Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust DRAFT Preliminary Statement of Need

Introduction:
After 25 years of successful land conservation efforts in the mid-coast region, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) sees an historic and urgent opportunity to invest in high priority land protection projects. These opportunities have the potential of protecting acres of working farmland, river corridors, shellfish production areas, and important natural habitat not even imagined a few years ago. In addition, there is an urgent need to mount active stewardship programs for the 1600 acres of local lands now conserved. If BTLT can be successful in taking advantage of these opportunities, it will be a major step forward in ensuring that the special features that make our area unique will forever remain. Success will be directly tied to the ability to raise the dollars needed to make conservation happen. With strong community support, a clear vision, and a strategic plan for land conservation in the area, BTLT is refining its funding priorities to optimize its levels of support for critical projects over the next five years. During the summer of 2011, BTLT is seeking very specific and detailed input on its proposed plans for a land protection and stewardship campaign. This document outlines the need for and proposed priorities of these plans. The mission of the BTLT is to preserve, protect, and steward the cherished landscapes and rich natural resources of our communities, to provide access for recreation, and to support local agriculture and other traditional land uses, now and for generations to come.

Organizational Overview:
BTLT was created in 1985 by a group of neighbors who wished to permanently protect a meadow they owned in common. Since then, it has grown and matured into an organization that executes complex land transactions, holds fee and easement land (including a working farm), actively manages its properties, sponsors community and education events, and accomplishes goals by engaging and collaborating with others. In 2004, the geographic focus for land conservation efforts was broadened to include Bowdoin in addition to Topsham and 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 conservation easements, all of which conserve the properties in perpetuity. BTLTs primary work is the acquisition, protection, and stewardship of the most special natural areas 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, including blueberry 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 parcels that provide green space in built areas or access to rivers and the ocean. These lands provide many benefits 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 commercial clamming. BTLT was the first local land trust in Maine to hire an executive director. It has been proud to serve as a fiscal agent and incubator of new organizations, such as the Cathance River Education Alliance and Greater Topsham Trail Alliance. In 1997, BTLT won the Land Heritage award from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust in recognition for its outstanding work as a local land trust. BTLT currently has approximately 1,000 members.

 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 Education Alliance (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, Trust for Public Land, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Freeport Conservation Trust, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, Maine Depts. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Conservation, and Agriculture; 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 significant accomplishment of the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust. This land protection project is a model for the protection 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 support for BTLTs mission. BTLT maintains a network of publicly accessible trails on the property, which include wooded areas as well as fields used by thousands each year. Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. - John Muir BTLT programming at CSF includes educational and recreational offerings. Today, CSF is under active agricultural cultivation by a farmer who leases the farm buildings and agricultural lands. Among other things, the farmer runs a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, supplies local restaurants, sponsors research activities, and offers agricultural education programs.

In 2005, the BTLT and Freeport Conservation Trust signed a memorandum of agreement to work together to conserve an agricultural and wildlife corridor connecting Crystal Spring Farm and Wolfes Neck Farm in Freeport. 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 have raised and expended approximately $5,200,000 to conserve 540 acres along Maquoit Bay. In Topsham, the BTLT has committed itself to creating the Cathance River Corridor. This bold effort envisions preserving both banks of this largely undeveloped and lovely river 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 the largest and best known farmers markets in the State, attracting up to 2500 people each Saturday morning during the season which runs from the first Saturday of May through October. The market, managed by BTLT, has over 40 vendors and last year grossed over $1 million in revenues, all to benefit small farmers, local food vendors, and our community. Plans have been developed to establish a community garden at the farm, in part to distribute food to the Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program and serve as a therapeutic garden for the 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 for conserving 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

 The land trust has identified 39 parcels of land which represent these various characteristics. Of these parcels, 12 are at the top of the protection list. Only financial resources and organizational capacity is holding the land trust back from more immediate pursuit of these important conservation projects. In addition, new projects emerge regularly. While providing public access to natural lands whenever appropriate has been a priority of the BTLT, so has been a concentrated effort to connect those properties it has already conserved. BTLT understands that connected blocks of preserved lands or whole places provide better wildlife habitat, more manageable units for agriculture and 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 and possibly much sooner it is entirely possible that virtually all of the land in the southern mid coast communities will be either developed or preserved. Few if any conservation opportunities will remain. More than 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 engage in capacity-building to maintain organizational quality and sustainability. After 25 years of growth, it has become more difficult to administer programs, manage fee properties, and monitor easements with a single, part-time staff person. In 2009, shortly after an accreditation process was developed for land trusts, the Board elected to pursue accreditation as a tool for building organizational capacity and improving and updating our practices. BTLT leadership has worked over the past 18 months to develop a strategic plan through 2015, which will include a strategic conservation plan slated for completion BTLT is acutely aware that it only has so much time by August, 2011. As a result of careful planning, to complete its mission. Within 25 to 50 years and BTLT is preparing to apply for accreditation possibly much sooner it is entirely possible that from the nationally based Land Trust virtually all of the land in the southern mid coast Accreditation Commission in November of communities will be either developed or preserved. 2011. BTLT has a challenging agenda in the coming year. It must continue capacity building work, submit an accreditation 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, some driven by landowners economic circumstances. In the past seven months, BTLT has acquired a record five fee properties. These acquisitions have strained an already aggressive work plan. However, BTLT is committed to protecting significant natural areas in our communities that are part of our identified focus areas 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 for priority projects, and an historic opportunity to protect land, build capacity, and serve as a regional and even national land trust model, BTLT is preparing for a comprehensive fund-raising campaign over the next 18 to 24 months to address key funding priorities. The campaigns focus is on priority land protection and stewardship projects, while increasing internal capacity to meet the rigorous standards of accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance. During the summer of 2011, BTLT plans to engage many of its supporters in detailed conversations which will help shape its campaign priorities.

Summary of Preliminary Funding Priorities

Priority Land Protection Projects in Brunswick, Topsham, and Bowdoin Includes all project costs. BTLT has secured approximately $1,300,000 in funding toward these projects to date.

$5,550,000

Annual Fund Over 4 Years To support and augment annual operations, including new stewardship and volunteer coordinator staff, including increases of approximately $50,000 per year to meet capacity increases as required by Land Trust Alliance accreditation.

$600,000

Working Capital Over 5 Years Fund an increase in stewardship activities, including volunteer-driven monitoring coordinated by a full-time staff person. BTLT plans to allocate enough capital for each land protection project to permit monitoring, stewardship, and enforcement of easements.

$200,000

Permanent, Sustainable Funding for Stewardship and Monitoring of Properties BTLT strives for permanent, sustainable funding for its stewardship activities, including monitoring of properties and easement enforcement. It envisions that a permanent staff position may coordinate local and regional volunteers, in part, to accomplish this work. An endowment of this size would conservatively fund approximately ~$27,000 per year toward stewardship staffing and other associated expenses. The Land Trust may collaborate with other local and regional entities in the future for support of this position.

$600,000

Fees and Interim Finance

$400,000

TOTAL:

$7,350,000