Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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XII. Reserve Boundary and Acquisition PlanIntroductionThe Wells National Estuarine Research Reserveadvocates a comprehensive approach to protectingresources, providing stable environmentsfor research and education, and broadening theReserve’s representation of ecosystems. As part ofthis effort, Reserve staff has mapped all land withinthe Little River, Webhannet River, and OgunquitRiver watersheds; worked within local communitiesto develop strategies to protect land and water; andidentified and prioritized land suitable for protectionby the Wells Reserve and its partners.The Wells Reserve’s objectives for conservation,research, education, and stewardship are most easilymet when the Reserve Management Authority orone of its represented entities directly manages atract of land. This level of control is possible forlands within its “Reserve boundary.”Not all lands important for conservation lie withinthe Reserve boundary. The watersheds of rivers andstreams flowing into the Reserve’s estuaries areunder considerable development pressure. Rapidgrowth could threaten the functions of estuarineecosystems by fragmenting habitat, damagingwetlands, and degrading water quality upstream ofthe Reserve. The Wells Reserve must help conservecritical resources outside the Reserve boundary toavoid negative impacts on the estuarine resourceswithin its boundary. The area in which the WellsReserve will directly and actively participate in landconservation efforts with the goal of incorporatingprotected lands into the Reserve and managing theproperties is defined by its “acquisition boundary.”This chapter proposes to expand both the Reserveboundary and the acquisition boundary. This sectionalso describes priorities and procedures theReserve will use to acquire in-holdings within theReserve’s perimeter; to acquire large contiguoustracts adjacent to Reserve lands; and to protecttracts within watersheds upstream of the estuaries,especially those tracts that border streams, tributaries,and wetlands feeding estuarine and riparianhabitats.As part of its stewardship mission, the WellsReserve works with land conservation organizationsin coastal zone communities of southernMaine to conserve key coastal and estuarine landsoutside its recognized boundary. The Coastal andEstuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP)offers the Reserve and its partners an opportunityto protect important coastal and estuarine areasthat have significant conservation and ecologicalvalues and will offer the Reserve additional opportunitiesfor research and education (discussed in theStewardship Plan section).Objective and StrategiesObjectiveConserve lands necessary to protect Reserveresources, ensure a stable environment for researchand education, and broaden the Reserve’s ecologicaldiversity by encompassing additional coastal watershedareas.Strategies◊ Identify high-priority properties within theReserve’s boundary and discuss with landownersthe value and benefits of long-termconservation.◊◊◊Work with local, federal, and state conservationpartners to conserve priority in-holdingparcels within the Wells Reserve boundaryand high-value parcels within the Reserve’swatershed areas.Work with partners to prioritize lands withinthe watersheds of the Reserve that lie outsidethe NOAA-recognized boundary (Section315), and help to secure CELCP funding forprojects.Increase public awareness of the value of landconservation to people, communities andwildlife.98 Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Proposed Changes to the Reserve andAcquisition Boundary (Section 315)When the Wells National Estuarine ResearchReserve was dedicated in 1986, it included certainlands within the Town of Wells between the LittleRiver and Eldridge Road (Figure XII.1). TheReserve boundary followed the shoreline (excludingdeveloped sections) to the east and crosseduplands and salt marsh to the west. The 1,600acres included property owned by the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, the Town of Wells, and theMaine Department of Conservation.While the original Reserve boundary was adequatein the Wells Reserve’s formative years, the boundaryproposed in this plan better reflects the increasedcapacity and scope of the research, education, andstewardship programs. The proposed Reserveboundary also reflects the ecological, management,education, and research criteria of the NERRsystem.Two recent changes have led to the proposed boundarychanges and the enlargement of the acquisitionarea. It should be noted that GIS and GPS toolshave enabled the Wells Reserve to more accuratelydefine and calculate actual acreage owned. Until thedevelopment of this plan, and before the Reserveacquired GIS capability, the Reserve calculated itsacreage using boundary surveys and informationfrom its State and Federal partners. When usingthe more accurate calculation with GIS tools, andincluding the addition of Lord and Alheim propertiesand the Moody Division of the Refuge, thetotal acreage is 2,250. The comparison with acreagecalculated in the 1996 plan with the acreage calculatedin this plan can be found in Appendix H.In 2003, Laudholm Trust transferred 37 acres andthe three structures thereon to the Wells Reserve.This parcel, known as the Alheim Property, hasbeen managed cooperatively by the Trust andReserve since the mid 1980’s, and its incorporationinto the boundary formalizes its importance to theReserve mission. Since the Reserve was dedicated,the parcel offered a 1-mile self-guided interpretivenature trail for Reserve visitors; provided officespace for Laudholm Trust; and provided areas foreducation, research, and water quality monitoringprojects. In 1990, the Reserve began using aportion of the original farm building as seasonaldormitory space for visiting researchers, educators,and resource managers. In 1998, the Trust erecteda single-family home on this property to providehousing for a post-doctoral research fellow workingunder Research Coordinator. In addition, in 2005,the Reserve purchased and protected the 2.5-acreLord Parcel. Located adjacent to the Reserve’saccess road, this small parcel (consisting of grasslands)has been the highest priority land acquisitionproject for the Reserve since it was founded. Theapproval of this management plan, and state andNOAA compliance with land acquisition requirementsof 15 C.F.R. sec. 921.33, are necessary beforethese important parcels are officially incorporatedinto the Reserve boundary. These parcels wouldbe a “buffer zone” as described in 15 C.F.R. sec..921.11.In 2003, the Maine Legislature passed, and theGovernor signed, Legislative Document 777,which revised and clarified Maine law addressingthe location of the Reserve. LD 777 allowed theWells Reserve to expand its geographic area ofinterest into the upper watershed areas of the Littleand Webhannet rivers, as well as those parts ofthe Ogunquit River watershed within the Townof Wells (specifically, 359 acres of salt marsh partof the Moody Division of Rachel Carson NWR).The Reserve Management Authority and RachelCarson NWR have developed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to address management within theaffected portion of the Refuge’s Moody Division(Appendix A-2). The approval of this managementplan and state and NOAA compliance with landacquisition requirements of 15 C.F.R. sec. 921.33are necessary before areas affected by LD 777 canbe officially incorporated into the Reserve andacquisition boundary of the Wells Reserve. Landswithin the refuge’s Moody Division would be a“core area” as described in 15 C.F.R. sec. 921.11.Management Plan: Reserve Boundaries and Acquisitions99
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Wells National Estuarine Research R
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Table of ContentsAcknowledgments..
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Representation on the Reserve Manag
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Objectives and Strategies.. . . . .
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XIII. Volunteer Plan.. . . . . . .
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xiiWells National Estuarine Researc
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I. OverviewIntroduction to the Rese
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Exhibits and Interpretive Trails; P
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The Wells Reserve requires specific
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II. IntroductionThe Value of Estuar
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Figure II.3. Biogeographic regions
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1.2.3.Address coastal management is
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Department of of CommerceNational O
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16 Wells National Estuarine Researc
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III. Wells NERR SettingPhysical Set
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Figure III.3. The two principal wat
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Wells Reserve campus and adjacent s
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230 bird species and at least 32 ma
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landscapes are assuming a suburban
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IV. Strategic Plan29
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Objective 2: Optimize educational u
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V. Accomplishments33
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Figure V.2. Chris Feurt, the CTP Co
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Figure V.4. The barn complex was co
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◊With partners (U.S. Fish and Wil
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VI. Administration41
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RMAManagerEducationResearch & Stewa
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◊The York County Audubon Society,
Page 61 and 62: The Reserve Manager serves as the c
Page 63 and 64: Figure VI.4. An October sunrise gra
Page 65 and 66: VII. Facilities andConstruction51
Page 67 and 68: ◊Make facilities available to par
Page 69 and 70: Figure VII.2. The Reserved Life Est
Page 71 and 72: Killing House (early 1900’s)This
Page 73 and 74: Estate and are currently privately
Page 75 and 76: VIII. Public Access61
Page 77 and 78: Figure VIII.2. An artist at work by
Page 79 and 80: Figure VIII.4. A family enjoys a wa
Page 81 and 82: IX. Education and Outreach67
Page 83 and 84: Strategies◊ Work with partners to
Page 85 and 86: K-12 EducationThe Wells Reserve edu
Page 87 and 88: signs of wildlife, water quality mo
Page 89 and 90: irds, beach exploration, seasonal m
Page 91 and 92: X. Research and Monitoring77
Page 93 and 94: Figure X.1. Jeremy Miller (right) a
Page 95 and 96: System-wide Monitoring ProgramThe N
Page 97 and 98: tions concerning the sustainability
Page 99 and 100: permit, the Research Department als
Page 101 and 102: XI. Stewardship87
Page 103 and 104: ◊◊◊◊◊Protect pristine hab
Page 105 and 106: Reserve cooperates with the followi
Page 107 and 108: will monitor this site (and others
Page 109 and 110: Figure XI.6. The Wells Reserve Stew
Page 111: XII. Reserve Boundary andAcquisitio
Page 115 and 116: Figure XII.2 (top): The main stems
Page 117 and 118: By expanding its boundary the Wells
Page 119 and 120: forests, and wetlands. It has habit
Page 121 and 122: Conservation EasementThe Wells Rese
Page 123 and 124: XIII. Volunteers109
Page 125 and 126: Figure XIII.1. Beach Profiling volu
Page 127 and 128: XIV. Communications113
Page 129 and 130: images, and cultivates interest in
Page 131 and 132: AppendicesAppendix A: Memoranda of
Page 133 and 134: Appendix A: Memoranda ofUnderstandi
Page 135 and 136: Appendix A-1Management Plan: Append
Page 141 and 142: Management Plan: Appendix A127
Page 145 and 146: Management Plan: Appendix A131
Page 155 and 156: Appendix B: ConservationEasementsMa
Page 157 and 158: Appendix B-1Management Plan: Append
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Appendix B-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix B153
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Appendix C: State of MaineLegislati
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Appendix C-1Management Plan: Append
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Management Plan: Appendix C171
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Appendix D: Rules forPublic UseMana
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Appendix Das part of the Reserve. T
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Appendix D(a) No person shall remov
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Appendix D(a) Third through fifth g
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Appendix E: NaturalResource LawsMan
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Appendix Ecomponents of the Program
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Appendix Eability of these areas to
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Appendix ETowns experiencing less g
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Appendix Emust be in place before a
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Appendix F: FederalRegulations—NE
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Appendix Ffor resource management p
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Appendix F(b) The biogeographic cla
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Appendix Fzone. Key land and water
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Appendix Fminor construction projec
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Appendix Finterests therein, for an
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Appendix Fagencies and/or private o
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Appendix Fand the additional compon
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Appendix FResearch Reserve System.(
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Appendix FDC 20235. The following m
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Appendix FThis typology system refl
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Appendix Fthe boring clam Playdon,
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Appendix FC. Inlet type. Inlets in
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Appendix FB. pH Regime: This is ind
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Appendix G:CZMA—Section 315Manage
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Appendix GIn developing the guideli
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Appendix H:Wells National Estuarine
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Appendix HWells National Estuarine
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