Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Preliminary Statement of Need

Introduction:
After 25 years of successful land conservation efforts in the mid-coast Maine region, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) is presented with an historic and urgent opportunity to invest in high priority land protection projects leading to the protection of working farmland, river corridors, shellfish production areas, and important natural habitat. In addition to new conservation opportunities, BTLT has an urgent need to actively steward 1600 acres of local lands now conserved. If BTLT is successful in taking advantage of these opportunities, it will ensure the special features that make our area unique will be protected forever. Success is 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 scrutinizing and refining its funding priorities to optimize 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 future land protection as well as stewardship. This document outlines the need for and proposed priorities of BTLTs 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 founded in 1985 by a group of neighbors committed to permanently protecting a meadow owned in common. Since then, BTLT 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 conservation goals by engaging and collaborating with others. In 2004, BTLTs geographic focus for land conservation was broadened to include Bowdoin in addition to Topsham and Brunswick.

Significant Accomplishments:
Since 1985, BTLT has completed 29 land protection projects, conserving 1571 acres 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 as such unique and special places. 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 cross-country ski trails, and access for commercial shellfish harvesting. BTLT was Maines first local land trust 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, and a committed and active board of over 20 people.

 The BTLT has a unique role in southern mid-coast Maine, marked in part by its practice of collaboration with many public and private partners. The land trust works in close partnership with the Towns of Topsham and Brunswick, and partners with 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 Clubs, among others.

BTLTs Hallmark Land Protection Work:

Many view the permanent protection of 321-acre Crystal Spring Farm (CSF) as the signature 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 raised more than $2 million in the last decade to fund the acquisition and invigorated community understanding and support for BTLTs mission. BTLT maintains a network of publicly accessible trails on the farm property, which include wooded areas as well as fields, and are used by thousands of visitors 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 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. Over the last six years, BTLT and its partners have raised and expended approximately $5,200,000 to protect more than 540 acres along Maquoit Bay. In Topsham, the BTLT has actively committed itself to establishing 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 protecting 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 more than 2500 people each Saturday morning during the season which runs from 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 provide greater food security for our most vulnerable citizens as well as to serve as a therapeutic garden for the elderly living in nearby assisted and skilled care facilities. Today, CSF is under active agricultural cultivation by a farm family. Among other things, the farmer runs a Community Supported Agriculture program, supplies local restaurants, leases the farm buildings and agricultural lands, sponsors research activities, and offers agricultural education programs.

Unsurpassed Opportunities:
BTLT has developed and refined a strategic plan that focuses on significant land protection opportunities that include properties with the following important 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.

 BTLT is aware of 39 parcels of land available in its conservation focus areas, of which 12 are prime candidates for immediate protection. Only financial resources and organizational capacity are holding the land trust back from more immediate pursuit of these properties. BTLTs land protection priorities include efforts to connect properties it has already conserved. It strives to protect surrounding properties to create conservation blocks, so as to protect whole places and thus 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 take advantage of these opportunities. It is entirely possible that within a very short period of time, virtually all of the land worthy of protection in Maines southern mid coast will be either developed or preserved. Such is the case in many communities throughout New England and the eastern seaboard. Accordingly, BTLT must position itself to take advantage of these opportunities now.

Organizational Development:
In 2009, BTLT elected to engage in the Land Trust Accreditation Commissions process as part of its commitment to excellence in carrying out its mission. The process involves improving and updating policies, practices and procedures and a thorough examination of the organization and its capacity. BTLT has developed a detailed 5-year strategic plan and conducted a comprehensive review of the organization and its practices. BTLT will apply for accreditation in November of 2011. The outcome of the accreditation process is the unquestionable need to expand the Land Trusts staffit cannot manage existing projects, steward protected lands, build conservation partnerships, and work on new acquisitions with one, parttime employee.

The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value. Theodore Roosevelt

As part of implementation of its strategic vision and plan, BTLT has the opportunity for a highly-focused effort to retain a higher percentage of existing members, add new members, and raise membership levels of support from those who are committed to BTLT's ongoing mission. Growing membership and significantly raising total support from the membership is critical to BTLT's success in achieving its goals over the next 3 - 5 years.

Comprehensive Campaign Planning:

As a result of 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 campaign to address key funding priorities: leveraging priority land protection opportunities; building stewardship capacity; and compliance with the rigorous standards of accreditation, including dramatically increased annual membership support. 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

LAND PROTECTION Priority Land Protection Projects in Brunswick, Topsham, and Bowdoin Includes all 12 priority land project costs, fees, and contingencies. BTLT has secured approximately $1,300,000 in funding toward these projects to date. $5,950,000

LAND STEWARDSHIP Stewardship Capacity-Building Over 5 Years Fund an increase in stewardship activities, including volunteer-driven monitoring coordinated by a full-time staff person. 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. $600,000 $200,000

ANNUAL OPERATING SUPPORT Annual Fund-Raising During Campaign Period To support and augment annual operations, including new stewardship and volunteer coordinator staff, reflecting increases from membership support of approximately $50,000 per year to meet capacity increases as required by Land Trust Alliance accreditation. $600,000

TOTAL:

$7,350,000