Forest Society Of Maine

THE MAGALLOWAY PARTNERSHIP WETLANDS PROPOSAL REQUESTS $3.000.000 IN NAWCA SUPPORT TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE TWO LARGE, INLAND, WETLAND-RICH PROPERTIES THROUGH FEE AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION. GRANT FUNDS WILL LEVERAGE $9,000,000 IN PARTNER MATCHING FUNDS. TRACTS ARE LOCATED IN OXFORD COUNTY, MAINE. A LARGE FOREST OWNER IN MAINE IS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSERVE 76,000 ACRES THROUGH FEE AND EASEMENTS. THE PROJECT IS A JOINT EFFORT OF 4 WELL-ESTABLISHED, NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CONSERVATION NON-PROFITS. THIS PROPOSAL REPRESENTS THE FIRST OF TWO PROJECT PHASES, AND WILL PERMANENTLY CONSERVE 33,000 ACRES, WITH 1,000 ACRES OF PRODUCTIVE WETLANDS, MORE THAN 68 MILES OF FRESHWATER STREAMS, AND OVER 28 MILES OF WOODED LAKE AND POND SHORELINES IN WESTERN MAINE. PROPOSAL TRACTS FURTHER CONNECT WHAT IS ALREADY A HIGHLY RESILIENT AND BIODIVERSE LANDSCAPE BY FILLING A GAP BETWEEN 2 LARGE BLOCKS OF CONSERVATION LAND THAT TOTAL 348,000 ACRES. THIS PROPOSAL WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MAINE WETLANDS CONSERVATION INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 2018 TO ENGAGE DIVERSE CONSERVATION PARTNERS FROM ACROSS MAINE AND TARGET PROJECTS OF HIGHEST CONSERVATION IMPACT. APPLICANT FOREST SOCIETY OF MAINE HAS BEEN NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SINCE 2009, AND HAS HELPED CONSERVE MORE THAN ONE MILLION ACRES IN MAINE. THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS THAT ENCOMPASS THE FULL ARRAY OF INTERESTS IN MAINES NORTH WOODS. ONE FEE ACQUISITION AND ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PURCHASE ACQUIRED FROM A SINGLE LANDOWNER WILL TOGETHER PERMANENTLY PROTECT A VARIETY OF HABITATS IN CLIMATE RESILIENT, CONNECTED, LOW DISTURBANCE LANDSCAPES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF EXISTING CONSERVATION. ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE: - TRACT 1 PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE WOODED 32,852.1-ACRE PARMACHENEE-MAGALLOWAY EASEMENT TRACT FEATURING 926.6 WETLAND ACRES, WITH FRONTAGE ON 913-ACRE PARMACHENEE LAKE AND 7,829-ACRE AZIZCOHOS LAKE. THE TRACT CONTAINS 94 PONDS OF 1 ACRE, AND INCLUDES 64.1 MILES FRESHWATER STREAMS. - TRACT 2 - FEE PURCHASE OF THE 863.6-ACRE CAMP 10 RESERVE PROPERTY ON PARMACHENEE LAKE, WHICH IS ALMOST SURROUNDED BY TRACT 1. THE TRACT HAS 105.2 ACRES OF WETLANDS, 1.8 MILES OF LAKE FRONTAGE AND 4.3 MILES OF RIPARIAN HABITAT ALONG WOODED FRESHWATER STREAMS. THIS PROPOSAL WILL PROTECT HABITATS THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT ATLANTIC COAST JOINT VENTURE FLAGSHIP SPECIES AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (INCLUDING 8,371.2 ACRES OF MODELED BREEDING HABITAT), 4 OTHER NAWCA HIGH PRIORITY, 8 MEDIUM AND 5 LOW PRIORITY WATERFOWL SPECIES, 6 NAWCA PRIORITY NON-WATERFOWL SPECIES IN BCR 14, AND 6 FEDERAL AND 10 STATE ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AND CANDIDATE SPECIES. THIS PROPOSAL PROTECTS EXTENSIVE FRESHWATER WETLANDS IN LOW DISTURBANCE LANDSCAPES THAT PROVIDE PRIME HABITAT FOR A VARIETY OF WATERFOWL INCLUDING BLACK DUCK, WHICH BREED EXTENSIVELY IN MAINES QUIET INTERIOR FLOWAGES AND MARSHES. ALL PROPOSAL ACREAGE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR RECREATIONAL USES THAT INCLUDE HUNTING, FISHING, HIKING, BIRDWATCHING AND OTHER LOW IMPACT, NON-MOTORIZED ACTIVITIES.

THIS AWARD IS MADE BASED ON APPROVAL OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS PROPOSAL DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2023 HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS AWARD. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF PROGRAM POLICIES, REFER TO THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION STANDARDS, JANUARY 2024. FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD WILL PERMANENTLY PROTECT 5,462.10 ACRES THROUGH FEE TITLE ACQUISITION. THEREFORE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROTECT 5,462.10 TOTAL ACRES OF HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MIGRATORY BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

EXPANDING MAINE-S CONSERVED LANDSCAPES

THE GOAL OF THE COBURN GORE PROJECT IS TO PERMANENTLY CONSERVE A TRACT OF WORKING FORESTLAND CONTAINING IMPORTANT LOON NESTING HABITAT ALONG WITH THE HEADWATERS OF A MAJOR RIVER SYSTEM.

THIS PROJECT WILL PROTECT, VIA CONSERVATION EASEMENT, 117.5 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND 421.9 ACRES OF FORESTED UPLAND BUFFER HABITAT IN PENOBSCOT, ME. THE ACQUISITION WILL CONSERVE IMPORTANT BIRD HABITAT FOR FEDERALLY AND STATE LISTED ENDANGERED SPECIES, AS WELL AS THREATENED AND CANDIDATE SPECIES.

WB PLEASANT RIVER-SILVER LAKE, ME

WB PLEASANT RIVER GULF HAGAS (6070)