York River Watershed Stewardship Plan Prepared by the York River Study Committee – August 2018 York River Watershed Stewardship Plan – August 2018 York River Study Committee c/o Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells, Maine 04090 The York River Watershed Stewardship Plan was developed by the York River Study Committee as part of the York River Wild and Scenic Study, which was authorized by the US Congress and funded through the National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. This plan is available on the York River Wild and Scenic Study website: www.YorkRiverMaine.org. Cover photo credit: Jerry Monkman, Ecophotography.com The York River Study Committee included town- appointed volunteers and agency representatives who worked on the three-year York River Wild and Scenic Study to gather and share information, learn about the watershed’s valuable resources, engage community members and resource experts, provide a forum for discussion of key issues, and build community support for the long-term protection of the York River. Town of Eliot: Stefan Claesson and John Murphy Town of Kittery: Judy Spiller York River Study Committee members and coordinator. Town of South Berwick: Jean Demetracopoulos Photo: Robin Cogger Town of York: Karen Arsenault, Cindy Donnell, Thom Kearns, Joan LeBlanc, Michael Masi, Chuck Ott and Beth Walter (active from 2016-2017) Agency representatives: Paul Dest, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Claire Enterline, Maine Coastal Program, Maine Department of Marine Resources Jamie Fosburgh, National Park Service David Gardner, Maine Department of Transportation Judy Gates, Maine Department of Transportation Jim MacCartney, National Park Service York River Study Coordinator: Jennifer Hunter ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The York River Study Committee benefitted from collaboration with many individuals and organizations that contributed to the York River Wild and Scenic Study by sharing their expertise, providing support and guidance, raising issues for the committee’s consideration, providing data and reports, and sharing information about the study with others. The committee is especially grateful to the individuals who took the time to prepare and present information at its many watershed resource topic meetings. The committee gratefully acknowledges input, guidance, and assistance from the following: Alex Abbott Joey Donnelly Brett Horr David Rich Rosanne Adams Drew Donovan Gemma Hudgell Kimberly Richards Jacob Aman Claire Enterline Patty Hymanson Mike Rogers Joe Anderson Kristin Feindel Reenie Johnson Heather Ross Tad Baker Ward Feurt Dana Lee Stephen Scharoun Christine Bennett Keith Fletcher Joel Lefevre Paul Schumacher Susan Bickford Jennifer Fox Dean Lessard Paula Sewall Angela Brewer Jeremy Gabrielson Scott Lindsay Amanda Shearin Steve Burns David Gardner Dick Lord Abbie Sherwin David Chase Judy Gates Jim MacCartney Mike Sinclair Robin Cogger Tom Gilmore Doreen MacGillis Dylan Smith Ryan Coite David Gittins Steven Mallory Jim Smith Emily Cole-Prescott Trenor Goodell Robert Mohlar Tin Smith Kathy Connor Bill Hancock Stephen Pelletier Gary Stevens Priscilla Cookson Mary Harding Suzanne Petersen Scott Stevens Teri Dane Amber Harrison Bonnie Pothier Bryce Waldrop Jeff Donnell Leslie Hinz Kristen Puryear David Webber Carol Donnelly Karl Honkonen Kristie Rabasca Karen Young Groups, organizations, and agencies represented by individuals listed above include the advisors to the York River Study Committee, Eliot Conservation Commission, Eliot Historical Society, Great Works Regional Land Trust, Groundroot Preservation Group, Kittery Land Trust, Kittery Water District, Lamprey Rivers Advisory Committee, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Natural Areas Program, Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative, National Park Service, Northeast Archaeology Research Center, Old York Historical Society, Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, Southern Maine Stormwater Working Group, Town of Eliot, Town of Kittery, Town of York, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, York Land Trust, York Lobstermen’s Association, York Harbor Board, and York Water District. Many additional citizens not listed above attended various meetings, and the committee is grateful for their interest in and contributions to the York River Wild and Scenic Study. i | Page The committee additionally thanks: − Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and her staff and Senator Angus King and his staff for support of the York River Wild and Scenic Study Bill in 2014 and their ongoing support for the study. − Metaphorical, Inc. for its generous assistance to design the York River Study website. − Emma Lord, National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers Fellow, for her input and ongoing assistance with the York River Wild and Scenic Study. − Members of the select boards/councils, planning boards, and conservation commissions in Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, and York for their input and interest in the York River Wild and Scenic Study. − Town managers, clerks, and other staff from the four watershed towns for overall guidance and assistance, including staff support to post monthly meeting notices for the last 30 months. − York Parks and Recreation Department and York Public Library for providing meeting space. − Bill Hancock from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Beginning with Habitat Program, Susan Bickford from Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Brett Horr from Town of York for making and providing various watershed maps for the York River Study Committee’s use. − Deborah McDermott, and others at Seacoast Media Group, for ongoing coverage of the York River Wild and Scenic Study. − Organizations that conducted studies for the York River Study Committee: • Northeast Archaeology Research Center (archaeology survey) – Ellen Cowie, Gemma Hudgell, Stephen Scharoun, Robert Bartone, crew members, and the many volunteers that participated in the archaeology dig, including students from Traip Academy and Sanford High School. • Groundroot Preservation Group (architectural history survey) – Scott Stevens and Steven Mallory. • Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (fish and habitat survey) – Jake Aman, Susan Bickford, Tin Smith, Tyler Spillane, Michelle Furbeck, and volunteers from York High School. • Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (build-out study) – Abbie Sherwin and Paul Schumacher, and subcontractor Judy Colby-George from Spatial Alternatives. − Organizations that invited the York River Study Committee to present information at meetings: Atlantic Design Center/Eldredge Lumber, Eliot Historical Society, Great Works Regional Land Trust, York Harbor Board, York Historic District Commission, York Lobstermen’s Association, and York Rotary. − Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve for serving as fiscal agent for the York River Study Committee. Funding for the multi-year York River Wild and Scenic Study was provided by the National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers Program through a Cooperative Agreement between the National Park Service and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (CFDA 15.962). The York River Study Committee received additional grant funding for projects from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the York Community Initiatives Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, and the York Rivers Association. ii | Page CONTENTS Executive Summary.………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. v I. Introduction.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 1 Purposes of the Stewardship Plan 2 National Wild and Scenic Rivers System / Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers 2 II. York River Wild and Scenic Study……………………………………………………………………………. 5 Background 5 Study Overview 6 York River Study Committee 6 Study Area 7 PWSR Designation Recommendation 8 III. Stewardship Plan Development………………………………………………………………………………. 11 Goals and Guiding Principles 11 Stewardship Plan Development Approach 13 New Studies 14 Outreach Activities and Public/Stakeholder Input 14 IV. York River Watershed……………………………………………………………………………………………… 19 Overview 19 Land Cover, Land Use and Population 20 Town and Regional Plans 21 Local Regulatory Framework 26 Major Threats 28 V. Watershed Resources…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35 V.1 Cultural and Historic Resources…………………………………………………………………………………………. 37 Overview 37 Cultural Landscapes 38 Archaeological Heritage 39 Historic Districts, Buildings and Structures 42 Resource Threats 45 State and Federal Protections and Preservation Programs 46 Local Protections and Preservation Programs 47 Stewardship Objectives and Key Actions – Cultural and Historic Resources………………………….. 50 V.2 Natural Resources …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 Watershed Landscape 55 Habitats, Wildlife, and Biodiversity 58 Water Resources 67 Watershed Resilience 82 Stewardship Objectives and Key Actions – Natural Resources………………………………………………. 86 iii | Page V.3 Working Waterfront, Recreational Resources, and Community Character………………………… 97 York Harbor and Waterfront 97 Recreational Resources 101 Scenic Resources 104 Stewardship Objectives and Key Actions – Working Waterfront, Recreational Resources, and Scenic Resources……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 107 V.4 Community Stewardship……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 109 Stewardship Objectives and