Oceanside Conservation Trust of The mission of OCT is to facilitate the conservation of wild or undevel- Board of Directors oped open space, scenic areas, and 2009-2010 historic landmarks in the Casco Bay P.O. Box 10404 | Portland, 04104 region and to foster low-impact and [email protected] | Tel. 207-699-2989 Roger Berle, President...... 781-5331 Volume 6 Edition 2, November 2009 respectful access to these resources, 766-2827 Cliff Island as well as to enhance the cultural, Brenda Buchanan, Vice President.... 854-5824 Oceanside Conservation Trust economic,In andorder civic to well-being support of theIn work order toof support Oceanside the work Trust, of Oceanside I/we Trust, are sendingI/we are sendingthis contribution. this contribution. Jane Laughlin, Secretary...... 799-9285 Battery Steele an easement which insured that 766-2570 residents and visitors. The Trust may MILITARY BEGINNINGS Battery Steele would remain Stephanie Weaver, Treasurer...... 761-4212 acquire, hold, and transfer interests in land, includingMembership easements, in Dues: order to $20.00Membership Dues: $20.00 forever undeveloped and open A.J. Alves...... 766-2423 Battery Steele is a 14-acre World War II shore to the public. Under PILP’s Mike Beaudoin...... accomplish this mission and to assure 774-0522 Additional Gift: Additional Gift: fortification on the ocean side of Peaks Island. stewardship, the Battery is 766-3028 Cliff Island that a diversity of ecosystems will be Completed in 1942 and named for Colonel closed to cars (functional or Bob Bittenbender...... 892-3818 available to future generations. In Harry Lee Steele, a coastal artillery officer addition, the Trust may hold chari- otherwise) but is in every other Erno Bonebakker...... 871-0048 in World War I, it protected the coast from table, cultural, and educational activi- way unchanged. The Battery 615-6664 Chebeague Island Name: Name: Kennebunk to Popham Beach. Battery Steele Priscilla Doucette...... 772-5705 Little Diamond Island ties for the benefit of residents and became the cornerstone of an was armed with two 16” guns which could fire a Jeanne Gulnick...... 766-2601 Peaks Island visitors. Address: Address: ongoing effort by PILP and OCT Eric Handley ...... 899-0027 (Adopted 10/24/96) projectile weighing as much as a Volkswagen 26 to preserve appropriate lands Michael Johnson...... 232-5778 Long Island Seasonal Address: Seasonal Address: miles. Each gun was mounted in an enormous on Peaks Island for public use; this preserved land now amounts to Christine McDuffie...... 829-3231 concrete bunker, open to the east but protected about 20% of the island’s total acreage. 766-5277 Long Island by a projecting hemi-circular concrete roof. Harry R. Pringle...... 774-0437 While maintaining the highest standards of stewardship and land Several hundred yards apart, NATURE RETURNS 766-3326 Little Diamond Island an underground concrete Advisory Board: management, OCT will become a Recently new visitors have come to Battery tunnel big enough for trucks Tom Bergh...... 766-2419 Peaks Island leader in coordinating and facilitating Steele. Over a dozen beavers in three to pass through connected Mark Greene...... 766-4440 Long Island land conservation efforts among lodges have raised the level of Trout Pond Eliza Cope Nolan...... 772-5024 Cushing Island the two bunkers. Behind individuals, island organizations, and more than a foot and have caused flooding. John Whitman...... 766-2211 Peaks Island land trusts in Casco Bay. and beneath that tunnel were Wildlife experts consulted by PILP vast concrete magazines. The anticipate that the beavers will eventually entire installation was covered move on when the food supply dwindles. with earth and vegetation and Interestingly, their activities have attracted largely hidden from view. The more visits by mink, muskrat, frogs, blue crater formed by the removal

Date Approximate herons, and black-crowned night herons.

Property Location Owner

Acquired Size of the earth became Trout your support. your

your support. your Pond. Although U-boats did

of Casco Bay welcomes welcomes Bay Casco of

of Casco Bay welcomes welcomes Bay Casco of appear off the Maine coast and sank a ship

off Cape Elizabeth in 1944, no German Navy What does Battery Steele mean to Peaks Islanders? Oceanside Conservation Trust Conservation Oceanside Oceanside Conservation Trust Conservation Oceanside surface ships ever crossed the Atlantic. Battery by John Whitman

Steele’s guns were never fired in anger. Old- Battery Steele is important

permanently protected. permanently permanently protected. permanently timers on Peaks recall, however, that when the to Peaks Islanders for

guns were fired for practice, the whole island many reasons. It’s a place

on Casco Bay Islands have been been have Islands Bay Casco on

on Casco Bay Islands have been been have Islands Bay Casco on trembled. to take first-time island

Since 1982, approximately 85 acres acres 85 approximately 1982, Since Since 1982, approximately 85 acres acres 85 approximately 1982, Since visitors and make them CIVILIAN TAKE-OVER walk through the pitch For fifty years following the end of World War black tunnel, hooting and II, generations of Peaks Island residents and hollering in Maine’s biggest visitors enjoyed Battery Steele as a strange echo chamber. It’s a place and wonderful – if untended – public park. to come to grips with the Others used it as a dumping ground for junk occasional grandeur and the cars and construction debris. In the 1970s ultimate horror of war. It’s a place where ever-changing graffiti mark and 1980s the property was owned by several the passage of island teenagers who partied there on summer nights. It’s non-profit organizations. In 1995 Battery a place to reflect that even a concrete monolith will eventually crumble

Steele was again for sale. To prevent the loss of to death, but the tides will forever surge through Hussey Sound. It’s Permit No. 658 No. Permit

Permit No. 658 No. Permit this unique public space, islanders formed a a place that will always belong to everyone who has lived on Peaks Portland, ME ME Portland,

Portland, ME ME Portland, land trust called Peaks Island Land Preserve. Island since 1942 and to which we can always return to gaze out over PAID

PAID A Herculean community effort raised enough the marsh toward , Outer Green, and – on a very clear U.S. Postage U.S.

U.S. Postage U.S. money to buy Battery Steele. Unsure about day – the lighthouse on Sequin.

PRSRT PRSRT the future of their new organization, PILP gave Grants for PNLTC Goals Ferns at Echo Pond

Oceanside Conservation 2009 Annual Meeting - Daveis Sanctuary New grant money will help Portland North OceansideTrust Conservation of Casco Bay The mission of OCT is to facilitate Land Trust Collaborative achieve its goals of Trust of Casco Bay The mission of OCT is to facilitate the conservation of wild or undevel- administrative efficiency, regional conservation Board of Directorsthe conservation of wild or undevel- oped open space, scenic areas, and planning, and accreditation preparation. Board of Directors2009-2010 oped open space, scenic areas, and historic landmarks in the Casco Bay PNLTC is an innovative partnership formed in 2009-2010 historic landmarks in the Casco Bay region and to foster low-impact and Roger Berle, President...... 781-5331 region and to foster low-impact and respectful access to these resources, 2006 among Falmouth Land Trust, Chebeague Roger Berle, President...... 781-5331 766-2827 Cliff Island respectful access to these resources, as well as to enhance the cultural, & Cumberland Land Trust, and Oceanside 766-2827 Cliff Island Brenda Buchanan, Vice President.... 854-5824as well as to enhance the cultural, Conservation Trust of Casco Bay. Brenda Buchanan, Vice President.... 854-5824 economic, and civic well-being of Jane Laughlin, Secretary...... 799-9285economic, and civic well-being of Conservation Planning: Jane Laughlin, Secretary...... 799-9285 residents and visitors. The Trust may With funding from 766-2570residents Great Diamondand visitors. Island The Trust may Stephanie Weaver, 766-2570Treasurer...... Great Diamond Island761-4212 acquire, hold, and transfer interests in the Margaret Burnham Charitable Trust and acquire,Cushing hold, Island and transfer interests in StephanieA.J. Weaver, Alves...... Treasurer...... 761-4212 Cushing Island 766-2423 Peaks Island land, including easements, in order to the L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Program, the land, including easements, in order to A.J. Alves...... Mike Beaudoin...... 766-2423 Peaks Island 774-0522 accomplish this mission and to assure three trusts have collected information on the accomplish this mission and to assure Mike Beaudoin...... 774-0522 766-3028 Cliff Island that a diversity of ecosystems will be significant natural and open areas in the region. that a diversity of ecosystems will be Bob Bittenbender...... 766-3028 Cliff Island 892-3818 available to future generations. In We have developed a regional map and brochure available to future generations. In CT’s Annual Meeting was held in July at the Daveis Sanctuary on Peaks Island. Bob Bittenbender...... Erno Bonebakker...... 892-3818 871-0048 addition, the Trust may hold chari- O ohlen’s remarks centered on picturing the 55 protected properties on islands addition, the Trust may hold chari- Arriving by Casco Bay Lines, private boats, trucks, and foot, members gathered for a tasty B Erno Bonebakker...... 871-0048 615-6664 Chebeague Island table, cultural, and educational activi- table, cultural, and educational activi- picnic supper. While A.J.Alves flipped burgers and hot dogs on the grill in the back of his the watershed of Casco Bay. He and the mainland, and we are close to completing Priscilla Doucette...... 615-6664 Chebeague Island 772-5705 Little Diamond Island ties for the benefit of residents and ties for the benefit of residents and truck, Jess Burton and Jean Gulnick served salads and desserts. A variety of drinks rounded discussed the far-ranging effects our Portland North Regional Conservation Plan. PriscillaJeanne Doucette...... Gulnick...... 772-5705 Little Diamond Island766-2601 Peaks Island visitors. Jeanne Gulnick...... 766-2601 Peaks Island visitors. out the menu. Enjoying the unsurpassed view, members socialized and got caught up on island of run-off from Bethel to Cape Accreditation Preparation: As participants Eric Handley ...... 899-0027 (Adopted 10/24/96) Elizabeth. All the past pollutants in the pilot program of the Maine Land Trust Eric HandleyMichael ...... Johnson...... 899-0027 232-5778(Adopted Long Island 10/24/96) events. Michael Johnson...... 232-5778 Long Island Excellence Program, a partnership between The Christine McDuffie...... 829-3231 still within the soil, as well as Christine McDuffie...... 829-3231 766-5277 Long Island every new contaminant from this Pew Charitable Trust, the Land Trust Alliance, 766-5277 Long Island While maintaining the highest Harry R. Pringle...... 774-0437While maintaining the highest area, ends up in Casco Bay. He and the Maine Land Trust Network, OCT Harry R. Pringle...... 774-0437 standards of stewardship and land 766-3326standards Little Diamond of stewardship Island and land discussed the Casco Bay Estuary will receive considerable financial assistance to Advisory Board:766-3326 Little Diamond Island management, OCT will become a Advisory Board: management, OCT will become a Partnership’s mission: to preserve prepare for accreditation. OCT will benefit from Tom Bergh...... 766-2419 Peaks Island leader in coordinating and facilitating Tom Bergh...... 766-2419 Peaks Island leader in coordinating and facilitating the ecological integrity of Casco efficiencies gained by working together with the Mark Greene...... 766-4440 Long Island land conservation efforts among Mark Greene...... 766-4440 Long Island land conservation efforts among other trusts in the Collaborative. Committees Eliza Cope Nolan...... 772-5024 Cushing Island individuals, island organizations, and Bay and ensure the compatible Eliza Cope Nolan...... 772-5024 Cushing Island individuals, island organizations, and will develop policies and procedures and gather John Whitman...... 766-2211 Peaks Island land trusts in Casco Bay. human uses of the Bay’s resources John Whitman...... 766-2211 Peaks Island land trusts in Casco Bay. through public stewardship and information that will be shared by all three effective management. OCT organizations. This model of collaboration is the members present empathized with first of its kind in the country. these goals. Organizational Support: Grants from three foundations will support our work in Date Approximate oard member Brenda Buchanon led some of the administering to the land trusts: Norcross Wildlife Property LocationDate Approximate Owner B Property Location Owner Acquired Size members, including James Hackett, on a walking Foundation, the Davis Conservation Foundation Acquired Size tour of the Daveis Sanctuary and abutting Echo and the Cumberland County Fund of the Maine Pond and Skillings Woods. Explaining the history Community Foundation. With these funds, the Collaborative will increase its ability to coordinate of the properties, she emphasized their importance n the first issue of Oceanside’s I board communications, build awareness of the today and told how OCT works to keep this land in newsletter, December 2004, the Davies its natural state for future generations. trusts on the web, and professionally manage Sanctuary was the front-page story. membership data. The land still is one of OCT’s premier Personnel: PNLTC is very excited to introduce properties. Donated to Maine Audubon by the Davies sisters in a new staff person, Doreen Johnston. An 1977, and given by that organization to OCT in 1991, this enthusiastic conservationist, Doreen will serve as Roger Berle conducted the brief annual property preserves a scenic park, cobble beaches, spectacular ocean the Collaborative’s Administrative Assistant. Last meeting and introduced the guest speaker, views, and a deep forest. Generations of year-round visitors summer the Collaborative had three enthusiastic Curtis Bohlen, Executive Director of the Casco have enjoyed picnics, walks, and quiet moments in its 6.8 acres. and professional interns. Shannon Hulst Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP), based Despite the loss of numerous trees in the Patriots’ Day storm of gathered GIS data, and assisted with baseline at the University of Southern Maine’s 2007, the forest is refuge to numerous migrating birds. Shore documentation, property document storage, and Muskie School of Public Service. Bohlen birds abound along its rocky ledges. Volunteers have cleared the landowner research. Randa Capponi completed has extensive experience in environmental storm debris and new growth is abundant. In the park at Davies extensive research in support of our preparations science and policy, as well as watershed Sanctuary is a stone marker commemorating the life of the late for accreditation. Nick Lunt designed and built management. Dr. Harold E. Hackett, a founding member of OCT. the brand new OCT website which should be online this month. seedlings. Paper birch Meet OCT’s Celebrating Wreck cove update is an early successional By Mike Johnson tree that responds well to Newest director National Trails Day disturbance. As the forest n the two years since the Patriots’ Day storm clean-up on begins to grow again, it will ational Trails Day is an annual event coordinated by the I N the Wreck Cove property on Long Island, most of the large likely transition to mixed American Hiking Society to celebrate more than 200,000 miles Eric Handley red spruce left in the open area of the cut have fallen. The wood dominated by red of trails across all 50 states. To celebrate this day, on June 6th remaining forest around the cut is healthy and intact. Young spruce and paper birch the Portland North Land Trust Collaborative sponsored GIS/ spruce seedlings that were just sprouting on the forest floor at before becoming more GPS trail-mapping workshops at Wreck Cove on Long Island, the time of the cut have responded to the new open canopy and spruce-dominated. No Lunt School Trails in Falmouth, and Twin Brooks Recreation are growing well. Other herbaceous vegetation now growing invasive species have Area in Cumberland, hosted by Oceanside Conservation Trust, in the open area includes evergreen wood fern, bracken fern, colonized the cut areas. Falmouth Land Trust, and Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust hay scented fern, red raspberry, sedges, and paper birch respectively.

Hiking along recreational trails and working with experts from the Center for Community GIS (CCGIS), workshop participants OCT Meets the Standards used GPS (Global Position System) units and computers with GIS Volunteers (Geographic Information Software) to gather data and generate From time to time, OCT has work parties on its properties. maps. The goal of mapping the 1500+ acres of conserved land Land Trust Alliance Standard 7: Projects range from controlling invasive plants, restoring native overseen by the three member trusts is to create a comprehensive Volunteers, Staff and Consultants vegetation, installing signs, and removing fire and safety hazards. database supporting effective regional land use, stewardship, Periodically we need help with short term project-oriented tasks Oceanside’s newest director is Eric Handley, a The land trust has volunteers, staff and/or consultants and planning. By training local community members to use such as preparing mailings, filing, and organizing or staffing retired media specialist with environmental interests. with appropriate skills and in sufficient numbers to GPS and GIS technology, the events such as the Annual Meeting. carry out its programs. Before moving to Portland, Eric enjoyed a thirty- land trusts encouraged the Whether your talent is photography, writing, fundraising, or year career editing documentary programs for PBS, participants’ involvement In addition to its all-volunteer board of directors, OCT trail maintenance, OCT can match you with an opportunity The History Channel, and The Discovery Channel. He in the mapping project while welcomes volunteers who can assist in caring for our properties to use your skills. also edited award-winning programs for flagship PBS increasing community and maintaining an active land trust. Opportunities range series Nova, Frontline, and The American Experience. awareness about effective from simply joining as a member, contributing financially, If you’d like to volunteer speak to an OCT board member, stewardship of conserved following our activities through our newsletter, and sharing He is an adjunct teacher of digital editing at Emerson contact Jessica Burton at Portland North, 699-2989, lands. your support of land conservation with your friends and College in Boston and has website design certification e-mail: [email protected]; or drop us a note at neighbors to actually working on our properties. from Northeastern University. The events were funded by OCT, PO Box 10404, Portland, Me 04104. grants from L.L.Bean and the Oceanside regularly monitors its protected properties; Eric quickly became involved in his new community by Margaret Burnham Charitable volunteer stewards help us achieve that mission. If you are joining Portland Trails, Maine Narrow Gauge Railway, For more information see Land Trust Standards and Practices from Trust and organized by the able to visit one of our properties periodically and act as “eyes and Portland Landmarks, and by volunteering as a the Land Trust Alliance www.lta.org in the field” and as an ambassador to people you meet on the Portland History Docent. Portland North Land Trust Collaborative. property, let us know. While serving on the board of directors of Friends of the Eastern Promenade, he was active in helping to In the workshop hosted by Oceanside at Wreck Cove on Long control invasive plants, increasing public awareness By Roger Berle Island, the participants plotted way points describing their entry A very special island volunteer through bird walks, and aiding in construction of to the property, and then broke into two groups to plot points arolyn Walker’s family has She has always been among the first to volunteer for various connecting trails like the Fort Allen Connector. Eric C at the survey pins to the south and to plot points around the summered on Cliff Island since community projects. As a long-time board member of ACE also volunteers at Maine Audubon helping to control wetlands to the north and west. Upon their return to the Long the early 1900s. Her forebears (Cliff Island Corporation for Athletics, Conservation, and invasive plants. Island Library, instructor Jean Luc Theriault entered the data were thoughtful, faithful, and Education), Carolyn has taken the lead in addressing invasive into his computer and displayed the results on a map showing generous members of our tiny species removal from Cliff. She has provided islanders with As an Oceanside director, Eric plans to aid stewardship research materials, and she has led shovel parties aimed at programs and help monitor land use. He is interested an aerial photo with an overlay of the tax map identifying the community. Carolyn, however, property boundaries. Because the tax maps are often imprecise purple loosestrife removal. She regularly walks the island in using his media skills to help with newsletters and has taken this ethic to an and because the GPS readings can vary up to ten meters, it is with both clippers and a notebook in hand, relentlessly web sites for the land trust. impressive level. important to make proper disclaimers about the precision of any attacking bittersweet and other offenders. maps resulting from these methods. Also, the blow-down area Carolyn has been a summer “After attending only a few meetings, I came away In 2009, she talked her son Matt into applying for the where the forestry clean-up occurred was not mapped. Such a homeowner here for several convinced that it is possible through land trusts ACE position of Managing Intern for Invasive Species map would have been interesting to see, because the aerial photo like OCT and the commitment of its volunteers decades, sharing a classic Removal. While adamantly insisting that she would not be predates the 2007 storm blow-down, and so shows the pre- to conserve the environment and views we love in cottage on the northwest shore with her husband Michael responsible for “managing” Matt, she still has tutored him in Maine.” storm tree cover. I think everyone enjoyed the workshop and and her three boys – Matt, Alex, and Nicky. identification and removal strategies and accompanied him learned a good deal. by Christine McDuffie, Workshop Participant - 6 - - 3 - continued on page 4 Maintaining the Health of Our Properties: Alien vs. Native Species By Dale Doucette the primary producer of nuts in Plants from all parts of the world have been the eastern uplands of the United imported to North America. Plants from States. The chestnut supported Native plants improve the health of an ecosystem. They live together and Europe, Asia, and Africa have been used to an immeasurable amount of sustain each other, successfully passing energy from the sun and the soil decorate and beautify lawns and gardens. The wildlife. A disease carried up the food chain. “Native plants are an integral part of the natural result was often visually stunning while the side by the Japanese chestnut lives of everything from bacteria to birds …. Native plants evolved effects went unnoticed. In an ecosystem, the trees introduced in 1904 with native wildlife, so everything from the shape and structure of the quantity and quality of life depends on the health “functionally eliminated” the flowers to the tannin content of the leaves is tailored to the feeding of the system. In a rich American chestnut from the habits of insects, birds, animals and other native creatures.” (Roth) ecosystem, energy from the eastern deciduous forests in We are learning more and more about ecosystems, how they work, soil and the sun is effectively only 50 years. A single order and how people have damaged them. Some damage can be undone, passed up the food chain, of Asian iris imported in but not all. To totally eradicate destructive supporting a vast diversity 1916 carried the Japanese alien species is impossible, but some plants of life. The introduction of beetle larva. Having no can be controlled. For example, land stewards alien plants has diminished natural insect enemies, in OCT are working to minimize the spread the richness of many North the destructive Japanese of bittersweet and other invasive plants. In American ecosystems, beetle has spread nationwide. (Tallamy) the future people can make better choices and the health of those Alien plants have no natural predators and easily out- about what they plant. Multi-flora rose, systems is substantially compete native species. Japanese knotweed (commonly oriental bittersweet, autumn olive, and compromised. In his recent called bamboo), oriental bittersweet, and the Norway oriental honeysuckle diminish the health book, Bringing Nature maple are examples. Japanese knotweed spreads rapidly of ecosystems and should be avoided. Home, Douglas Tallamy by rhizomes, seeds, and even pieces of its stem. It creates Blueberries, service berry, viburnum, explains the difference a dense growth that shades out all other plants and is winterberry, pagoda dogwood, river between native and extremely difficult to eradicate. Birds feed on the berries birch, white oak, and tamarack are a alien plants and the of the oriental bittersweet and widely scatter the seeds. few of the native species that can be undesirable effects of New plants grow quickly, choking out native shrubs and used for healthy ecosystems. using alien plants. strangling large trees. The Norway maple, introduced OCT board members, Bob Alien species have in 1756 and now the most common shade tree in North Bittenbender and Eric Handley introduced diseases America, occupies the space and uses resources that would can be contacted at Maine and insects for have been available for a native tree. Unfortunately, it will Audubon Society for more which native species not pass energy up the food chain. (Tallamy) information. had no defenses. Many insects, valuable sources of protein in the food For example, the chain, are not able to eat and live on alien trees. “In a Roth, Sally. Organic Gardening, American chestnut, comparison of the diversity of herbivorous insects in Nov.-Jan. 2009/10. which evolved over Oxford, Pennsylvania, more than three times as many a period of 87 insect species were associated with native plants as with Tallamy, Douglas W., Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain million years, was alien plants.” (Tallamy) Wildlife with Native Plants, Timber Press Portland, OR, 2007.

Very Special Volunteer (continued from page 3) as the on-island “expert” in meeting with property owners who wanted to know more about what species had invaded Finally - at least for 2009! - Carolyn was not satisfied with only getting rid of the bad stuff… With ACE funding, she designed their yards. This initiative fired right up in early July and consumed much of Cliff Island’s 2009 summer. and planted a Native Species Demonstration Garden in front of our Library to show islanders what plants they might consider using – the right stuff. While this 2009 effort successfully exceeded expectations, particularly in drawing energetic volunteer participation, the removal process will require tedious, dedicated persistence over coming years. OCT director Bob Bittenbender came to Cliff from Maine Thank you, Carolyn!! Audubon to kick off this summer’s program. Bob believes that because Cliff is somewhat remote, we have a better chance of keeping these alien species away from our shores once they have been removed.

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