News and Events
Land For Maine's Future Awards $1.13 million to protection of the Kennebec Estuary
July 30, 2008
BATH – Salt marshes are the prairies of New England, and are more productive than most mid-western farmland. They are open plains of lush grasses, interwoven with tidal creeks and pools; providing sheltered, nourishing habitat for a diverse community of animals. Two-thirds of commercial fish landed in the Gulf of Maine depend on this habitat at some point in their life. This ecosystem has tremendous economic value.
So it was especially good news for conservationists and the fishing industry on July 15th when the Land for Maine’s Future Board announced that $1.13 million was awarded to permanently protect over 700 acres of high value salt marshes, tidal freshwater marshes, riparian habitat, and associated upland buffers in the Lower Kennebec Region.
Containing twenty percent of Maine’s tidal marshes and ninety-seven percent of its freshwater marshes, the Kennebec River Estuary holds the greatest concentration of vital marshes in the state. The estuary provides critical habitat for endangered, threatened and rare species, large numbers of shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl and abundant runs of fish. Given the estuary’s diversity and unusually rich suite of species; it is one of Maine’s most significant and unique natural areas.
The Kennebec River Estuary spans the towns of Arrowsic, Georgetown, Bath, West Bath, Bowdoinham, Topsham, Richmond, Woolwich, Dresden, Pittston, and Brunswick.
The successful application was filed by the Maine Wetlands Coalition, a consortium of public and private entities with a commitment to permanently protect high value habitat in Merrymeeting Bay and the Lower Kennebec River. Participants include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, Phippsburg Land Trust, Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust and The Kennebec Estuary Collaboration. Since 1992, this group has collectively protected over 15,500 acres.
"Land for Maine's Future continues to serve a valuable role in the state by preserving some of our most treasured natural resources," said Governor Baldacci. "The latest list of projects selected for conservation shows the importance of investing in and enhancing Maine’s competitive economic advantage, which is characterized by our Quality of Place. Land for Maine's Future is part of our overall strategy to maintain our outstanding assets and qualities that will grow Maine’s economy now and into the future."
Using funds approved by voters last fall, the Land for Maine’s Future Board gave approval to 46 land conservation projects across the state, protecting over 36,000 acres. In total, the Board allocated $17 million.
The Land for Maine’s Future Program was created in 1987 in response to concerns over the loss of critical natural areas and wildlife habitat along with traditional access to undeveloped lands for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. To date, the Land for Maine’s Future Program has protected over 490,000 acres of Maine’s best recreational and natural areas.
A Report on the State of the Kennebec Estuary
June 19, 2008
Jaret Reblin
The State of the Kennebec Estuary: Consolidating and Summarizing What We Know
Bath, Maine - The Kennebec Estuary Collaboration, a Bath-based partnership between the Phippsburg and Lower Kennebec Regional land trusts has received funding from Merrymeeting Bay Trust to collect and consolidate scientific research on the estuary.
The Kennebec Estuary is one of the state’s largest conservation focus areas and yet the site lacks a comprehensive and up to-date source of information relevant to natural resource conservation. This project is focused on developing a knowledge base to answer questions about the current ecological conditions of the estuary; to increase awareness of the state of the estuary; and provide baseline information for conservation designed to build ecosystem resilience.
Scientific data gathered from a variety of sources will be centralized and made available at www.kennebecestuary.org and will provide the basis for a summary report and case statements designed to engage the public, landowners and funders, and to further conservation planning.
To accomplish this significant goal, KEC has contracted with two researchers. Slade Moore is Director of Biological Conservation, LLC, a Bowdoinham organization concentrating on developing and implementing resource management models that encourage the integrity and resilience of coastal systems and the human communities they support. A former US Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer, Slade has been an ecologist for the last 16 years.
Jaret Reblin works through Bowdoin College to understand the ecology of freshwater systems. His research is largely focused on the biogeochemistry of the Kennebec River estuary, and the abundance and diversity of aquatic plants, fishes and snapping turtles in Merrymeeting Bay.
Laura Sewall, Executive Director of the Kennebec Estuary Collaboration, says, “The project is designed to characterize the health and functionality of the estuary. We look forward to establishing a baseline of conditions so we can understand how climate changes are impacting the estuary.”
Slade Moore
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May, 2008
KEC Seeks New ED
Current ED, Laura Sewall, has decided to step down after launching and establishing the KEC so that she may return to the academic world as Director of Bates College's Morse Mountain property in Phippsburg. We are actively looking for a new director. The job description and application guidelines are listed below.
Job Posting: APPLICATION EXTENDED
Executive Director for Kennebec Estuary Collaboration
in Midcoast Maine
Background:
The Kennebec Estuary is one of the largest estuaries on the East Coast, comparable to the Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River. The Kennebec Estuary Collaboration (KEC) is a formal partnership between the Phippsburg and Lower Kennebec Regional land trusts for the purpose of strengthening both organizations and contributing more significantly to land conservation in the Kennebec Estuary region. Recognizing the ecological importance of the estuary and the need to build local conservation leadership, the land trusts, The Nature Conservancy, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust initiated the collaboration in 2006. Funding to establish the KEC was provided by Merrymeeting Bay Trust, the Land Trust Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, LL Bean, and the Phippsburg and Lower Kennebec Regional land trusts. Additional partners supporting our efforts include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Maine State Planning Office.
Job Summary:
The Executive Director is responsible for advancing strategic land conservation throughout the region served by both of the participating land trusts and for increasing the professionalism of both land trusts. The Executive Director will work with each local trust’s board, the Collaboration Oversight Committee, and partner organizations and agencies.
This is a full-time, salaried position. Evening and weekend work occasionally may be required. Salary will be commensurate with experience, with benefits.
The Executive Director currently supervises staff and reports to the Chair of the KEC Oversight Committee, who will consult regularly with the board presidents of the PLT and LKRLT when evaluating job performance. The position requires some field work. The position is based at the KEC office in Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine. The Executive Director is required to provide his/her own transportation and will be reimbursed for work-related travel at the IRS rate.
Job Duties:
- Lead strategic land conservation activities, including but not limited to land acquisition, working with local towns, and working with federal, state, and local partners.
- Prepare grant proposals and manage grants for Collaboration initiatives, including land projects, stewardship and organizational development.
- Manage public relations for the Collaboration.
- Hire and supervise staff.
- Coordinate stewardship activities.
- Develop Board Orientation activities.
- Attend PLT and LKRLT Board meetings.
- Provide oversight of the following areas for the individual land trusts: support for membership activities, support for accounting systems, coordination of volunteers, systematization and maintenance of records of legal documents and land trust policies and procedures.
Skills and Experience Sought:
This position requires a proven track record in project management, initiating and carrying out land protection projects, and in grant writing and grants management. It requires a strong commitment to the protection of the unique ecological, scenic and diminishing natural resources of the Kennebec Estuary. It requires an ability to motivate, train and manage staff and volunteers and to understand and balance the interests and expectations of the participating organizations.
Qualifications include: four-year degree or equivalent in natural resources or related field; experience managing staff; an ability to interact well with a wide variety of people, including landowners, government officials, the press, donors, the general public, and diverse boards of directors; attention to detail and excellent written and organizational skills; ability to work independently; and an ability to meet deadlines and achieve ambitious goals. The job also requires proficiency with computer applications and office systems. This position requires a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Application
Please send cover letter and resume by June 16, 2008
by email to areiter@kennebecestuary.org (preferred)
or hard copy to:
Executive Director Search
Kennebec Estuary Collaboration
92 Front Street
Bath, Maine 04530
For more information call 207-442-7205.
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Summer 2007-
Recognizing the need for providing members and potential funders with direct experience of the estuary, Rodger Herrigel of West Point and Bath has generously donated the use of a classic 16 foot West Pointer skiff. Built by Alton Wallace of Westpoint, Polar Bear provides access to conservation lands by water, and much inspiration to do conservation work.
Spring 2007-
The Maine Community Foundation recently granted the KEC $3,500 toward the development of this website and a software system for tracking members, donors and land projects. This funding is critical to our growth as an organization, and to KEC’s success. Thank you to the Maine Community Foundation!
