To the editor:
Dave Barrett’s letter to the editor in the September 2003 issue of The Working Waterfront gives those of us in the land trust community an opportunity to talk about some of the many ways we “contribute to the people who maintain and inhabit this coast,” in Dave’s words, and join in the conversation about “whose working waterfront is it anyway” that began in the August issue of your paper.
Although perhaps best known for protection of ecologically significant properties, land trusts in Maine work closely with others in our communities to protect access to the shore and help maintain a viable, environmentally healthy working waterfront. For example, Islesboro’s only municipal boat landing and mooring area had, by the early nineties, become crowded and nearly overwhelmed with fishing and recreational vessels. After consulting with the Harbor Committee, Warren’s Landing was purchased in 1993 by Islesboro Islands Trust (IIT) and given to the town. It is a mooring location for recreational boaters and fishermen and was recently the landing site for Islesboro Affordable Property’s new modular home.
Elsewhere, Vinalhaven Land Trust (VLT) contributed a Natural Resource Inventory, with a full set of digitized maps, to Vinalhaven’s comprehensive plan revision, giving citizens the data needed to plan for the future of this fishing community. VLT also owns, manages and protects a significant portion of the land essential to the town’s drinking water supply.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust partnered with the town of Machiasport, the Land For Maine’s Future program and private individuals to assure protection of Pettegrow Beach, that has long served as a community boat launch for the town. The protected beach provides guaranteed shore access for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters.
Whenever possible, Maine’s land trusts work together with industry, state agencies, landowners and others to assure continued access to our shoreline, especially as the pressure for private development increases. We hope that commercial interests continue to share in our spirit of cooperation.
Stephen Miller, Islesboro Islands Trust
Lucy McCarthy, Vinalhaven Land Trust
Richard Knox, Maine Coast Heritage Trust