Management Plan - National Estuarine Research Reserve System

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Evaluation CriteriaWhen assessing parcels for possible acquisition,the following descriptors would be consideredfavorable:◊◊◊◊◊◊Owned by someone interested in conservationoptionsWithin the proposed Wells Reserve boundaryAdjacent to land owned by Rachel CarsonNWRIncludes riparian land along the main stems ofthe rivers upstream from the estuariesContains documented land or water resourcesof significant ecological valueConnects with other conservation lands◊◊Composed of land in a natural or restorableconditionProvides opportunities for environmental education,scientific research, and stewardshipWhen assessing parcels for possible acquisition,the following descriptors would be consideredunfavorable:◊◊◊◊◊◊Expensive for monitoring or stewardshipContains known or suspected environmentalhazardous substancesLikely to be degraded or severely compromisedby adjacent land usesInaccessible to staff and visitors for education,research, or stewardshipIncludes buildings or other large structuresthat cannot be used, subdivided, or soldPriced above an appraised fair market valuePriorities for AcquisitionSpecific In-holdings and AdjacentParcelsSeveral parcels of land within, or adjacent to, theoriginal acquisition boundary was not acquiredwhen the Wells Reserve was established and areFigure XII.4. The acquisition of inholdings, suchas the Lord parcel, shown here, is a priority for theReserve.still privately owned. These parcels continue to beof high interest to the Reserve.Parcel #1: This 2-acre parcel is across the serviceentrance road from the Laudholm farmhouse. TheReserve will seek a conservation easement on landadjacent to its fields.Parcel #2: This 2.5-acre property (known as theLord Property, Phase 2) is located adjacent to theReserve’s campus and includes a 19 th -century farmhouseand an outbuilding. The parcel was part ofa larger 5-acre parcel. In December of 2005, theReserve purchased 2.5 acres of the 5-acre parcelfrom the landowner (Phase 1). Currently theReserve is negotiating the purchase of the remaining2.5 acres with the buildings.Parcel #3: This 27-acre parcel is located onLaudholm Farm Road. Most of the land abutsconservation land of the Wells Reserve and RachelCarson NWR. It consists of a field (about 5 acres),104 Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
forests, and wetlands. It has habitat for a range ofwildlife species. Protection of this parcel wouldincrease the amount of contiguous publicly ownedland in the area of the Reserve.Adjacent Parcels along Estuarine Areas: Whilemost of the Little and Webhannet Rivers’ estuaries,salt marshes, and adjacent uplands are either alreadyprotected or developed, there still are opportunitiesfor conservation. Development of remaining parcelsor the more intensive development of existing landswould degrade impact the resources of the Reservethrough loss of habitat and increased non-pointsource pollution. These lands lie east of U.S. Route1 and adjoin conservation land owned by the Townof Wells, the Maine Department of Conservation,or Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Theseare mostly upland parcels that help buffer freshwatersections of the Merriland River and estuarineand salt marshes of the Webhannet River.Focus Areas on Little River andWebhannet RiverThe Wells Reserve manages part of the longestsystem of interconnected barrier beach salt marshsystems in the state. Substantial portions of thewaterways that drain into these marshes are surprisinglyhealthy and intact. But the WebhannetRiver, the Merriland River, Branch Brook, and theOgunquit River flow through a landscape that isunder threat from development. Protecting thesemajor rivers is a priority is a priority for the Reserveand its partners. They intend to create natural corridorsthat connect protected coastal areas to uplandareas at the headwaters of these rivers.Focus Area #1 — Little River WatershedThe Merriland River and Branch Brook are themajor tributaries to the Little River. Currently,4,332 acres of the 20,176 acres comprising thiswatershed have been conserved. For improvedresource protection, additional riparian habitatsand wildlife corridors should be protected withinthe Little River watershed.One potential corridor that merits protection followsBranch Brook. The brook’s headwaters areat the Kennebunk Plains in the towns of Sanfordand Kennebunk. The Plains provide habitat for rareand threatened plants and grassland-nesting birds.More than 90 percent of the global population of thenorthern blazing star is found there. For decades, thisrare sandplain grassland has been the focus of landacquisition by The Nature Conservancy, the State ofMaine, and the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport/WellsWater District. Branch Brook flows from the Plainsthrough a 1,947-acre parcel owned by the K/K/WWater District to the Rachel Carson NWR and theWells Reserve. This protected corridor is broken bya 78-acre parcel directly across U.S. Route 1 from258 acres of refuge land. This parcel is a priority foracquisition to prevent isolating the Wells Reservefrom the rest of the Little River watershed.A second potential corridor follows the MerrilandRiver. The river’s headwaters are located in andnear the Fenderson Wildlife Commons, a 500-acre parcel protected by the Wells ConservationCommission. Fenderson Commons is part of a1,200-acre forested, roadless wetland supportingdiverse community types, including an extremelyunusual savanna-like community that features a redmaple canopy over sedge meadow ground cover.Fenderson Commons holds an uncommonly richand varied system of freshwater wetlands, includingsphagnum bog, vernal pool, four-season flowingsprings, red maple swamp, marsh, and river.Subsurficial water resources may provide a significantsource of drinking water, and the MerrilandRiver with its feeder streams is a top-rated brooktrout fishery.Fenderson Commons also holds a significant standof white pines in the 90-100 foot range accompaniedby mature oak and maple. Because of the patternof human use and abandonment, beginning with“commons” pasturage of stock in the mid 1600’s,the area provides possibilities for research in historicalhuman ecology. Additions to the FendersonManagement Plan: Reserve Boundaries and Acquisitions105
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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,
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The Reserve Manager serves as the c
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Figure VI.4. An October sunrise gra
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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 and 112: XII. Reserve Boundary andAcquisitio
Page 113 and 114: Proposed Changes to the Reserve and
Page 115 and 116: Figure XII.2 (top): The main stems
Page 117: By expanding its boundary the Wells
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
Page 167 and 168: Management Plan: Appendix B153
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Appendix B-2Management Plan: Append
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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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