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library Use Only Temcv M a in e * * I Spring 2001 TheNature Conservancy Migrations Merrymeeting Bay/ tel of ice, the geese leapfrog north in a River. When Neil found that the Con­ cycle alternating between rest and servancy was interested in conserving Lower Kennebec Estuary flight. Critical on their migration route his land, he dropped all other offers, White as the blocks of ice below, are areas where they can bulk up on including a proposal to develop a new the geese called back and forth, their foods that provide the necessary calo­ airstrip, and began exploring conser­ voices high-pitched and nasal. The ice, ries to complete the next stage of their vation options. breaking from the shoreline, joined a journey. Snow geese, while very com­ Because a portion of the land was frozen flotilla drifting with the river’s mon in some areas, are still a rare sight­ in the estate of Derril O. Lamb, current, flowing to the ocean. ing along Maine’s coast. founder of Marriner Lumber, selling Although this flock of snow geese the property was necessary for the fam­ his flock of Snow geese had could not know it, the Conservancy has ily, but having the property cleared and T come a long way on its spring spent the better part of the winter mak­ developed was not. As a tribute to migration, and still had a long way to ing sure they and many other species Derril Lamb, the estate and Marriner go. As they had cleared Casco Bay, the will enjoy a safe migration. Four new Lumber decided to work with the Con­ vast marshes of the Merrymeeting land protection projects in the Mer­ servancy. Bay/Lower Kennebec River Estuary rymeeting Bay/Lower Kennebec River The property abuts an existing had come into sight. After what may Estuary were completed since the geese Maine Department of Inland Fisher­ have been non stop flight from Vir­ headed south last fall. These acquisi­ ies and Wildlife Management Area ginia, the geese would have had only tions will help ensure that these lands and has over 4,625 feet of water front­ one goal - the grains of wild rice abun­ and waters - used by waterfowl and age. Marriner Lumber joins the many dant along the estuary’s shore. other species for millennia - will con­ businesses working through the Con­ Snow geese have a long passage tinue to provide sustenance and shel­ servancy to protect the woods and from their wintering grounds in the ter. waters that make Maine a special place. South to their Arctic breeding PO RK P O IN T grounds. As the marshes and estuar­ Working with Neil Lamb, President ABAGADSASSET RIVER ies of New England shed their man­ of Marriner Lumber, the Brunswick- Another tract of conservation land based lumber on the Abagadasset River has been ac­ retailer, the quired by the Lriends of Merrymeet­ Conservancy ing Bay with the help of the Conser­ protected ov­ vancy and another conservation er 180 con­ minded landowner. tiguous acres The shores of the Abagadasset River in two tracts stretching Continued on page two from Pork Point on M errym eet­ In this issue ing Bay west­ Values of an Estuary..................2 erly to the Saco River.................................. 5 Abagadasset Mount Agamenticus...............6 - 7 ROSS GEREDIEN Field Trips............................ 9 -10 MAY 9 9 The Values shores of the islands of Georgetown quent fish kills where huge schools of of an Estuary and Arrowisc and the Phippsburg pen­ menhaden would deplete the oxygen insula. Offshoots of the Kennebec in the water and die-off. Islands in he Merrymeeting Bay/Lower Ken­ River, including the Back and Sasanoa Merrymeeting Bay supported thriving T nebec River Estuary is the most Rivers make up a large part of this now eagle nesting colonies much greater important waterfowl concentration brackish tidal system. The Kennebec than today’s scattered nesting sites. area in New England. It is rivaled on River terminates at its confluence with Development pressures in this area the East Coast only by Chesapeake Bay. the Gulf of Maine at Ft. Popham. of Maine are now at an all time high. Every species of waterfowl on the At­ The Conservancy’s interest in the With the diminished supply of deep­ lantic Flyway can be found in the es­ Merrymeeting Bay/Lower Kennebec water coastal frontage, people are tuary at one time of year or another. River Estuary is largely due to the sheer looking more and more to tidal In addition to waterfowl, the estu­ numbers of wildlife that use system. marshes and rivers as places to build. ary supports nine species of migratory Historically, the largest Atlantic salmon Transportation enhancements, such as fish, including Atlantic salmon, Atlan­ runs in Maine were in the Kennebec the new Bath Bridge and rail service tic and short nose sturgeon, and striped River, hundreds of thousands of ducks to southern Maine are making the mid bass, as well as populations of globally and geese rafted-up on Merrymeeting coast more accessible than ever before. rare plants that inhabit the intertidal Bay, and historical records describe fre- In response, the Conservancy is zone. Fully twenty percent of the salt marshes in Maine are found within this system. Merrymeeting Bay is characterized as an “inland, freshwater, tidal delta”. Approximately a third the State of Maine, and part of New Hampshire, drain into Merrymeeting Bay and out the Kennebec River. While the Bay does experience five-foot high tides, it remains primarily a freshwater sys­ tem. This is because the tremendous volume of freshwater confronts a se­ vere constriction as it reaches the outlet. Here, it squeezes through two opposing headlands called the “ Chopps” and backs up into the Bay. Once the waters pushes through HAROLDMALDE this natural obstacle, the Kennebec runs down through Bath and along the Migrations continued from page one sented by Darci Thirlwall. Thirlwall’s turn encouraged Darci to purchase the have been identified as high value habi­ neighbors had announced they were property - assuring her that they would tat for waterfowl and wading birds by selling their property on the Aba­ subsequently acquire the land from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Gulf gadasset, property on which she held her. of Maine Program and are known to a right of first refusal (the right to pur­ With an active, growing and very suc­ harbor healthy populations of globally chase a property should it be offered cessful land protection program plac­ rare plants that inhabit the intertidal for sale). She saw an opportunity for ing demands on the organization, zone. conservation. Friends of Merrymeeting Bay asked the Knowing of these conservation val­ As a supporter of the Friends of Mer­ Conservancy to partner with them by ues, the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay rymeeting Bay, she gave a call to the providing bridge financing. Thanks to (FOMB) jumped at an opportunity pre- well-established land trust. FOMB in an alert neighbor, and an established 2- Maine Legacy Spring 2001 First Impressions: Ross Geredien is a Conservancy intensifying our activities here. With Finance Assistant - some of the time. His passion is photography, and a strong network of conservation part­ here he gives a brief account of an evening last fall that provided his ners already in place and the expressed first impressions of Merrymeeting Bay. support of many area residents, we efore I saw the water, I heard the sounds of life. A Great blue heron, know we can make a difference if we startled by my approach, squawked loudly, flying from its hemlock perch. act now. B Insects trilled everywhere. At the shore, I looked across a flooded marsh. I could The goals of the Merrymeeting Bay/ see an island, the only break in the marsh grass fo r miles, with several large Lower Kennebec River Estuary project trees. From the island came kek kek kek, the call of a Bald eagle which must are to maintain and protect the exist­ have had a nest there. From somewhere out over the water, an Osprey added its ing wildlife values while looking for shrill yet oddly musical cheep, cheep, cheeep. ways to restore the health of the sys­ fust then, a pair of Ruby-throated hummingbirds appeared as if to investigate tem. In addition to land acquisition, the disturbance I was making. They hovered a moment, then seemed to take up which has been and will continue to a game of chase, darting from shrub to shrub along the water’s edge. be a critical tool to abate threats, wet­ I stood there on the shore of Merrymeeting Bay, the largest freshwater marsh land restoration and improved access in New England, and it was teeming with life. Within a few moments, the blue to spawning areas for migratory fish heron returned, flying with long deft strokes close to the water’s surface. are strategies the Conservancy will use Looking down, I noticed the colors. Brilliant, flaming Cardinal flower grew to conserve biodiversity. in profusion along the shore; the red petals standing out from the bright yellow Our vision for the site includes: marsh grasses which rose in contrast to the deep blue water. I moved along the • protecting the vast shore and into another cove - the photographer in search of the perfect Cardinal marshes from harmful human flower - and at last I found impacts; a specimen nearly three feet • maintaining large blocks of high. As I set up, the late forest necessary for wide-ranging afternoon light turned the mammals such as fisher and bobcat; red blossoms into fire. The • protecting undeveloped setting sun transformed the shoreline and islands; sky into a kaleidoscopic ar­ • opening up currently ray of pinks and purples.

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