Midcoast Conservancy's - The Drift - Spring 2024

The Power of Partnership

Spring 2024 | Vol. 8, No. 1 | The Partnership Issue

THE MISSION OF MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE VITAL LANDS AND WATERS ON A SCALE THAT MATTERS. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE OUR LANDS AND WATERS ARE HEALTHY AND PROTECTED AND WHERE NATURE OCCUPIES A PLACE OF CENTRAL IMPORTANCE IN EVERY PERSON’S LIFE.

Board of Directors Buck O’Herin President Joanne Steneck Vice President Sally Butler Secretary Justin Ward Treasurer

Andy Brand Carole Cifrino Brent Douglass Carolyn Gabbe Laurie Howarth Chris Kenoyer Liz Petruska Kathy Stevens

STAFF Kristin Pennock Co-Executive Director Tim Trumbauer Co-Executive Director Joe Chapman Trails & Facilities Manager Melissa Cote Sheepscot River Watershed Manager Isobel Curtis Stewardship Manager Stephanie Hanner Director of Development Tripp Henderson Director of Hidden Valley Nature Center Eliza Jacobs Water Resources Technician Tim Libby Forestry & Lands Manager Kelly McNally Office Manager Patricia Nease Damariscotta Lake Watershed Manager & Water Team Lead Erika Presley Senior Land Protection Manager Morganne Price Medomak River Watershed Manager Kate Raymond Development & Database Manager Ali Stevenson Communications & Engagement Manager Zoe Thomas Nature-Based Program Manager Newsletter Design: Hollie Fleming

THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

02 03 04

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

05

FINDING THE HELPERS

06

IMPROVING FISH PASSAGE, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT BRANCH POND

07 09

PARTNER POWER

10 11 12 13

PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITY

14

MCOA: MAINE COASTAL OBSERVING ALLIANCE THE HAPPY HISTORY OF WHITEFIELD TRAILS COMMITTEE & MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY

SUPPORTING OUR LOONS

BIRD-FRIENDLY FORESTRY AT HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER PARTNERING WITH YOU! FOURTH GRADE SCHOOL PROGRAM AT HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER COUNCIL CORNERS DAMARISCOTTA LAKE MEDOMAK VALLEY SHEEPSCOT HEADWATERS SHEEPSCOT VALLEY HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER

collaboration and partnerships

By Buck O'Herin, President of the Board of Directors I REMEMBER BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOL THAT THE ESSENCE OF THE NATURAL WORLD WAS DAR WINIAN – ALL ABOUT COMPE TITION AND SUR VIVAL OF THE FIT TEST. THIS PERSPEC TIVE STILL INFLUENCES OUR BELIEFS ABOUT SOCIE T Y, POLITICS, AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES. WE NOW KNOW THAT THE POPULAR CHARAC TERIZATION OF THIS MODEL IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE CAME TO UNDERSTAND LIFE ON EAR TH.

R

elationships are the essence of the natural world, shaped by the intelligence of communication among all the life forms and processes that evolved together over millions of years. The knee bone is connected to the leg bone, the leg bone is connected to the hip bone, etc.

Collaboration is the glue of human families and society and yes, even for the natural world (sorry Darwinians). It is easy to focus on all the discord in the world but

there would be a lot more if there weren’t a much greater amount of collaboration taking place. It is only in recent centuries that humans have been able to cause discord in nature on a global scale—a scale that threatens our very existence. Now is when we have to work harder than we ever have to embrace models and practices of collaboration in order to make the changes necessary to stabilize the living, collaborative processes (think atmosphere, oceans, hydrology, decomposition,

etc.) that make our amazing lives possible.

We don’t have to do this work all by ourselves, we just have to do our part, in ways that make long-term sense, right where we live. The local may seem pedestrian in the context of the entire world but it is what we have and what we are best able to influence. The local is also what we love. I say we embrace this effort and throw ourselves into the work with an exuberance that communicates loudly for everyone to join us.

THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

2

MCOA: MAINE COASTAL OBSERVING ALLIANCE

By Morganne Price

HOW DO YOU MONITOR THE HEALTH OF ESTUARIES IN A STATE THAT HAS MORE COASTLINE THAN CALIFORNIA? THE ANSWER: YOU JOIN RESOURCES WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR, INVOLVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND COLLABORATE!

WHAT IS AN ESTUARY?

F

rom Kittery to Calais, the state of Maine has many estuaries that are unique from each other while still sharing some common characteristics. Estuaries are special places that are influenced by both fresh water from rivers as well as by the open ocean. These transitional zones from freshwater to marine environments provide habitat and nurseries for many species as well as a pathway for migrating fish like salmon, smelt, alewives, and the American eel. Estuaries provide habitat for harvested species such as lobsters, clams, elvers, and rockweed, as well as aquaculture of oysters, mussels, the aquaculture and seaweeds.

WHAT IS MCOA?

W

hat do conservation organizations, municipalities, community members, state scientists, and university professors all have in common? They all work together to form a unified approacht to monitoring estuaries from Casco Bay to Belfast!

WHAT DATA IS COLLECTED?

S

ince 2014, MCOA has collected a suite of environmental parameters twice a month in August and September. In 2023 Midcoast Conservancy expanded our estuary monitoring in the Sheepscot

3

M IDCOAST CONSER VAN CY

and the Medomak to run from May to October. Collecting data over a longer period of time will help us notice trends and keep a sharper eye on the health of our estuaries. Starting in the summer of 2024, thanks to some grant funding, all the MCOA estuaries from Casco Bay to Belfast will be a part of this expanded monitoring from May-September. In each of the participating estuaries there are multiple sample sites spanning from the mouth (near the ocean) to the head of tide (near the freshwater). At each sample site the following data is collected: Clarity: Water clarity is very important in understanding how much light is able to reach the ocean floor. Phytoplankton and marine vegetation, such as eelgrass, rely on sunlight to conduct photosynthesis to produce energy and support many life cycles.

Total Nitrogen: In most estuary systems, increased nitrogen levels can lead to phytoplankton blooms which can cause low dissolved oxygen levels as well as potentially contaminate shellfish with toxins. Nitrogen can enter the estuary from runoff from fertilizers or failing septic systems.

Dissolved Oxygen: This measures how much oxygen is present in the water. This is important as all marine animals need oxygen to live and grow. Several factors can affect dissolved oxygen, such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient loads.

For example, cold water can hold more oxygen than warmer waters. When large areas of the estuary have low dissolved

oxygen levels, very little can survive.

These areas are called “dead zones” and are important to monitor. pH: Increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere lead to ocean acidification.

As the marine environment gets more acidic it is difficult for shellfish like clams, oysters, and lobsters to form their shells.

Temperature: The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than almost any other ocean surface on the planet. It is important to monitor this change, as some of the species that we’ve historically seen thriving in the region are migrating to cooler waters, and warmer water species are being seen more frequently.

Salinity: Estuaries are influenced by both freshwater and saltwater. Knowing the salinity, or how much salt is in the water, can help identify the source of the water.

COLLABORATION IS KEY We are all better when we work together.

This high-quality long-term data set that spans from Casco Bay to Belfast has helped scientists at the DEP in eelgrass surveys and has given insight into how climate change is affecting the Gulf of Maine. What makes MCOA so special is its true grassroots origin. What started ten years ago by two concerned members of conservation organizations has turned into a collaboration of professors and community volunteers, nonprofits and state agencies, all working together—each member focusing on their local estuary to collect high quality data that can fit into the bigger picture of the coast of Maine.

THE HAPPY HISTORY OF WHITEFIELD TRAILS COMMITTEE & MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY AS TOLD BY DAVID ELLIOT T, KIT PFEIFFER, AND DAVE WRIGHT Written by Isobel Curtis THE WHITEFIELD TRAILS COMMITTEE (WTC) STARTED AT A TOWN MEETING IN THE FALL OF 2013, BUT IT WASN’T JUST ANY REGULAR OLD TOWN MEETING. YOU SEE THIS WAS A COMMUNITY FORUM WHERE THE OLD AND THE YOUNG GATHERED AT THE NEWLY REVAMPED SHEEPSCOT GENERAL STORE TO EXPLORE HOW THE TOWN COULD GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED.

A

fter lengthy discussion, it became clear that many were excited about building trails and thus the WTC was born. In the words of Dave Wright, long time WTC member and its new coordinator, “Most people live out here because they like to wander in the woods, so there was enthusiasm about building public trails to special places”. While many people in Whitefield can walk in their own backyards, they saw a need for public trails– trails open to all that would allow people to access the Sheepscot River, high ridgelines with marvelous views, and many other beautiful spots.

After SVCA merged with three other conservation groups in 2016 to form Midcoast Conservancy, WTC reached out again about building a new trail on land the organization owned that had frontage on Weary Pond. A few years later Maguire Preserve opened to the public, named as an homage to the family who donated the land. The partnership continues to this day, with WTC bringing the local knowledge and people-power to build and maintain trails, while while Midcoast Conservancy helps promote the trails on our website, provides resources for infrastructure, and helps organize volunteer work days.

The first question the newly-minted committee faced was how to gain access to land to build community trails. They found an answer in Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA), one of Midcoast Conservancy’s founding organizations.

Who better to ask for access than the land trust? Both groups were rallied around the idea of public trails so it was a natural fit. The first three trails WTC built were on conservation easements held by SVCA: 1) Marr’s Ridge Trail located on Hunts Meadow Road, owned by Sandy Benne; 2) Whitefield Salmon Preserve Extension on the West Branch of the Sheepscot River, then owned by the Percy family; and 3) Happy Farm Trail located just below the bridge in N. Whitefield, then owned by the Chase family.

WTC also helped build two walking paths on town-owned properties for a total of six public trails created over

FINDING FULFILLMENT ON THE TRAIL “I love meeting the most amazing people, the physicality of it, and the connection to the land.

You have a real sense of ownership for a trail that you’ve helped build.” ~ Kit Pfeiffer

Dave Wright and Tony Marple, who was instrumental in starting the WTC. Tony recruited David Elliott as coordinator who carried the torch for 10+ years and just passed it off to Dave Wright this year.

“I started hiking with my family as a kid and it grew into a big part of my life. I started trail maintenance with the Scouts when I was 14. I feel it’s important both for having trails and also the camaraderie that comes with working on a trail crew. I’m glad to give back to the Town in this way”. ~ Dave Wright

10 years! Kit Pfeiffer, another longtime WTC member, reflected, “A lot of people have used the trails around town, especially during the Covid shutdown when they provided outside meeting places for people. Parking lots were full!”. School groups use the trails for nature-based education, and the trails attract hikers from all over the Midcoast. David Elliott, WTC coordinator for the past 10 years, loves how “a trail is always changing, it’s different depending on the season, time of day, the weather. No matter how many times you’ve walked it before, there is always something new”.

Next time you’re in Whitefield, be sure to visit a trail!

David Elliott and Kit Pfeiffer in front of the Maguire Preserve kiosk

THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

4

FINDING THE HELPERS

By Patricia Nease IF YOU TOLD ME FIVE YEARS AGO THAT CYANOBACTERIA WOULD BE SOMETHING I WOULD THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED YOU. IF YOU TOLD ME THAT A SPONTANEOUS SAMPLING EFFORT IN AUGUST OF 2020 WOULD LEAD TO AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE A LITTLE CRAZY. BUT BOTH ARE TRUE!

A

widespread cyanobacteria outbreak in 2020 spurred a spontaneous sampling trip on a Saturday afternoon in August with Dr. Pete Countway from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science, in Walpole. What started as a one-time sampling trip has turned into multiple entire seasons of sampling, several grant applications, presentations, and a vital partnership that has elevated our work on Damariscotta Lake.

Pete’s lab was, and still is, a part of a five-year National Science Foundation Grant involving institutions across the state that are looking at environmental DNA applications, among them how to get a better understanding of harmful cyanobacteria and algae blooms. Cyanobacteria outbreaks have been an emerging threat on Damariscotta Lake, as well as across the state. We were lucky, in some ways, to have started working with Pete and his lab early in the grant cycle, and that we’re situated geographically close to Bigelow. Damariscotta Lake 5

M IDCOAST CONSER VAN CY

is a great case study for their goals, and we benefit significantly from their scientific interest and expertise.

Additionally, given Damariscotta Lake’s unique position and its relatively small freshwater and marine watershed, we’ve begun exploring potential avenues for funding with other researchers at Bigelow.

Our partnership also includes The Horizon Foundation, which has been a partner from the very beginning; former Horizon Foundation President Sandy Buck was part of the initial sampling effort in 2020. Currently, we’re in year two of a three-year grant which is funding both Midcoast Conservancy’s and Bigelow Labs’ work on cyanobacteria in the lake.

The power of partnerships is alive and well on Damariscotta Lake!

Have the large storms caused more erosion issues on your property?

Do you need help knowing what to do to mitigate erosion and prevent it in the future? Are you interested in learning more about how to protect our waters in your backyard? Let us know! We'll be conducting technical assistance visits across our service area this summer!

For more information, and to get on the schedule email Eliza Jacobs, Water Resources Technician at eliza@midcoastconservancy.org.

IMPROVING FISH PASSAGE, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT BRANCH POND

By Melissa Cote ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY AND NEITHER WAS THE BRANCH POND DAM AND FISHWAY PROJECT. IN FACT, CONVERSATIONS BEGAN EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SHOVEL HITTING THE GROUND AT BRANCH POND.

B

eginning in 2015, the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) coordinated a coalition between ASF, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Midcoast Conservancy to address fish passage barriers in the Sheepscot watershed. Leveraging resources allowed the coalition to create a shared project manager position to implement three fish passage projects at Coopers Mills, Head Tide, and Branch Pond dams.

All three have now been successfully completed. Previous attempts at establishing fish passage at major dams in the Sheepscot River had failed, so why was this coalition successful at completing its goals? The key to success was partnering locally right from the start - by listening to the surrounding community to ensure their voices were heard and accounted for in the planning, design, and implementation of each project.

For the Branch Pond Project, conversations began in 2017 with the local Branch Pond Association (BPA), followed by meetings with Palermo and China town officials, and a Public Meeting to gather community input.

This collaborative approach resulted

in a mutually agreed upon solution with the previous owners of the dam, the BPA, and the surrounding community, that included dam operations to stabilize water levels, repairing the dam to meet safety standards, re-establishing public access to the pond, and constructing fish passage. In 2017, ASF purchased the property in order to carry out these goals; a subsequent agreement arranged for the BPA to manage the site and ultimately own it once completed.

Between 2018 and 2022, there were many design and review meetings with the contracted engineer, Kleinschmidt Associates, and state and federal agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Maine Emergency Management Agency, Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), and Maine Department of Transportation. To gather input and approval for the designs, multiple meetings were held with the BPA, China and Palermo town officials,

photo courtesy of Brandon Kulick

and regulatory agencies. All of this input and support led to the final designs for the project. In 2023, with enough funds committed to the project and permits in hand, construction was completed by SumCo Eco-contracting.

This summary cannot fully capture the significant amount of time, coordination, and other behind-thescenes work that went into this project.

Without the input from all of the project partners, regulatory agencies, and community, it’s likely there would still be a leaky dam with no fish passage at Branch Pond!

We’d like to thank all of our project partners for helping this project come to fruition, especially the Atlantic Salmon Federation for leading the charge! The complete list of partners is Maine Council of ASF, Midcoast Conservancy, TNC, BPA, Town of Palermo, NRCS, MDMR, NOAA Restoration Center, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Cascade Foundation, and USFWS. THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

6

14 miles apart, collaborative, community-based efforts led to the conservation and permanent protection of two iconic hilltops.

PROTECTING CLARRY HILL HAD LONG BEEN A GOAL FOR MAINE FARMLAND TRUST. WHEN THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE AN AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT ON THE PARCEL THAT BECAME AVAILABLE LAST YEAR, WE WERE READY, AND WORKING ALONGSIDE MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY WAS BOTH EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN GETTING THE JOB DONE. - Adam Bishop, Maine Farmland Trust

C

larry Hill forms the watershed divide between the Medomak and St. George Rivers in Union.

Rising to an elevation of 643 feet, it is one of the highest points in both watersheds with views of the White Mountains, Muscongus Bay, and the Camden Hills. In addition to the views, Clarry Hill is particularly important because it includes a large contiguous area of productive blueberry land and contains critical

Clarry HilL 7

M IDCOAST CONSER VAN CY

habitat for two rare grassland bird species, the upland sandpiper and the vesper sparrow.

Through a partnership with Maine Farmland Trust, who now holds an agricultural easement on the blueberry lands, and with the support of other conservation groups like Hog Island Audubon and many individual generous donors, Midcoast Conservancy was able

to permanently protect 263 acres of Clarry Hill in 2023. Through the tireless commitment of multiple conservation organizations working to place conservation easements on neighboring parcels combined with community funded acquisitions and donations of additional land, a total of 740 contiguous acres is now protected on and around Clarry Hill.

MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY CAME ALONG AT EXACTLY THE MOMENT WE NEEDED THEM, PROVIDING FRIENDS OF HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN WITH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND ALLOWING US TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE AND PRESERVATION OF HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN IN MONTVILLE. WE ARE NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO DEEDING THIS ICONIC PROPERTY TO MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY TO MANAGE, PROTECT AND PRESERVE IN PERPETUITY ALONG WITH OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS. - Cathy Roberts, Friends of Haystack Mountain

H

aystack Mountain rises to 800 feet in elevation and offers panaramic views of the surrounding landscape in Liberty. It seems that everyone in the area has a special story about, and therefore a special connection to, Haystack Mountain. So much so that when the property came up for sale, a grassroots community effort was launched to ensure the views and 1.1 mile looped footpath would remain open to the community forever - the

Friends of Haystack Mountain (FOHM) was born!

Midcoast Conservancy has served as the fiscal sponsor for FOHM and provided guidance and support, including designing a snazzy logo and building a project-specific website to communicate progress, promote events, and provide an easy process for donations.

Friends of Haystack Mountain will be deeding the protected land to Midcoast Conservancy, and Midcoast Conservancy will in turn take responsibility for the long-term stewardship of this community treasure. By collaborating, Midcoast Conservancy and FOHM have achieved a major win for the community, and conservation, that would not have been possible working alone.

Haystack Mountain THE DRIFT

|

SPRI NG 2024

8

SUPPORTING OUR LOONS

By Patricia Nease

LOONS ARE A QUINTESSENTIAL PART OF SUMMERS IN MAINE; THEIR HAUNTING CALLS ECHO ACROSS LAKES AROUND THE STATE. HOWEVER, THEIR CONTINUED EXISTENCE AS PART OF OUR LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IS THREATENED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS. ONE OF THESE THREATS IS OIL SPILLS. YOU MAY BE WONDERING HOW AN OIL SPILL COULD IMPACT LOONS, BUT THINK OF THAT FUZZY DUCKLING ON YOUR DISH SOAP BOTTLE; LOONS SPEND THE WINTER ON THE OCEAN AND CAN BE EXPOSED TO OIL SPILLS.

I

n 2003 an oil spill off the coast of Massachusetts directly impacted loons: the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that over 500 common loons died as a result of this oil spill. As part of the settlement with the company responsible, funding was made available for restoration projects aimed at nesting loons.

A collaborative effort between Maine Audubon, Maine Lakes, Lakes Environmental Association, the Penobscot Indian Nation, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was created as a result–and the Maine Loon Restoration Project was born.

Midcoast Conservancy, as a steward of Damariscotta Lake, was brought into the project last summer, as there has been successful limited loon nesting in

9

M IDCOAST CONSER VAN CY

recent years. A site was chosen due to its lack of success and its threats from lake level rise and boat wake action. Last year we deployed a nest raft on the lake, but there was already a nesting pair at the site. We still deployed the raft, a short distance away from the nesting loons in case their nest wasn’t successful, and they wanted to try again. Happily, the nesting loons were fortunate and a chick was successfully fledged!

This year we deployed the raft again, at a slightly different location, in hopes of providing a safe alternative for the loons in the area. We also installed a game camera to keep an eye on the raft and, hopefully, get some good pictures. The raft and potential nest will be monitored weekly by our dedicated volunteers Pete and Tina; we're excited to see what this summer brings!

Being partners on projects like this, even in such a small capacity, allows us to take on endeavors where we don’t have to do the heavy lifting; we’re able to support the project and the loons. Most critically, the dedication and strength of our volunteers bolsters our ability to participate in these types of projects.

We are grateful to our partner organizations and volunteers!

PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITY

By Ali Stevenson

BUTCH AND SUNDANCE, THELMA AND LOUISE, FROG AND TOAD: THE VALUE OF A GREAT PARTNER IS INESTIMABLE. LUCKY FOR MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY, WE GET TO CALL MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST (MCHT) ONE OF OUR MOST VALUED AND PRODUCTIVE PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION WORK. MCHT’S MISSION TO “CONSERVE AND STEWARD MAINE’S COASTAL LANDS AND ISLANDS FOR THEIR RENOWNED SCENIC BEAUTY, ECOLOGICAL VALUE, OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEING” ALIGNS SEAMLESSLY WITH THAT OF MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY–AND TOGETHER, WE HAVE MADE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN!

A

sterling example is a 12-acre parcel of land, now named Head Tide Bend, along the Sheepscot River in Alna that is adjacent to important salmon rearing and spawning habitat. Head Tide Bend is of high conservation priority due to its proximity to other conservation areas, the large amount of river frontage on the parcel, and its importance to sea run fish as well as state listed threatened and rare species, including brook floaters. When the opportunity to conserve this land arose, MCHT stepped in to support its acquisition as part of its Rivers Initiative.

Former MCHT Project Manager Dan Hohl noted MCHT’s gratitude for their partnership with Midcoast Conservancy and the chance to be part of the protection of Head Tide Bend.

“This parcel may appear small, but its conservation value is significant,” said Hohl. “The Sheepscot River is one of the five priority rivers that are a part of MCHT’s coastwide initiative. Rivers offer refuge for heat-sensitive species like brook trout and Atlantic salmon.

By protecting the land and vegetation around rivers, we’re protecting the habitats that these fish rely on.”

Pullen Mill was another beneficiary of this fruitful partnership. A 12.5 acre parcel in South China, it includes mapped Atlantic salmon spawning areas

and habitat as well as wild brook trout priority areas, along the entire 1300 feet of river frontage there. The parcel now serves as an anchor property for a foothold in an area where MCHT wants to focus as part of the Rivers Initiative.

This property is also the site of the Pullen Mill Fish Passage project, a fishway installation finished in 2012. The fishway is a naturally constructed pool and weir fishway to provide fish passage primarily for alewives around the remnants of an old mill dam.

Again Dan Hohl reflected on the importance of teamwork: “The Pullen Mill acquisition represented the perfect partnership between MCHT and Midcoast Conservancy. We were able to fund the acquisition as part of our Rivers Initiative work and Midcoast Conservancy was able to commit to owning and stewarding the property in perpetuity. Our two land trusts literally worked side by side from walking the property together and researching the environmental values, to deciding what day we would close on a purchase.

MCHT could not ask for a better partner than Midcoast Conservancy as we continue to protect land in the Sheepscot River Watershed.”

Senior Lands Manager Erika Presley underscores the mutual admiration society: “It was an absolute privilege

Top Photo: Head Tide Bend Bottom Photo: Pullen Mill

to partner with MCHT to preserve this valuable piece of land along the Sheepscot River. The Sheepscot watershed is a hotspot of conservation values and a focus area for Midcoast Conservancy.

We look forward to collaborating with MCHT again in the future. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of land left to protect but our shared dedication and passion will keep us moving forward!”

When Adam Pereira, MCHT's new project manager, began work in late 2023, he immediately recognized the MCHTMidcoast Conservancy partnership as a critical relationship. "Working across a large landscape, or a watershed like the Sheepscot, is so difficult to do alone. In an important place like this watershed, collective action goes a long way.

Working with Midcoast Conservancy in the Sheepscot watershed has been a joy these first few months at MCHT. We've been working hand-in-hand with Midcoast, identifying mutual priorities that have the most conservation impact and responding together to opportunities as they emerge. This partnership is based on trust and passion for the Sheepscot and I am excited to help add to the great work that has already happened."

THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

10

BIRD-FRIENDLY FORESTRY AT HVNC

By Tim Libby BIRDS ABOUND AT OUR HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER, AS ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT TIME ON OUR TRAILS WILL KNOW. MY FAVORITE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE HERMIT THRUSH WITH ITS MYSTICAL SONGS THAT I NOTICE FILLING THE HARDWOOD FOREST LATE IN THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING. I’D SAY MY FAVORITE BIRD SIGHTINGS AT HVNC HAVE BEEN BARRED OWLS, SCARLET TANAGERS, AND HOODED MERGANSERS.

A

s the Forest Manager I am always thinking about birds. Our most landscapeimpactful management project is our crop tree release program. We thin around ten acres of forest per year by removing some trees to make space for others while adding complexity by encouraging growth, adding woody material to the forest floor, and culling certain trees for habitat.

Thanks to our partnership with Maine Audubon, we are able to highlight our bird-friendly management goals and we now even have results from a bird study that they did several years ago that assessed the number of birds present in different stands;

11

M IDCOAST CONSER VAN CY

data from Maine Audubon's Song Meter Project helps inform our own forestry plans.

For several years now we have been a Forestry For Maine Birds (FFMB) demonstration site, complete with a self-guided walking tour with stops at points of interest regarding management for birds and we often host tours with Maine Audubon. This spring we unveiled a new forest management walking tour, funded by the Maine Forest Service’s Project Canopy Program, that will highlight the FFMB tour.

Maine Audubon has also helped fund our forest management planning and this summer will be purchasing a large timber frame from Midcoast Conservancy

for their headquarters in Falmouth.

Our Timber Frame Program utilizes wood harvested as part of our thinning operations; frames from each workshop are for sale and the proceeds directly benefit our habitatfriendly forest management.

Fun things to know about the study: HVNC was one of the oldest demonstration sites included in the study; the area along Little Dyer Pond that includes riparian habitat is one of the oldest forest stands at HVNC; and the snag tree habitat project was the location with the highest species richness. Also, the site in a stand that is completely unmanaged for habitat and forestry purposes had the lowest species representation.

Partnering with you!

by Ali Stevenson

NO CONVERSATION ABOUT PAR TNERS AT MIDCOAST

By Ali Stevenson CONSER VANCY WOULD BE COMPLE TE WITHOUT INCLUDING OUR MOST RELIABLE, DEDICATED, AND PASSIONATE PAR TNERS: YOU!

O

ur community of supporters is broad and deep. Our members offer financial support but also their skill as ambassadors of conservation values. We are so lucky to have a truly engaged membership team taking the good word to the masses!

It is impossible to overstate the importance of our volunteers. Day in and day out, they show up for the unglamorous work of ripping knotweed out of the ground, dragging bog bridge timbers deep into a preserve, swatting black flies while conducting water quality tests, carving out time for a committee meeting, or directing parking at Live Edge or another event. Volunteers are demi-gods

to Midcoast Conservancy staff, who know that without that multitude of extra hands, donation of time and skill, and unflagging enthusiasm, our work simply couldn’t get done.

Included in the pantheon of volunteers are our Councils, regional groups who focus on their "neck of the woods" (or water) to help us keep tabs on hyper-local concerns and projects.

From the first day of Midcoast Conservancy's existence, they have been critical partners to the organization's success.

Valley Nature Center, or joins a Wednesday Wander, or raises a paddle at the Gala auction, we’ve gained a friend in our effort to share the ways that we are working to protect this very special place we all love so much.

Folks who attend our events are yet another base of support and partnership. Any time someone new comes to Hidden

There is no more powerful partnership than one built on shared passion, so thank you for being our passion partners!

THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

12

Fourth Grade School Program at Hidden Valley Nature Center Written by Zoe Thomas in partnership with Chris Coleman and Hazel Thomas

A toe-biter

ELE VEN YEARS AGO, A PAR TNERSHIP WAS BORN BE T WEEN T WO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER. THE IDEA WAS THAT T WO FOUR TH GRADE TEACHERS WOULD BRING THEIR CLASSES TO HVNC ONCE A MONTH, SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE, FOR ECOLOGY LESSONS AND OUTDOOR LEARNING LED BY NATURALIST SUE KISTENMACHER. THIS WOULD SUPPOR T THEIR FOUR TH GRADE MAINE STUDIES CURRICULUM AND MEE T MAINE SCIENCE STANDARDS THAT RELATE TO PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS. FROM THESE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS GRE W AN INTEGRAL PAR TNERSHIP BE T WEEN FIVE SCHOOLS, FOUR NATURALIST EDUCATORS, AND HIDDEN VALLEY NATURE CENTER.

“T

he programs have improved greatly over the years. Sue has added some very interesting lessons and activities,” explains Chris Coleman, a fourth grade teacher from Great Salt Bay Community School who has been bringing classes since 2014.

“My kids especially enjoy the different games we play each visit.

Just getting kids outside for the entire day, and the fact that this trip occurs every month, means students are able to see how the forest changes over the course of a school year. Appreciating these changes increases their desire to go outside on their own with their families. I have received a lot of positive feedback from parents over the years amazed by how much their children know about the plants and animals of Maine.”

“At the beginning of the school year we learned about lichen and fungi,” reports Hazel Thomas, a Whitefield fourth grader. “My partner and I found leafy, crusty and bearded lichens. In March we learned about coyotes, an animal I knew very little about. I had no 13

MIDCOAST CO N S E R VAN CY

clue that coyotes are omnivores and will eat anything, not just meat. As part of the coyote lesson we broke into coyote families. We built a den out of a fallen tree and the pups pretended to pounce on chipmunks and squirrels. Then we howled to mark our territory. We always journal about what we learn. When we learned about beavers I wrote that they use their tails as a warning that predators might be around and I sketched a beaver lodge and dam.”

Today, we welcome fourth grade students each month from Whitefield, Great Salt Bay, Jefferson, Nobleboro, and Wiscasset Schools.

Hopefully, over the next eleven years we will continue to grow this partnership between our organization and local schools by adding more classes from already participating schools, and pilot classes from new elementaries in the area.

COUNCIL corners LOCAL COUNCILS COMPRISE REGION-SPECIFIC VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT OUR MISSION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE VITAL LANDS AND WATERS ON A SCALE THAT MATTERS INTO ACTION. EACH COUNCIL HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTER SHAPED BY THE COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS WHO KNOW THE LOCAL HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE AND WORK IN COORDINATION WITH MIDCOAST CONSERVANCY STAFF TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE REGION.

Damariscotta Lake

Medomak Valley

The Damariscotta Lake Watershed council is gearing up for a busy summer season! With numerous opportunities to volunteer this year, the council will be involved in many of our lake projects from Courtesy Boat Inspection to Public Health Monitoring. Let Patricia know if you want to jump aboard: patricia@midcoastconservancy.org.

The council is always looking for volunteers to help with local programming! Shoot Morganne an email at morganne@midcoastconservancy.org.

Join us for the State of the Lake on August 15 at Wavus Camps in Jefferson!

Hidden Valley Nature Center We've had a lively spring, with a great trail running series that wrapped up with a pizza party at the Barn. We're now focused on getting volunteers volunteers lined up for trail work, and already thinking ahead to Live Edge on Sept. 7!

Join us for the State of the Medomak on September 4 at the Waldo Theatre.

Sheepscot Headwaters The folks in the “north” have been hard at work recruiting new volunteers for trail projects there. Want to join the fun? Contact Buck at boherin1954@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars now for the Goosepecker Trekker at Whitten Hill on Saturday, October 5!

Let Tripp know if you would like to help out: tripp@midcoastconservancy.org.

Nothing like a Headw aters hike or snowshoe to restore one's soul from the assault of our modern plagues; COVID, climate crisis, two-tiered healthcare/ The Council is key to supporting programs across the area. Want to Zoom fatigue, information overload, to name a help out? education/housing, Contact Melissa at melissa@midcoastconservancy.org. few! this fall.

Watch the calendar for the State of the Sheepscot

Sheepscot valley

THE DRIFT

| SPRI NG 2024

14

290 US Route 1 PO Box 439 Edgecomb, ME 04556 www.midcoastconservancy.org

Front cover photo by Tim Trumbauer Back cover photo by Linc Oliver-O'Neil Olive r-O'Neil