Statewide land trust with focus on coast 42 Years, more than 3,700 members 1,168 Projects 137,000 acres 297 whole islands currently own and manage 49 islands including the 1,000 acre Ed Woodsum Preserve (Marshall Is.) MLTN program supports 93 land trusts Land Conservation Conference Aldermere Farm
What does it mean to Conserve Land?
What does it mean to Conserve Land? Private landowner with well managed farm or woodlot. Zoning that protects aquifer. Water districts.
Land Conservation as a technical term of art: The act of transferring land, or an interest in the land (e.g. an easement), to a legal entity whose purpose is, in whole or in part, the permanent protection of certain resources or values on that land.
A reminder on how land conservation can help protect drinking water
One of the strongest predictors of water quality is the percentage of impervious surface in the watershed.
Land Conservation as a technical term of art: The act of transferring land, or an interest in the land (e.g. an easement), to a legal entity whose purpose is, in whole or in part, the permanent protection of certain resources or values on that land.
What kinds of entities are we talking about? State, federal, local agency whose primary purpose is the conservation and management of land. (IF&W, USFWS) A land trust (nonprofit organization).
Two main conservation tools: Fee simple purchase buying the land Conservation easements
What does it mean to own land? Bundle of Sticks is still a useful way to think about it. Each stick is a right.
FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
Conservation Easement Facts Easements are usually permanent Easement Deed in NH Easements are a partnership between the landowner and the easement holder. Easements are done on a voluntary basis the seller or donor, and the easement holder, mutually agree to travel that road together. Easements are infinitely flexible but typical restrictions are on subdivision, building restrictions, mining. They must be monitored frequently, ideally yearly Many easements are donations that result in federal and state income tax deductions, and possibly property tax and estate tax reductions.
Public and Land Trust Conservation/Recreation Lands Acres Summary Fee Easement Total Federal 187,344 13,832 201,176 State 994,658 372,148 1,366,806 Municipal* 112,323 3,036 1,567,982 Land Trusts/NGO 878,878 1,993,010 2,871,888 Total 2,173,203 2,382,026 4,555,229 *Municipal-owned forests, parks and recreation lands >10 acres. Excludes school-owned lands. All data current as of Dec 2010 except as noted, although WW added in Plum Creek easement at 363,000 acres Total Maine Acreage 22,000,000 % conserved 20.7%
Public and Land Trust Conservation/Recreation Lands Acres Summary Fee Easement Total Federal 187,344 13,832 201,176 State 994,658 372,148 1,366,806 Municipal* 112,323 3,036 1,567,982 Land Trusts/NGO 878,878 1,993,010 2,871,888 Total 2,173,203 2,382,026 4,555,229 *Municipal-owned forests, parks and recreation lands >10 acres. Excludes school-owned lands. All data current as of Dec 2010 except as noted, although WW added in Plum Creek easement at 363,000 acres Total Maine Acreage 22,000,000 % conserved 20.7%
What is a Land Trust? A private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easement (Wikipedia)
Types of Land Trusts International/National/Multi-State with local presence (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, New England Forestry Foundation, Trust for Public Land) Statewide (Maine Farmland Trust, Forest Society of Maine, MCHT) Town and Regional (Georges River Land Trust, Medomak Valley Land Trust) Trail oriented (e.g. Mousam Way Land Trust, AMC)
Land Trust Facts Most Land Trusts are: Membership organizations Volunteer Boards governing or guiding them often civic leaders Some have staff Non-confrontational and only do land conservation on a willing-buyer willing seller basis! Generally avoid advocacy except for funding initiatives. Frequently work with local, state and federal funders and partners and more and more, with water districts.
Examples of drinking water oriented conservation projects w/ land trusts: Wells Barrens Crooked River
Wells Barrens High Priority for both KKWWD (for Branch Brook) and TNC (for Natural Diversity) Jointly approached landowners Asking price of $3 million TNC and KKWWD agreed to share cost and land TNC got 380 acres, KKWWD 180 acres along Branch Brook TNC took easement on KKWWD land KKWWD got substantial portion of watershed protected and rights to extract water if needed to supplement flow in brook.
Wells Barrens
Crooked River Facts Crooked River has AA rating, landlocked Salmon population Provides 40% of surface water flows into Sebago Lake Sebago is Portland Water District water supply. Enjoys a filtration waiver due to high water quality.
Upland Headwaters Alliance : Western Mountains, Loon Echo, Greater Lovell, Mahoosuc, Upper Saco River Valley. Plan and prioritize together with PWD PWD even made a contribution to Western Mts. Stewardship fund, after they closed on a 350 ac. easement.