At a bend in the Damariscotta River just below Glidden Ledge, a cove reaches inland along the Edgecomb shore. On the north side of this cove, the terrain rises steeply up a forested hillside, making it a prominent landmark on the river. This ridge is the site of a new 39-acre conservation easement, donated to Coastal Rivers by Helen Weld and Robert Strachan of Edgecomb in early August.

The land includes 1,100 feet of shoreline in and around Salt Marsh Cove – a shallow, sheltered cove rich with wildlife, including clams, tidal waterfowl, and wading birds. The conservation easement will ensure that this stretch of shoreline will remain in its natural state, protecting water quality and wildlife habitat in the cove into the future.

Bordered on the south by Bennett’s Neck, Salt Marsh Cove was once the site of a salt works where sea salt was extracted from the water. Later, the cove was home to a grist mill, lumber mill, ice works, and a brick-making operation. While these industries are long gone, traces of glass and bricks remain along the shoreline.

Helen Weld says protecting the property honors the legacy of her parents, Anne and Philip Weld, who cared for the Salt Marsh Cove property starting in the 1970s. She and Robert share a wish “to be the best stewards of the land possible.”