Davis Foundation Funds Water Quality Project
The Medomak River is a remarkable resource! Although relatively small in comparison to other rivers in the state, the Medomak drains 140 square miles and runs through 13 towns. A variety of warm and cold water fish inhabit the river and its remarkably undeveloped shoreline provides essential habitat for many species of wildlife. The lower Medomak supports a lucrative lobster fishery and the estuary contains more than 2,000 acres of mudflats that support a significant shellfish industry. It is clear that the river is important to residents for a variety of economic, recreational and scenic values, but one of the most important natural resources in the watershed is the water in the river itself. Water from the river provides essential habitat for wildlife and impacts natural resource based industries, recreation and the overall health of the local ecosystem and landscape.
Over the past two decades Waldoboro town officials and concerned residents have worked together to address the serious issue of pollution through water sampling, remediation and the completion of a new municipal sewage system that keeps effluent in the sewer system from entering the river and estuary. Despite these major accomplishments, serious problems remain. Shellfish beds are closed provisionally when an inch or more of rain falls and prohibited areas still exist. The beds were closed for a total of 516 days between 2006 and 2008, having a significant impact on an industry that brings several million dollars annually to Waldoboro alone. Despite a common understanding among community stakeholders of water quality conditions and the impacts of land uses on water quality, no unified monitoring or remediation effort exists.
MVLT has joined forces with local shell fishermen, the Town of Waldoboro and other concerned citizens to address the water quality issues that are affecting the river’s health and the community’s vitality. We were recently awarded a grant of $8,500 from the Davis Conservation Foundation in support of this new initiative. The project will develop a water quality monitoring plan, identify sources of bacterial pollution in the watershed, focusing first on areas that directly impact clam flats, and develop an educational effort to raise awareness of water quality conditions and the connection to land use among residents. We’ll be looking for volunteers to help with water sampling and lab work so please contact the MVLT office for more information if you’re interested.
Maine Community Foundation Supports Conservation Partnership
MVLT received a grant from the Maine Community Foundation to work with the newly reinstated Waldoboro Conservation Commission. One of the town's first priorities for the Commission is management of the 320-acre Quarry Hill property, which is owned by the town and permanently protected with a conservation easement held by MVLT. Public awareness of the Quarry Hill property has heightened over the past few years as a result of the conservation easement process. The Town has already gotten many requests from community groups and residents who want to use the land for hiking, camping, fishing and more. MVLT looks forward to working with the Commission and the Waldoboro community to develop a vision and stewardship plan for this important resource. Members of the Commission include Clair Bowley, Charles Brock, Steve Cartwright, Jack Farlow, Edward Fisher, Norman Golden and Bill Hinkley.
Longview Conservation Easement Completed
In December, Eric Stark and Kristin Sorenson of Waldoboro, ME and Garrison, NY donated a conservation easement on Longview, their Dutch Neck property. Their generous gift ensures the protection of wildlife habitat, undeveloped shoreline and scenic views of the Medomak River estuary.
“Over the years that we have owned this land, its preservation has become increasingly important to us,” said Eric Stark. “This piece of property has not substantively changed, either in terms of its use or its view shed, over the course of the last two hundred years. Guaranteeing that all future generations will have the opportunity to share in its unique historical presence and singular beauty is deeply meaningful to us.”
The conservation easement on Longivew protects 16 acres of rolling fields and forest and over 800 feet of undeveloped frontage on the Medomak River and more than 200 feet of frontage on the Eastern Branch. 
A portion of the Longview conservation easement falls within one of MVLT’s priority conservation areas. This area, which surrounds the Eastern and Western Branches of Broad Cove in Waldoboro and Bremen, contains a diverse assemblage of natural communities including salt water coves, salt marshes, tidal flats, a freshwater pond, a large bog and mature stands of conifer and mixed wood forests. Three coves, which have 10 miles of mostly undeveloped shoreline, provide an important feeding and staging area for wading birds and waterfowl. Seven landowners in this area have helped protect these important natural resources by placing conservation easements on their land. The addition of the Longview easement brings the total amount of land protected here to more than 160 acres.
MVLT is extremely grateful to Eric and Kristin for their gift of a conservation easement. Their generosity and foresight has helped protect important conservation values and allowed others to share the scenic beauty and historical legacy of their land.
|
Waldoboro,
ME 04572