Conservation that benefits community, wildlife, water quality, and climate
We conserve special places in our community that help define the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region. These places are diverse in character, but all contribute to making our region unique. They include trails, scenic views, prehistoric shell middens, beloved sledding hills, and critical wildlife corridors.
Conservation priorities
What are the most important types of properties to conserve? These are some of the values Coastal Rivers takes into account when making decisions about where to conserve land:
Natural areas
- Connected landscapes: Large tracts of land and properties adjacent to land that is already conserved
- Wildlife “corridors” or places that allow animals to move safely from one area to another
- Areas considered by state or federal programs to have high value habitat
- Properties that provide habitat for endangered species or that contain notable natural communities
- Areas where species are at the edge of their range
- Wetlands
- Wildlife habitat buffers
Scenic lands
- Properties with extensive undeveloped shoreline
- Islands
- Headlands
- Places where there is a view that is important to the community
Public access
- Trails
- Places with shoreline access
- Areas that offer productive commercial or recreational fishing or harvesting
- Open space in villages that have value to the community
- Traditionally used open space
Heritage landscapes
- Saltwater farms
- Water supply
- Working harbors or waterfront
- Conservation lands identified in a municipality’s comprehensive plan
- Sites that contain shell middens, historic brickyards, etc.
How we conserve land
Land conservation happens as a voluntary partnership between a landowner and the land trust. We work with interested landowners to conserve land in a few different ways:
Full ownership (also called “fee ownership”)
With a transfer of ownership to Coastal Rivers, the landowner is no longer responsible for paying property taxes and managing the property, and also has the reassurance that the property will be cared for and conserved by Coastal Rivers for generations to come.
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Ownership transfer can take place in one of several ways:
- As a donation
- In your will
- Through purchase, either at bargain sale or at fair market value
- As trade land, in the case of properties that do not meet criteria for conservation. In such a case the donor explicitly intends for us to resell the property to support conservation efforts in other locations.
Coastal Rivers’ fee properties allow public access, protect water quality, and help keep important habitat corridors open and available to wildlife.
Conservation easements
A conservation easement allows a landowner to retain ownership of their property, while ensuring that all or some of the property is permanently conserved according to their values. The easement is a voluntary legal agreement between the landowner and Coastal Rivers, that details how the land will be managed in the future.
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How does it work?
The landowner can tailor a conservation easement to fit their needs and management goals. The terms of the agreement are developed through an active discussion between Coastal Rivers and the landowner. The agreement limits development, though sometimes a house lot or two is retained. It describes other future uses of the land, like sustainable forestry, trails, farming, or clamming. In turn, Coastal Rivers is responsible for making sure that the guidelines laid out in the agreement are followed over time, even if the land is sold or passed on to an heir.
Do conservation easements allow public access?
Some do! The choice is up to the landowner and can be written into the terms of the easement. Some easements protect restricted public access (i.e. for licensed clammers only, or only along an established trail).
Are there financial benefits?
Most easements are donated by the landowner. A landowner who donates an easement may be eligible for income tax benefits. Once in place, conservation easements can sometimes result in lower property taxes as well. Coastal Rivers can not provide tax advice; landowners should always consult their own counsel.
Partnerships
Coastal Rivers can assist other public agencies or organizations by moving quickly to purchase land on their behalf and then transferring the property to that agency or organization.
Coastal Rivers also provides stewardship services to municipalities and other partners – for example at Walpole Woods and Tracy Shore (owned by the Town of South Bristol), for the Hilton O’Connor Trail (owned by the Town of Bremen), and at Dodge Point and Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site (owned by the State of Maine).
Connect with Our Lands Staff
If you’re considering conserving your land, please reach out to our Lands team to discuss your options. We look forward to working with you!
