Protecting Farmland on MDI

IslandNews from MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST about Land LandscaConservation on Mount Desert Island & the Cranberry Isles peSummer 2012s Protecting Farmland on MDI

Long before local MCHT has helped foods became a house- ensure agricultural use hold phrase, Maine of several well-loved Coast Heritage Trust farms, including the recognized the critical Smith Family Farm as importance of keeping well as College of the farms a part of Mount Atlantic’s Beech Hill Desert Island’s future. Farm and its Peggy The Trust surveyed Rockefeller Farms the island’s agricultural bordering Norway lands more than two Drive and Crooked decades ago and identi- MCHT photo Road. “Not all of fied 3,341 acres of farmland (including 1,215 acres being actively these properties were being farmed at the time we conserved farmed on 20 different properties). Since then, MCHT has them,” observes MDI Project Manager Misha Mytar, “but worked with landowners to protect more than a dozen farm- now they’re active enterprises that contribute to the local land properties. economy.” Mytar is currently updating the original farmland Good agricultural soils represent less than 5 percent of the inventory and is working with several landowners on conserva- land base on Mount Desert Island. “Agricultural land that is tion easements to secure the agricultural future of their land. actively farmed is even more rare” notes David Manski, whose Farmland owners interested in exploring options to protect their Fresh Meadow Farm in Bar Harbor includes fields leased to the land can contact Mytar at [email protected] or 244-5100. Bar Harbor Community Farm. “Conservation easements, like the one MCHT holds on our farm, forever protect lands that are a treasured part of our agricultural heritage. I’m thrilled to play a part in sustaining this vital landscape.” Billy Helprin A renaissance is underway at a 35-acre farm along BarHarbor’s Crooked Road on which Maine Coast Heritage Trust recently strengthened an agricultural easement. Sandi Read and Ron Beard now own the renamed Wild Iris Farm, which has ten

Billy Helprin shire draft horses and offers horse-boarding and horse-drawn Across from MCHT’s office in Somesville, freshly tilled ground carriage services. and tomato plants are the first signs of a new community garden. “We’re starting small,” notes Regional Steward Billy Helprin, “but hope to offer more plots next year and have an active ‘Kids Can Grow’ program.”

A Statewide Land Conservation Organization Kittredge Brook Forest Rich in Natural Treasures

MCHT’s new Kittredge Brook Forest Preserve has a wealth of natural assets, according to a recent ecological inventory by consultant Alex Jones. The 500-acre property north of Somes Sound has 14 wetland communities (a mix of open and forested areas) including vernal pools that contain threatened species. Diverse wildlife enjoy these habitats, according to Regional Steward Billy Helprin. “We’ve had sightings of deer, coyote, mink, otter, raccoons and barred owls as well as an incredible array of invertebrates.” MCHT received help mon- itoring wildlife from Skyler Graves, whose senior exhi- bition project at MDI High Alex Jones

School focused on Kittredge © Brook Forest. After research- MDI high school senior ing the preserve’s land use his- Skyler Graves helped tory and spending more than this past year to assess 30 hours observing wildlife, the abundant wildlife at and monitoring game cameras MCHT’s Kittredge Brook Forest Preserve. and tracks, Graves found him- self paying far more atten- tion while outdoors and asking more questions. “He will never walk through a for- est the same way again,” one Alex Jones © MacDonald now President of FOA After 21 years with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Director of Land Protection David MacDonald recently left the Trust to become President of Friends of Billy Helprin Acadia. The staff and board of MCHT extend their gratitude for his many of his academic advisors observed. Graves years of service and wish him the best in all future endeavors. found little evidence of human use on the property, but did learn that most of the for- MacDonald’s thorough knowledge of the lands and communities on est was burned in the devastating wildfire MDI helped him play a central role in many of 1947. regional conservation initiatives, including the protection of Long Island, Marshall Island, As part of a long-term planning effort, Kittredge Brook Forest, Upper and Lower Helprin is working with high school Hadlock Ponds, and numerous inholdings teachers and Acadia National Park staff within Acadia National Park. “David has been to extend an existing loop trail from the an outstanding leader for MCHT,” observes school into Kittredge Brook Forest so Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele. “He has science classes can visit multiple habitat left quite a legacy of land protection successes types. Trail planning is being done with on Mount Desert Island, in Acadia National care to accommodate the needs of for- Park and in all of Maine. David’s been a great est animals. “We’ll keep stream crossings partner and we’re pleased that we’ll continue to to a minimum,” Helprin says, “as we’ve

© Bridget Besaw work with him in a different capacity.” observed that many species frequent the stream corridor.”

Island Landscapes Summer 2012 2 Maine Coast Heritage Trust Land Protection Progress The family of Jim, Helen, David and Paul Wright generously donat- ed to MCHT two conservation ease- ments that protect 35 acres in Tremont with extensive frontage on Seal Cove Pond, a popular destination for pad- dlers and ice fishermen. Lying at the base of Western Mountain, the pond is highly visible from trails in Acadia National Park. The easements protect open fields along Route 102, extensive wetlands, and a scenic peninsula with a traditional landing spot long enjoyed

Misha Mytar by community members rowing or paddling on the pond.

Newly conserved Green Island in Western Bay has several ledges frequented by seals. Tim Swan Tim © Thanks to a generous bargain sale by landowners and the success of Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s MDI Land Conservation Initiative, the Trust was able to acquire a conservation easement that will keep more than 6,000 feet of shoreline Rich Knox on Green Island in Western Bay completely undeveloped. This scenic, 28-acre A recent conservation easement donation island will remain in family ownership, but future development is carefully limited protects 3,500 feet of shore frontage at to protect the island’s exceptional habitat for wading birds, waterfowl, and seals. Seal Cove Pond.

Sandy Andrews, Northeast Harbor MDI COMMITTEE HELPS Emily Beck, Seal Cove Bob Blake, Somesville GUIDE ISLAND WORK Stephanie Clement, (Friends of Acadia) Gale Davis, Northeast Harbor Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s active work to conserve lands on and Ben Emory, Salisbury Cove around Mount Desert Island is now in its fifth decade, dating back Dianna Emory, Chair, Salisbury Cove to the organization’s start here in 1970. In its role as the region’s local Jay McNally, Bar Harbor land trust, MCHT receives tremendous community support from Liz Reynolds, Hall Quarry dedicated partners. We’re particularly grateful to the volunteer MDI Richard Rockefeller, Bartlett Island Committee that helps advise us on local land protection and steward- Jerry Suminsby, Northeast Harbor ship efforts. These dedicated community members bring to our work a Sheridan Steele, (Acadia National Park) deep knowledge of the region and a devotion to its well-being: Linzee Weld, Northeast Harbor Geoff Young, Seal Cove ESAW B RIDGET © B

Island Landscapes Summer 2012 3 Maine Coast Heritage Trust MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST P.O. Box 669 Mt. Desert, ME 04660 A Statewide Land Conservation Organization

MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST is dedicated to protecting land that is essential to the character of Maine, its coastline and islands in particular. Since its founding on Mount Desert Island in 1970, MCHT has permanently protected more than 137,000 acres, including 297 entire coastal islands. It provides conservation advisory services to land- owners, local land trusts and state and community officials free of charge. A membership organization, MCHT welcomes your support and inquiries.

P.O. BOX 669, MOUNT DESERT, ME 04660 • 207-244-5100

1 BOWDOIN MILL ISLAND, SUITE 201, TOPSHAM, ME 04086 207-729-7366

P.O. BOX 4, SULLIVAN, ME 04664 • 207-422-1132

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Outdoor Opportunities August 15 & 24 Frenchboro Island Hikes Come explore our newly expanded Maine Coast Heritage Trust hosts guided 1,159-acre preserve. walks in the fields and forests of its Babson Creek Preserve in Mount Desert at intervals August 18 Western Head Preserve Walk (Cutler) throughout the year: for upcoming local events, Stroll through the varied habitats of call our Somesville Office at (207) 244-5100. this spectacular Bold Coast preserve overlooking Cutler Harbor and Grand Those seeking longer excursions or ones Manan Channel. farther afield can participate in many other MCHT field trips, which extend well into the September 28-30 Great Maine Outdoor Weekend fall. A sample few are listed here: please see Get outside and join the fun! mcht.org/tours for more listings. To find an event near you, visit greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org as the date draws near. NOX K ICH R