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At their annual meeting on Chebeague recently, members of the Cumberland Mainland and Islands Trust discussed environmental concerns and development pressures facing the island, and presented the first Blanchard W. Bates Conservation Awards.
Dick Bradbury, a state biologist, updated islanders about the spread of the browntail moth. He discussed an experiment which is being conducted on Cow Island and Basket Island in Casco Bay. Beetles, which prey on the caterpillars but are not harmful to anything else, have been released on these islands. Although the beetles are not thought to be effective on the larger inhabited islands such as Chebeague, the beetles may help to control the infestation on the small islands if they are able to survive the harsh Maine winters.
Lois Winter, a specialist from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, spoke about pressures which affect Maine's island. She encouraged towns to create build-out maps to better understand the delicate balance between the natural and the man made worlds.
The highlight of the meeting was the announcement that a conservation easement with a public access provision has been placed on two acres of undeveloped land on the southeast side of Deer Point which faces Hope Island. Lee Bowman, a Chebeague lobsterman, has owned the property for more than 25 years. During that time, Chebeaguers continued to picnic and enjoy the quiet solitude of Deer Point's gray sandstone ledges as they had done for generations. Lee Bowman wanted to make sure that this tradition would continue. CMIT hopes that Bowman's generosity will serve as an inspiration to other Chebeaguers who own woods and fields, beaches and rocky outcroppings. Conservation easements offer land owners an opportunity to preserve the environmental integrity of their property while insuring access and enjoyment ofr future generations of islanders.
The trust awarded the first Blanchard W. Bates Conservation Awards. Named for the late Blanchard Bates, a founding member of the trust, the award recognizes significant contributions to the cause of land conservation and public access within the town of Cumberland. Lee Bowman was presented an award for preserving Deer Point, while Cumberland town manager Robert Benson was honored for his support of land conservation during the 17 yuears he has served as manager. Some of the projects Benson has supported on Chebeague include: coastal access studies and subsequent action whch kept town roads open to the shore; acquisition and access to more than one thousand feet of shoreline at Division Point; acquisition of seven acres of land including more than 300 feet of sand beach at Chandlers Cove; and a pedestrian trail to access Roses Point Beach. The town has also purchased several large tracts of land on the mainland during Benson's tenure.
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