Weber Kelly Preserve, Georgetown
The Preserve is open free of charge to the public from dawn to dusk.
Ecology of the Preserve
Mixed Woods
Red oak, hemlock and
pine dominate the woods, a habitat
favored by warblers, woodpeckers, and
owls. Red tailed hawks cruise the margins
for unwary mice. Deer and raccoon
forage the land.
Salt Marsh
Endangered short-nosed
sturgeon, striped bass and many seagoing
fish visit Sagadahoc Bay, protected
by the wetlands of the Preserve. Ducks
and migrating birds feed along the
shores. Great blue heron and snowy
egret wade the tidal banks of the creek
in this nationally significant wildlife
habitat. Salt marshes are nurseries for
many commercial fish species.
Geology of the Preserve
The Preserve is located in the geologic
domain known as the Avalon Terrane, a piece of Europe that was accreted to North America about 360-400 million years ago.
The bedrock is thinly
bedded metamorphic rock, including
amphibolite, granofels, and schist, of
Ordovician age (~500-450 million yr).
The dark gray and rusty colored
rocks are intruded by light-colored
pegmatites that have exceptionally large
crystals and may contain gemstones such as aquamarine, beryl, and tourmaline.
In the late 1800s, pegmatites
in the Midcoast region were quarried
for feldspar used as an abrasive and in
the manufacture of porcelain. One such quarry occurs on the preserve and can
be seen from the southernmost path
a short walk from Bay Point Road.
View the Weber Kelly Preserve brochure with more information and trail maps.
Download a detailed history of the Weber Kelly property.
Preserve Boundary map
Directions - View Map
Take Route 127 south from Route 1
Go 8 miles to Bay Point Road, turn right
Preserve parking area and kiosk is located two miles south on the left.
