Two Rivers project to conserve lands rich in history

Over 1,000 acres of land and almost five acres of shoreline are being conserved through a community effort spearheaded by the Downeast Coastal Conservancy. The public was invited to learn about the project from committee members at the kick-off launch on May 11 held in Machias.
The project, the Two Rivers Campaign: Community Revitalization through Conservation, includes the 100-acre St. Regis Farm in Machias and over 900 acres along the Machias River. The farm once pastured draft horses used for the St. Regis Paper Company's log drives and is easily accessible from the Machias downtown. The Machias River property includes river frontage and well-stocked woodlands, which the conservancy believes have great potential for low-impact forestry used for community benefit.
The coastal conservancy plans to involve area schools and residents in the recreational, educational and sustainable management possibilities of the land. Not only is the paddle between Whitneyville and Machias a one to two hour ride that is easily accessible to families with busy schedules, but there will be access to fishing, swimming, picnicking and wildlife watching. The conservancy will build upon these activities for future use. Both properties are within one-half mile of Down East Community Hospital, the Machias public schools and the University of Maine at Machias. "The opportunities for long-term environmental education, outdoor recreation and community wellness are endless," says the conservancy's release.
Committee member and Machias Town Manager Christopher Laughlin told the group, "Middle River is one of the best kept secrets. The trip from Whitneyville to Machias is a great little trip." But perhaps even more exciting to the manager are the economic development opportunities when looking at how the project can mesh with another asset, the Down East Sunrise Trail. The two are right next door to each other, providing expansion opportunities for outdoor recreation businesses and secondary businesses such as gear shops, restaurants and lodging.
The Machias River valley is rich in history. Committee member Nathan Pennell recounted how humans have used the resources of the area starting with the thousands of years that the Native Americans used the land, "The Native Americans farmed the meadows, fished. It sustained them." They were drawn by the rivers, he said, and so too were the early settlers, who saw the salt meadows and recognized the value of the area for farming and livestock pasturage. Fishermen and others came who saw the forests and realized the logging potential. "It was a shipbuilding center. Mills started up in Machias and then Whitneyville." Mills were used to process logs into a variety of products, including shingles. The rivers, and hundreds of dams built over the centuries, were used to drive logs and to power mills of all sorts. While most of those dams are now gone, the remnants of those past industries can be seen along the rivers as well as "some of the huge trees that have never been cut, they were hard to get to."
The project is possible because of "landowners who have the patience to work with us and believe in conservation," said conservancy Executive Director Tom Boutureira. The conservancy must raise $1.9 million by the end of the year, of which $1.2 million is for the land purchase. They are well on their way with pledges of $900,000 brought in so far, including a grant that will match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $400,000, for a combined potential total of $800,000.
Once fundraising is completed and the properties acquired, the conservancy plans to invest $100,000 over 2013 and 2014 for trails, signage, parking and other public access improvements. Approximately $500,000 will be retained in a stewardship fund held by the Maine Community Foundation that will be used for long-term property management, insurance, educational and outdoor programs and property tax payments. Boutureira explains that the properties will stay on the tax rolls. "We're in the process of talking to the town assessors. It's likely to be rolled into the open space program." The state program has a number of open space use categories that reduce property taxes at different percentages. Because of the types of grants the conservancy will be utilizing, the deed will be restricted to conservation in that manner rather than through a conservation easement held by another entity such as Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
For more information about the project visit <www.downeastcoastalconservancy.org> or contact the committee members: co-chairs David Dowley or Betsy Fitzgerald, Richard Bard, Julie and David Barker, Jake Berry, Tom Boutureira, Bill Cherry, Harold Clossey, Gary Dowling, Beth Foss, Warren Gay, Kehben Grier, Frank Hallissey, Ellen Hostert, Kathy Howell, Cindy Huggins, Blaine Jones, Doug Jones, Brian Leavitt, Becky Lee, Chris Loughlin, Jen Lobley, Mitch Look, Tom Michaud, Nate Pennell, Traci Sanborn, Rob Scribner, Sherrie Sprangers, Jacob van de Sande and Patrick Watson.