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The Sheepscot Log

Fall 2011

Volunteers Honored at Brunch

Board President, Honor Fox Sage with veteran volunteer Lee Murch and Executive Director, Maureen Hoffman.

SVCA was pleased to recognize its volunteers on Saturday, November 5, with a brunch in their honor. Volunteers monitor the land trust’s protected properties, conduct water testing in locations throughout the watershed, clear trails for public hiking, lead nature walks and paddles, organize fundraisers from yard sales to the annual “Champagne on the Sheepscot” event, serve on the SVCA board and committees, participate in mailings, do office work, answer phones and much, much more. Much more in full newsletter....

Celebrating another successful “Champagne on the Sheepscot” fundraiser

Hosts Ted and Mary Gene Myer with SVCA’s president Honor Fox Sage and event committee chair Ann Springhorn

A gala event on a picture perfect September evening, attended by some 140 persons, raised more than $10,000 for the SVCA. The event was held at the home of Mary Gene and Ted Myer on the banks of the Sheepscot River. Flowers were donated by the Sheepscot Flower Farm in Newcastle and in addition, several businesses provided discounted products and services to the event including The Eastern River Cattle Company, MicroMania, Seasons Catering and Treats. The SVCA wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to our gracious hosts Ted and Mary Gene Myer, all the volunteers, business sponsors and everyone who bought tickets for the event including 71 patrons. Much more in full newsletter....

Naturalist Lynne Flaccus joins SVCA as Programs Manager

Naturalist Lynne Flaccus has joined the SVCA staff as our new Programs Manager.

SVCA is pleased to welcome Lynne Flaccus, former Head Naturalist at the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, as its new Programs Manager. Lynne joined the SVCA staff on October 31st. Her responsibilities include stewardship, land protection, trails and education. Lynne was already associated with SVCA, joining the board of directors in 2008, where she used her leadership skills as chair of the Events and Outreach Committee. She also has been a popular leader of SVCA guided walks and other activities as a volunteer. We are delighted that Lynne has joined the staff and look forward to her helping make the SVCA an even stronger organization. Much more in full newsletter....

SVCA Helps out New School

SVCA has agreed to be the temporary fiscal agent for the newly formed Juniper Hill School for Place-Based Education in Alna. The school, located little more than a mile away from SVCA’s office, opened in September, and initially is accepting students from pre-K through second grade level. Part of the school’s mission is to connect children to themselves, each other, and their communities by studying natural environments and utilizing immersion in the natural world.

SVCA was asked to fill the short-lived role of fiscal agent while Juniper Hill completes the process of acquiring its 501(c)3 tax-free status from the Internal Revenue Service. The school has submitted its application, and is hoping that approval comes by the end of 2011. SVCA has acted as fiscal agent for other organizations in the past, and in this case the board recognized that Juniper Hill’s mission of exposing children to both human and natural environments is consistent with SVCA’s own environmental and educational aims.

Plus

  • From the President
  • Holiday gifts that support SVCA
  • Flash Walks
  • Natural History Quiz
  • Photo contest winners
  • Thank you to our 2011 Volunteers

Summer 2011

Focus on Hockomock Bay

In 2008, the SVCA and two neighboring land trusts commissioned Janet McMahon to review the natural resources of the entire Sheepscot River watershed to help the three trusts refine their strategic conservation plans. As there is exciting conservation activity ongoing in Westport (see story on page 3), we thought this a good time to learn more about a nearby focus area assigned to SVCA. From a biological standpoint, the 1,740-acre Hockomock Bay focus area is one of the most diverse in the watershed, one of two biodiversity “hot spots” of statewide interest in the Sheepscot watershed.More...

Conservation Activity on Westport Island

The Town of Westport Island is currently working with a number of land trust partners to purchase and conserve a 202-acre parcel of land that includes 2,495 feet of Sheepscot River shorefront, rich wetland habitat areas and extensive forests. A conservation easement will be held by a local land trust (Kennebec Estuary Land Trust or SVCA.)

The Trust for Public Land has lead the effort to raise the grant funds needed to protect this critically important parcel. The land will be maintained as undeveloped open space for the enjoyment of residents and visitors for traditional recreation such as hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, skating and wildlife viewing. The Town recently voted to contribute $75,000 to the project through bonding, a significant vote of support from the residents.

Ames True Value Hardware & Supply of Wiscasset Adopts Bass Falls Preserve

As part of SVCA’s new Adopt-A-Preserve Program, Ames True Value Hardware & Supply is sponsoring SVCA’s Bass Falls Preserve in Alna with a generous $500 donation. The annual donation supports maintenance of the kiosk and the parking lot as well as staff time needed to oversee the wonderful volunteer efforts in mantaining the trails.

We are so grateful to Ames for their continued support. If you are visiting their Wiscasset store, please be sure to tell them thanks! If your business or group would like to adopt a preserve, please contact Kristin at 586-5616. The SVCA has 7 public preserves in Alna(2), Jefferson, Newcastle(2), Palermo and Whitefield.

Anticipated merger of SVCA and SRWC

Over a year ago members of the boards and staffs of SVCA and the Sheepscot River Watershed Council (SRWC) began conversations about the possibility of a merger of the two organizations. SRWC is one of only two remaining councils from those created under Gov. King in the late 1990’s, in the early days of the process aimed at listing the Atlantic salmon “races” associated with 8 Maine rivers, including the Sheepscot, as endangered species. The SVCA was a charter member of the Council, provided the first Council Chair, and indeed the first staff for the Council worked part-time for both the Council and the SVCA.More...

Returning Salmon caught in Smolt Trap at Head Tide

Every spring, NOAA and the Maine Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries (DMR) place traps in the Sheepscot River just downstream of the Head Tide Dam to survey the number of one year old salmon, called smolts, traveling downstream to the ocean. Scientists visit the site every morning and unload the live-trap to count all of the contents and release them on their journey. They measure, weigh and take scale samples of any salmon.More...

Public comment period on SVCA’s Accreditation application now open

The Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, based in Newcastle, has announced that it is applying for accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Commission’s accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet quality standards in their efforts to permanently protect important natural places and working lands. A public comment period on SVCA’s application is now open.More...

Sheepscot River Watershed Council Works to improve Fish Passage and Water Quality

See the full article for details on all of these active projects.

  • Pullen Mill
  • Dyer River
  • Kennebec Barrier Survey
  • Muscongus Culvert Replacement Project

As you can see from this list of projects, we have been busy this last year working to address fish passage and water quality issues in the Sheepscot and in adjacent watersheds.

Plus

  • From the president
  • Best of luck to tish
  • Sheepscot Salmon Club makes final Donation
  • SVCA Raffle
  • Youth Summit workers lend a helping hand at SVCA

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