Thanks to the combined efforts of Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), the Sherman Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Newcastle has gained 48 acres as well as more permanent protection.
60 acres of farm fields and woods on Route One just northeast of downtown Damariscotta are now permanently protected, thanks to a collaboration between Damariscotta River Association (DRA), Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), Slow Money Maine, The Morris Farm Trust, United States Department of Agriculture and Brady Hatch and Brendan McQuillen of Morning Dew Farm. “This complicated project has been almost seven years in the making, and it is hard to imagine a better outcome,” said Adam Bishop, Farmland Protection Program Director at MFT. Your support through DRA helped make this possible. Maine Farmland Trust, in partnership with DRA, and with …
Celebrating a new “Forever Farm” in Damariscotta Read More »
Article by Abigail Adams in The Lincoln County News July 15, 2017 The Damariscotta River Association recently closed on a 178-acre parcel in Edgecomb, permanently protecting critical wetlands habitat and a half-mile tract of the River-Link Trail between the Damariscotta and Sheepscot rivers. Hikers were previously able to walk the land, which helps connect Dodge Point Preserve in Newcastle to the Schmid Preserve in Edgecomb, due to a trail agreement with the landowner, said DRA Executive Director Steve Hufnagel. The agreement was temporary, revocable, and provided no guarantee that the uninterrupted wildlife corridor created by the River-Link Trail would remain …
Conservation of 178-Acre Edgecomb Parcel Protects River~Link Trail Read More »
A new trail is in the works at Salt Marsh Cove Preserve in Bristol. Lands and Stewardship Director Jesse Ferreira reports a lovely trail around the cove has been scouted out and flagged. Cutting will begin once weather permits in the spring, with the goal of opening the trail to the public this summer. Winding through mature hardwood forest, and skirting an expansive salt marsh, the trail culminates at picturesque “swim rock,” offering sweeping views of the cove before looping back through the woods. The trail will be fairly easy, and the marsh is an ideal spot to observe wading …
Stewardship Update – New trail in the works at Salt Marsh Cove Preserve Read More »
Huston Dodge was a good friend to DRA, a lover of the Damariscotta River, and a teacher of history. Few people personified our three-part mission of preserving natural, cultural and historical heritage as he did. Many not be aware that Huston also left us with a lasting legacy, Huston Landing 1740: a DRA Heritage Preserve, a 10-acre property on the east bank of the Damariscotta River in Damariscotta. The preserve is open to the public, and we invite you to explore it! Read more about Huston in the February 8, 2017 Lincoln County News article. Click on any image for …
Because of you, we are a big step closer to protecting this special property forever! We are thrilled to share with you the news that with your help, Damariscotta River Association has secured an option to purchase the 178-acre Louderback Property at the heart of the River~Link* corridor in Newcastle and Edgecomb (see map below). What’s more, we’ve just learned DRA has been awarded a grant that will get us 85% of the way to conserving the land permanently. We are that close to finalizing the remaining link in this incredible conservation and recreation corridor. Your commitment to the River …
River~Link: One big step closer to filling in the gap! Read More »
Two exceptional gifts last year fundamentally strengthen the Damariscotta River Association’s ability to deliver on the promise of “conserving land in perpetuity.” A bequest from Susan Harvey and a gift from the Hart Family will both fund land and easement stewardship, building further DRA’s reserve of stewardship funds in preparation for national Land Trust Accreditation and in keeping with land trust best practices. Susan Harvey Bequest Caption: Susan Harvey pictured with her good friend and former DRA Executive Director Peter Knauss at the DRA lobster bake in 2005. A great friend and former board member of DRA, Susan Harvey passed …
Gifts to DRA Support Land and Easement Stewardship Read More »
