied the muskrats, freshwater pond Damariscove. fish, and nesting seabirds. Botanists have Damariscove is also home to a healthy looked into the persistence of shrubs and population of muskrats that have adapted suc­ grasses on the island, finding and counting cessfully to life in a largely non-aquatic, upland every baby tree hiding in the dense brush. For habitat. Their runs criss-cross the fields the past three years, the island’s caretakers A fascinating account of life on Damar­ everywhere. And, although the muskrats are have taken rain and fog samples for a statewide iscove at the time of the First World War, nocturnal, visitors may occasionally be study of acid precipitation. as seen through the eyes of Alberta Poole, one of the island’s children, can be found in the book Coming of Age on Damariscove Island, Maine by Carl R. Griffin and Alaric Faulkner (1980: Northeast Folklore, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469).

Special thanks to Dr. Alaric Faulkner and Gretchen Faulkner of the University of Maine for their generous loan of historic photographs from their research collection, and for their continuing interest in and concern for Damariscove Island.

The southern shore STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Workshop a success not only knows the island extremely well, Start by gathering a group of people who he is already familiar with the responsi­ share an interest in natural lands; stir in bilities of the position; Ron is taking over plenty of expert information and instruc­ the job from his grandson, Doug Dodge, tion; sprinkle with sunshine and spring who was caretaker in 1987. Memorial gifts breezes; add plenty of good food; season Gifts in memory of the following with energy and enthusiasm; and mix well. individuals have been received by the It’s a recipe that can’t go wrong, as we dis­ Maine Chapter: covered at this year’s Stewardship Work­ Dr. Mary E. (Libby) Bogel shop held at the Chewonki Foundation in Mary Hale Chase Wiscasset. William Crosby Nearly 70 people participated in the day’s

John M. Dudley Julie Lawrence E. Hanson activities, which were designed to provide

Edward H. Harrigan practical solutions to stewardship prob­ Henderson Henry S. Huntington, III lems. Participants represented a cross­ Keith Huntley section of the private conservation com­ Robert Patterson munity, including eight TNC preserves, Dr. David F. Trzenska 11 land trust/private landholding groups, Volunteers Keith Neunzig, Lissa Stephen E. O’Reilly and four other environmental organiza­ Widoff, Lois Winter, Meg Scheid, Judy Eva J. Eustis Hazen, Dennis Myrshall, Jon Archer, Morrill Walker tions. Will Zell, Paul Wilson, Tony French, Dr. Timothy A. Walsh While we were delighted by the turnout, and John Shroyer take a break after we couldn’t help but notice that our own Corporate memberships loading Terry Johnson’s barge with preserve stewards were very much in the Any gift of $100 or’more qualifies a debris from Great Duck Island. business as a corporate member of the minority. If you have any suggestions about location, time of year, topics to be Maine Chapter. We are pleased to have Third time’s a charm received support from the following, and discussed—we would love to hear your Clear skies, calm seas, and light wind welcome them as members of the Chapter. ideas. We’d like you to come; the steward­ combined to produce ideal conditions for Bath Iron Works ship workshop is intended to meet your Blue Rock Industries needs. the third scheduled attempt at a “burn- DeLorme Mapping Company and barge-off’ on Great Duck Island. A Johnson &. Johnson dozen able-bodied volunteers lugged Seven Islands Land Company Introducing the new lumber, tended trash fires, and became in­ summer staff National Corporate Associates timately familiar with a mountain of trash. C.D. Smith will be returning from Rewards were commensurate with the tre­ National Corporate Associate dues Florida for another summer as caretaker mendous effort expended; a debris-free begin at $1,000 and are split between the on Damariscove Island Preserve. C.D.’s island and the enchantment of petrel song. national office and appropriate state familiarity with the island and its visitors, offices. his carpentry and technical skills, not to Champion International mention his winning smile, will be especial­ Field trips sold out! L.L. Bean, Inc. ly valuable. He will be joined by Sandy We have had a remarkable response to Organizational support McGee, also of Florida. Sandy’s experience this year’s field trip program; by the time We welcome the following organizations as a naturalist and park ranger will serve you read this newsletter it is likely that all as members of the Maine Chapter. her well on Damariscove. trips will be filled. Abnaki Ski &. Outing Club Nancy B. Chandler will be the Con­ We do accept names to be placed on a Penobscot County Conservation Association servancy’s plover/tern warden on Seawall waiting list, in the event of cancellations. Small Point Association Beach, working in coordination with However, the waiting list is already FULL New life members Maine Audubon Society, Bates College, for the trips to Great Wass Island and Brier Any gift of $ 1,000 or more to the Maine and the Small Point Association. Nancy Island, and we cannot accept any more Chapter Land Preservation Fund provides brings to the job a diverse educational names for these trips. a life membership for the donor and spouse background in primate behavior, insect Jeanne Desjardins has done a tremen­ in the Maine Chapter of The N ature Con­ ecology, environmental education, as well dous job of handling the deluge of registra­ servancy. All such gifts furnish a long-term as field ornithology. She has lived in Small tions and has answered more than the source of support to help save land here Point for 11 years and is an active volunteer usual number of phone calls. in Maine. in the community, serving as a member of You can make her job easier. Please don’t We are pleased to welcome as new life the Phippsburg Conservation Commission send in your check and registration form; members: and Phippsburg Land Trust. call first to see if there is room on the P. James Barthe Ronald Tucker, a long-time Jonesport waiting list. Thanks for your help—and Richard H. Patten resident and avid outdoorsman, has been especially for sharing our interest in explor­ Mr. & Mrs. Charles T. Soltesz hired as Great Wass Island caretaker. Ron ing Maine’s finest!

5—Maine Legacy, June 1988 SCIENCE

Volunteer biological monitors willingness to learn, and a commitment of Status and distribution of Carex oronen- and field research assistants 3-5 days for the next few years is more sis, Orono Sedge (second year of two-year needed. important. study) Interested? Let us know your address and Alison Dibble and Christopher Campbell, As part of its strategic plan for the next telephone number and we will send you PhD decade, the Conservancy has set a goal of information describing the nature and Found only along the Penobscot River, systematically tracking the status of all location of current and potential projects, Orono sedge is Maine’s only endemic plant globally endangered or threatened and a questionnaire to help us match you and a candidate for listing as a federal elements in each state. Maine has 20 such to the best project. Contact Barbara endangered species. Following their elements of diversity, ranging from the Vickery or John Albright at the Chapter remarkable success in locating new popula­ famous—piping plover, bald eagle, and office, 729-5181. tions between Bangor and Medway last Furbish lousewort—to the obscure—a summer, Alison Dibble and Dr. Campbell freshwater mussel, a moth, a butterfly, and will attempt to further define the range of several sedges. this mystery sedge and determine its true For years, the Conservancy has relied on Research Contracts awarded taxonomic identity and lineage. a legion of volunteer preserve stewards and Population Biology of Carex easement monitors. Usually their responsi­ polymorpha Lichens as indicators of old-growth bilities have focused on human use and Lisa A. Standley, PhD and Judith L. forests (final year of three-year study) access, legal obligations, and the potential Dudley Steven B. Selva, PhD impact of surrounding land use. Now we Carex polymorpha, or variable sedge, is a So far Dr. Selva has identified 50 sus­ need monitors who can help at a number globally rare woodland sedge species which pected old-growth forest indicator species occurs at just four sites in two towns in of lichens. In this final year of his study, Maine. Remarkably little is known about he will be looking at the lichens of dis­ the ecology and life history of this rarity turbed and second-growth forests in currently under consideration for federal northern Maine to compare their lichen listing. Dr. Standley and Ms. Dudley will flora with that of the old-growth stands be investigating the sedge reproductive already sampled. systems and seed dispersal, germination and establishment to provide a scientific basis for the development of protection Endangered species bill and management strategies. passes Legislature A bill strengthening the state’s en­ Establishing a Monitoring Program for dangered species law will offer much Cypripedium arietinum greater protection to 23 of Maine’s most Susan C. Hayward threatened and endangered animals. Ram’s head lady’s slipper, Cypripedium Before this legislation, the Department of arietinum, is another species rare In search of... Inland Fisheries could only act after species throughout its range and found at only had been harmed. The new bill addresses three sites in Maine. Ms. Hayward will be of sites with long-term monitoring of some the absolutely vital need to protect these studying the two larger populations, gath­ of the state’s rarest species and natural species before they can be harmed. ering information that will help conserva­ communities. Areas to be monitored in­ The new bill will: tion managers gauge the success of efforts clude both established Conservancy pre­ • allow the commissioner of IF&W to to protect the plants and their habitats. serves and sites where the Conservancy is identify areas essential to endangered and working cooperatively with private land­ Investigation of potential methods of threatened species, and to develop manage­ owners or state agencies. controlling shrub encroachment at ment guidelines; How can you help? We need people to: Little Crystal Fen • prohibit state agencies, municipalities, • assist with the annual or biennial col­ Sally C. Rooney and Christopher Camp­ and other regulatory agencies from issuing lection of data on the rare species popula­ bell, PhD permits for developments that would tion or natural community and to monitor Last year’s research conducted at Little significantly alter the species’ habitats; the site between data collection visits to Crystal Fen by George Jacobson et al. • permit the attorney general, through keep us informed of any problems, such as demonstrated that this remarkable area the courts, to stop activities that threaten vandalism or loss of plot markers; has experienced a dramatic and rapid rare wildlife. • be an on-call field assistant for various increase of shrub and tree cover in the last The Maine Audubon Society was the research projects ranging from counting 50 years. The invasion of woody plants primary mover among Maine’s conserva­ sedge stems and collecting plant material now threatens populations of several tion organizations in getting this legislation to setting spider traps and putting out bait extremely rare plants that inhabit the open passed. for moths. sedge mat. Methods of controlling and Some field experience and biological removing woody vegetation without dam­ background would be helpful, but interest, aging the fragile fen area will be explored.

Maine Legacy, June 1988—6 CHAPTER BUSINESS to be voted at the Annual Meeting

In recent years, changes in policy and pro­ man (in order of seniority on the Board), Treasurer, cedures have occurred both within the national Secretary. Nature Conservancy and at the Maine Section 3, Chapter Staff. Deleted. (Refers to staff Chapter. A special committee of the Maine duties now enumerated in operating manuals.) Chapter Trustees, appointed by Chairperson Section 7, Treasurer. Deletes several specific Sherry Huber, has drafted revised Chapter authorizations for Chapter Treasurer, as Chapter accounts are now managed by National Office. Bylaws to reflect these changes and to bring the Article VII, Contracts and Obligations. Deleted, Ask, and ye shall receive. We are up to our Chapter’s Bylaws into conformance with as policies and procedures now specified in operating gunwales in boat names. Boat names that national policies and procedures. manuals. are lyrical, humorous, appropriate, Changes in the Chapter Bylaws must be Article VII (Formerly Article VIII), Fiscal Year. thoughtful—and a few that are punnier than approved by the membership at the Annual Changes Chapter fiscal year from calendar year to Meeting. The following is a summary of pro­ that of The Nature Conservancy (recently changed our own warped contributions. After inten­ posed substantive changes. Full copies of the to July 1 - June 30). sive consultation, we have reached a con­ current and revised Bylaws are available for Former Article IX, Audit. Deleted, as audits now sensus. Hereafter, the Marblehead dory will inspection at the Chapter offices, will be sent performed by National Office. Article VIII (Formerly Article X), Conduct of be known as Sir Humphrey Damerill (founder to any member on request, and will be available Meetings. Unchanged. of Damariscove Island); the outboard as at the Annual Meeting prior to the vote on the Article IX (Formerly XI), Amendments. Steward Ship. proposed revisions. Unchanged. The winners will be contacted and given Article I, Name and Offices. Unchanged. Article II, Purposes. References purposes their choice of a TNC t-shirt or a copy of enumerated in Chapter Trustees Handbook rather than Trustee nominations Maine Forever. Thanks to everyone who Volunteers Handbook (now obsolete). entered! Article III, Territory, Membership, Dues. Elim­ The following new (or former) trustees have inates references to specific dues rates because of poten­ been nominated to the Chapter board. tial future changes. William W. Alcorn (Biddeford). President, Article IV, Annual Meetings, Nominations, Elec­ Wood Structures, Inc. Trustee, Maine Maritime tions, Special Meetings. Museum; Trustee, Landing School of Boat­ Section 2, Nominating Committee. Specifies building; Member, Sweetser Children’s Home that Nominating Committee shall be appointed by Building Committee. Harvard College, Yale Chairperson, subject to approval by full Board of School of Forestry, Harvard Graduate School Maine Legacy Trustees. Current Bylaws provide for appointment of Business Administration. of Nominating Committee by full Board. H. King Cummings (Stratton). Former Published six times yearly by the Maine Chapter Section 3, Nomination ofTrustees and Officers. of The Nature Conservancy, 122 Main Street, P.O. Specifies that consent of nominees to Board is Chairman, President and CEO, Guilford In­ Box 338, Topsham, Maine 04086; telephone required before names are presented for election. dustries and Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation; (207) 729-5181. Submissions of articles, illustra­ Section 8, Quorum. Redefines quorum of Board Chairman, Maine Community Founda­ tions and photographs are welcome; please address membership from current 7 to proposed 25 queries to Ruth Ann Hill, editor. tion, Carrabassett Valley Academy; Treasurer, Subscriptions to this newsletter are available to members. Western Mountains Corporation; Trustee, members. Membership dues are as follows: Life, Article V, Board ofTrustees Overseer or Governor, Colby College, $ 1,000 (one-time); Acorn, $100; Supporting, Section 1, Function and Composition. Changes Skowhegan School of Painting, Hurricane $50; Contributing, $25; Family, $ 15; Subscribing, number ofTrustees from current “the elective of­ Island Outward Bound School, Image Carpets $10. More than 12,000 members currently ficers and not less than 5 or more than 18 Trustees” support the Conservancy’s work in Maine. to proposed “not less than 10 nor more than 25 (Director). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Board of Trustees Trustees and elective officers.” Officers: Chairman: Sherry Huber, Falmouth; Section 6, Quorum. Changes quorum of Board Charles J. Micoleau (Portland). Partner, law Vice-chairs: Peter Corcoran, Seal Harbor and ofTrustees from current “not less than 5” to pro­ firm of Curtis, Thaxter, Stevens, Broder and Carol Wishcamper, Freeport; Treasurer: William posed “thirty percent of its members.” Micoleau. Former staff director, office of U.S. B. (Tony) Owens, M.D., Cape Elizabeth; Secre­ Section 8, Executive Committee. Changes cur­ Senator Edmund S. Muskie. Former Vice Presi­ tary: Donald Mairs, Oakland. Trustees: Linda Alverson, Oxbow; Michael rent composition from “the officers and two dent, Communications, The NutraSweet Com­ Trustees designated by the Board” to proposed “the Aube, Bangor; William D. Blair, Jr., Vinalhaven; pany. Director, Consolidated Hydro, Inc. George W. Cochrane, III, West Southport; officers and up to two Trustees recommended by Member, World Affairs Council of Maine. Malcolm Coulter, East Holden; Minnette Cum­ the Chairperson and approved by the full Board Former Trustee, Maine Chapter, The Nature mings, Portland; Elizabeth Donnan, Northeast ofTrustees.” Also specifies that notices of all regular Harbor; Louis Hilton, Greenville; Alan Hutchin­ meetings of the Committee shall be given to all other Conservancy. Bowdoin, George Hopkins, son, Bangor; Howard C. Johnson, Freeport; members of the Board and that, at all meetings of George Washington. Bodine Lamont, Falmouth; Cherie Mason, Sunset; the Committee, a quorum shall consist of “50 per­ Ralph Robins, York; Marilyn Moss Rockefeller, cent of the members of the Committee and no less Re-nominated trustees Camden; Douglas Smith, Dover-Foxcroft; David than three (3) people.” George W. Cochrane, III G. Stanley, Cumberland Foreside; Ellen Wells, Minnette Cummings Falmouth. Section 9, Annual Report and Audit. Eliminates Staff requirement that Chapter Annual Report include Elizabeth Donnan Louis Hilton Executive Director, J. Mason Morfit; Associate an audit of its accounts; states that management Director, Kent Wommack; Director of Science & and audit of Chapter accounts is the responsibil­ Officers Stewardship, Barbara St. John Vickery; Heritage ity of the National Office. Sherry F. Huber, Chair Program Director, John Albright; Assistant to the Section 12, Removal. Section deleted. Peter Corcoran, Vice-chair Director, Deborah Clark; Assistant Stewardship Director, Julie Henderson; Communications Coordi- Article VI, Officers. Carol A. Wishcamper, Vice-chair Section 1, Title and Number. Adds provision nator, Ruth Ann Hill; Heritage Program Data Dr. William B. (Tony) Owens, Treasurer Manager/Botanist, Amy Forrester; Heritage Pro­ that, in the event that any officer is unable to Donald F. Mairs, Secretary gram Community Ecologist, Lissa Widoff; Adminis­ discharge his/her duties, those duties shall be as­ trative Assistant, Jeanne Desjardins; Membership sumed by the following in this order: Vice Chair­ Secretary, Barbara Clark; Secretary, Karen Douglass.

7—Maine Legacy, June 1988 MAINE CHAPTER PEOPLE

I Thanks to... More generous donors of wish list items We are pleased to thank the following people for their thoughtful contributions of much needed items: Joe Gray, Jefferson, Maine (CB radio); Mr. Howard Hadriance, Kingston, New York (Casio Fx-11 scientific calculator); Jon Henderson, San Jose, California (Hewlett Packard 275 scientific calculator); Dr. Chapter membership hits Charles Kunkle, South Freeport, Maine new high Who do you know in Guam? (boat ladder). As a result of a highly successful new So that the sun may never set on the More volunteers! member recruitment campaign launched membership of the Maine Chapter, we are Thanks to everyone who responded to late last year, Maine Chapter membership offering one free copy of Maine Forever, the our call for preserve monitors and work­ has hit an all-time high. With the addition handsome guidebook to about 50 of our day volunteers. We couldn’t do it without of more than 1,800 new members in the preserves, to the first member who provides you. past six months, total Chapter member­ a gift membership to a resident of each of Special thanks go to another “regular” ship now stands at almost 12,600 the following U.S. territories. Oust send around the office. Bruce Amstutz of households. $10 along with the name and address of the Brunswick has completed a draft report Also, for the first time to our knowledge, recipient; we’ll do the rest.) nominating Great Wass Island as a Na­ Guam the Maine Chapter now has at least one American Samoa tional Natural Landmark. This is an member in each of the 50 states, plus the Baker, Howard and Jarvis islands honorary designation given by the Na­ District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Canton and Enderbury islands tional Park Service to outstanding natural Johnston Atoll Virgin Islands, and several foreign coun­ Kingman Reef areas with features of national significance. tries. Special thanks go to Mr. Holbrook Midway Islands Sincere thanks also go to Joan Acord of Wake Island Hawes, Mr. Lewis Smith and Dr. Lynn Caroline Islands Litchfield, who has been of tremendous Hodgson, who are our only members in Mariana Islands help in our latest fund-raising campaign. Marshall Islands Nevada, Puerto Rico and South Dakota, A computer wiz, J dan has processed lists respectively. A Maine product (as yet For those of you with friends and at home, enabling the Chapter to meet undetermined) will be sent to each of these relatives in faraway places, here’s your pressing deadlines. Joan is now retired but stalwart members of our “foreign legion,” chance to send a little bit of Maine to those spends a good deal of her time volunteer­ compliments of an anonymous donor. who are most literally “from away.” ing for various nonprofit organizations.

Maine Chapter Non profit Org The Nature Conservancy U S Postage 122 Main Street PAID SPECIAL The Nature Coniervancy P.O. Box 338 Maine Chapter INSERT: Topsham, ME 04086

Damariscove Island Preserve Maine State Library Do you migrate? State House Sta #6* This newsletter is sent bulk mail, which is Augusta ME 0*333 not forwarded. Please let us know your sum­ mer and winter addresses, and your schedule, and we will keep Maine chapter news com­ ing to your mailbox, wherever it may be.