btlt preliminary statement of need

8/6/2019 BTLT Preliminary Statement of Need

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Introduction:

After 25 years of successful land conservation efforts in the mid-coast region,the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) sees an historic and urgentopportunity to invest in high priority land protection projects. These

opportunities have the potential of protecting acres of working farmland, rivercorridors, shellfish production areas, and important natural habitat not evenimagined a few years ago. In addition, there is an urgent need to mount activestewardship programs for the 1600 acres of local lands now conserved.

If BTLT can be successful in taking advantage of these opportunities, itwill be a major step forward in ensuring that the special features thatmake our area unique will forever remain. Success will be directly tied tothe ability to raise the dollars needed to make conservation happen. Withstrong community support, a clear vision, and a strategic plan for landconservation in the area, BTLT is refining its funding priorities tooptimize its levels of support for critical projects over the next five years.

During the summer of 2011, BTLT is seeking very specific and detailedinput on its proposed plans for a land protection and stewardshipcampaign. This document outlines the need for and proposed priorities ofthese plans.

Organizational Overview:

BTLT was created in 1985 by a group of neighbors who wished to permanentlyprotect a meadow they owned in common. Since then, it has grown and maturedinto an organization that executes complex land transactions, holds fee andeasement land (including a working farm), actively manages its properties,sponsors community and education events, and accomplishes goals by engagingand collaborating with others. In 2004, the geographic focus for landconservation efforts was broadened to include Bowdoin in addition to Topshamand Brunwick.

Significant Accomplishments:

Since 1985, BTLT has completed 29 land protection projects, conserving 1571 acres of natural lands.BTLT owns eight of the properties outright, with the rest protected by a wide variety of conservationeasements, all of which conserve the properties in perpetuity.

BTLTs primary work is the acquisition, protection, and stewardship of the most special naturalareas and working lands that help define our communities. The land trust owns 446 acres outright,including a working farm, and holds easements on 1,125 acres. Protected lands are diverse, includingblueberry and farm fields used for local food production, coastal estuaries in areas designated as having

statewide ecological significance, wetlands that protect pristine streams, woodland, and small parcelsthat provide green space in built areas or access to rivers and the ocean. These lands provide manybenefits to a region that has grown significantly since the 1950s, such as open space, scenic views,habitat, resource protection, active agricultural land, hiking and ski trails, and access for commercialclamming.

BTLT was the first local land trust in Maine to hire an executive director. It has been proud to serveas a fiscal agent and incubator of new organizations, such as the Cathance River Education Allianceand Greater Topsham Trail Alliance. In 1997, BTLT won the Land Heritage award from the MaineCoast Heritage Trust in recognition for its outstanding work as a local land trust. BTLT currently hasapproximately 1,000 members.

The mission of the BTLT is topreserve, protect, and stewardthe cherished landscapes andrich natural resources of our

communities, to provide accessfor recreation, and to support

local agriculture and othertraditional land uses, now andfor generations to come.

B r u n s w i c k - T o p s h a m L a n d T r u s tDRAFT P r e l i m i n a r y S t a t e m e n t o f N e e d


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The BTLT has a unique role in the southern mid-coast, marked in part by its many collaborations with

public and private partners. The land trust continues to collaborate with the Cathance River EducationAlliance (CREA), and has worked in close partnership with the towns of Topsham and Brunswick.Other partners include: Bowdoin College, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Trustfor Public Land, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Freeport Conservation Trust, Harpswell Heritage LandTrust, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, Maine Depts. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Conservation, andAgriculture; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Brunswick and Topsham Rotary.

Recent Land Protection Projects That Demonstrate BTLTs Vision:Many view the permanent protection of 321-acre Crystal Spring Farm as the most significantaccomplishment of the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust. This land protection project is a model for theprotection of working farmland. Generous contributions from two capital campaigns which raised more than$2 million in the last decade funded the acquisition and invigorated community understanding and supportfor BTLTs mission. BTLT maintains a network of publicly accessible trails on the property, which includewooded areas as well as fields used by thousands each year.

BTLT programming at CSF includes educational and recreationalofferings. Today, CSF is under active agricultural cultivation bya farmer who leases the farm buildings and agricultural lands.Among other things, the farmer runs a Community Supported

Agriculture (CSA) program, supplies local restaurants, sponsorsresearch activities, and offers agricultural education programs.

In 2005, the BTLT and Freeport Conservation Trust signed a memorandum of agreement to work togetherto conserve an agricultural and wildlife corridor connecting Crystal Spring Farm and Wolfes Neck Farm inFreeport. Already nearly 1,000 acres has been conserved in this important conservation focus area.Included in this focus area is Maquoit Bay, where over the last six years, BTLT and its partners haveraised and expended approximately $5,200,000 to conserve 540 acres along Maquoit Bay.

In Topsham, the BTLT has committed itself to creatingthe Cathance River Corridor. This bold effort envisionspreserving both banks of this largely undeveloped and lovelyriver from Bradley Pond to the head of tide. So far, 7

projects totaling 463 acres have been completed.

Crystal Spring Farm is also the venue for one of thelargest and best known farmers markets in the State ,attracting up to 2500 people each Saturday morning duringthe season which runs from the first Saturday of May through October. The market, managed by BTLT, hasover 40 vendors and last year grossed over $1 million in revenues, all to benefit small farmers, local foodvendors, and our community. Plans have been developed to establish a community garden at the farm, inpart to distribute food to the Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program and serve as a therapeutic garden forthe elderly living in nearby long-term care facilities.

Opportunities for Land Protection and Stewardship:

There are significant immediate and longer-term opportunities in the Southern Mid-Coast Region forconserving land with the following key characteristics:

Agricultural lands, working farms, and/or forestlands. Waterfront property on the coast, New Meadows River, Androscoggin River, Cathance, Muddy, and

Little Rivers.

Any property that is adjacent to or connects already conserved properties Large undeveloped habitat blocks. Land that will connect or extend recreational trails and wildlife habitat corridors Land at the head waters of the Cathance River and land along the East and West branches of the

Cathance River

Everybody needs beauty as well asbread, places to play in and pray in,

where nature may heal and givestrength to body and soul.

- John Muir


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The land trust has identified 39 parcels of land which represent these variouscharacteristics. Of these parcels, 12 are at the top of the protection list. Onlyfinancial resources and organizational capacity is holding the land trust backfrom more immediate pursuit of these important conservation projects. Inaddition, new projects emerge regularly.

While providing public access to natural lands whenever appropriate has beena priority of the BTLT, so has been a concentrated effort to connect thoseproperties it has already conserved. BTLT understands that connected blocks

of preserved lands or whole places provide better wildlife habitat, more manageable units for agricultureand forestry, and more extensive and complete view-sheds.

BTLT is acutely aware that it only has so much time to complete its mission. Within 25 to 50 years andpossibly much sooner it is entirely possible that virtually all of the land in the southern mid coastcommunities will be either developed or preserved. Few if any conservation opportunities will remain. Morethan a few communities in New England already are in this situation. So the BTLT must remain strong,vigilant, responsive and creative to get the job done.

Organizational Capacity-Building:

BTLT is committed to excellence. In 2009, it recognized the need to engagein capacity-building to maintain organizational quality and sustainability.After 25 years of growth, it has become more difficult to administerprograms, manage fee properties, and monitor easements with a single,part-time staff person. In 2009, shortly after an accreditation process wasdeveloped for land trusts, the Board elected to pursue accreditation as a toolfor building organizational capacity and improving and updating ourpractices. BTLT leadership has worked over the past 18 months to develop a

strategic plan through 2015, which will include astrategic conservation plan slated for completionby August, 2011. As a result of careful planning,BTLT is preparing to apply for accreditationfrom the nationally based Land TrustAccreditation Commission in November of2011.

BTLT has a challenging agenda in the coming year. It must continue capacity building work, submit anaccreditation application in November, and plan for successful and significant land protection projects.Planning for this year has been complicated by an unusual number of conservation opportunities, somedriven by landowners economic circumstances. In the past seven months, BTLT has acquired a record fivefee properties. These acquisitions have strained an already aggressive work plan. However, BTLT iscommitted to protecting significant natural areas in our communities that are part of our identified focusareas for conservation while the economic climate allows for opportunities never imagined a few years ago.

Comprehensive Campaign Planning:

As a result of its intensive planning over the last several months, a successful record of fundraising forpriority projects, and an historic opportunity to protect land, build capacity, and serve as a regional and evennational land trust model, BTLT is preparing for a comprehensive fund-raising campaign over the next 18 to24 months to address key funding priorities. The campaigns focus is on priority land protection andstewardship projects, while increasing internal capacity to meet the rigorous standards of accreditationthrough the Land Trust Alliance. During the summer of 2011, BTLT plans to engage many of its supportersin detailed conversations which will help shape its campaign priorities.

BTLT is acutely aware that it only has so much timeto complete its mission. Within 25 to 50 years andpossibly much sooner it is entirely possible thatvirtually all of the land in the southern mid coastcommunities will be either developed or preserved.


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Summary of Preliminary Funding Priorities

Priority Land Protection Projects in Brunswick, Topsham, and Bowdoin $5,550,000

Includes all project costs. BTLT has secured approximately $1,300,000 infunding toward these projects to date.

Annual Fund Over 4 Years $600,000

To support and augment annual operations, including new stewardship andvolunteer coordinator staff, including increases of approximately $50,000 peryear to meet capacity increases as required by Land Trust Allianceaccreditation.

Working Capital Over 5 Years $200,000

Fund an increase in stewardship activities, including volunteer-drivenmonitoring coordinated by a full-time staff person. BTLT plans to allocateenough capital for each land protection project to permit monitoring,stewardship, and enforcement of easements.

Permanent, Sustainable Funding for Stewardship and Monitoring of Properties $600,000

BTLT strives for permanent, sustainable funding for its stewardshipactivities, including monitoring of properties and easement enforcement. Itenvisions that a permanent staff position may coordinate local and regionalvolunteers, in part, to accomplish this work. An endowment of this size

would conservatively fund approximately ~$27,000 per year towardstewardship staffing and other associated expenses. The Land Trust maycollaborate with other local and regional entities in the future for support ofthis position.

Fees and Interim Finance $400,000

TOTAL: $7,350,000

btlt preliminary statement of need

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