One-and-one-half miles of land (Punk Point or Southover) on Damariscotta Lake was purchased for protection and education by Kieve-Wavus; one of the last large parcels of undeveloped land that lies in the heart of the lake.
Since 1933, the same family has owned and loved this land, comprised of about a mile and a half of undeveloped lake frontage, some streams and marshes, an orchard, an open field for farming, a farm house set way back from the lake, and a lot of woods.
The land abuts “Rolling Acres Farm,” a 133-acre lakefront property purchased about a year ago by Maine Farmland Trust.
With nearly two miles of undeveloped shoreland, these properties are a vital part of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed ecosystem, supporting water quality by providing a buffer from harmful runoff, maintaining habitat for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and retaining scenic value.
Being so close to the coast and only an hour from Portland, land on the lake is under heavy pressure to be developed, risking both the health and the serenity of the lake.
The recent discovery of invasive plants in Damariscotta Lake is further evidence that this fragile body of water has never been in greater danger.
In the face of these concerns, Kieve-Wavus Education Inc. (KWE), working with Alexander Buck, Jr. Emeritus Trustee of Kieve and past chair of Maine Audubon’s board, recently acquired the property along the western shore of the lake known as “Punk Point” or “Southover.”
Kieve-Wavus plans to donate a conservation easement on the land to be held and monitored by the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association (DLWA).
The easement ensures that KWE campers and families will have access to the property for camping and education purposes, walking trails, farming, and that this beautiful, unspoiled property in the middle of the lake will remain protected in perpetuity.
Henry Kennedy, Kieve-Wavus Executive Director and past DLWA trustee on the organization’s decision to purchase the land and place it in conservation, said, “Our generation learned from our ancestors that we have a responsibility to leave the world in better shape than we found it.
“For nearly 90 years Kieve, and now Kieve-Wavus, has given young people the tools, confidence, and ethics to take good care of themselves and the world in which they live and instill a deep appreciation for the natural world.
“People come and go, but strong institutions like ours live on. For years we’ve worked closely with other like-minded nonprofits such as Audubon on Hog Island and we’re excited to expand our relationship with these new partners in the years ahead.
“Governor Baxter has always been a hero of mine and it’s an honor to follow his lead by keeping our precious little piece of Maine forever wild,” Kennedy said.
Although KWE is a non-profit institution exempt from property tax, they continue to make substantial voluntary payments to the towns in which they own property and support the communities in countless other ways.
The Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association has been working since 1966 to enhance the quality of life in and around Damariscotta Lake, assuring enjoyment for all of its natural and human residents.
Realizing that protecting the land around the lake is essential to protecting the lake, DLWA began its land protection efforts in 1995.
Since then, DLWA has obtained conservation easements on 599 acres in or adjacent to the watershed. Kieve-Wavus is pleased to support DLWA in its efforts to protect the lake and its fragile shoreline ecosystems.
For more information about the DLWA, please visit www.dlwa.org or call Alan Railsback at 549-3836.
Through its education and retreat programs, Kieve-Wavus impacts the lives of almost 10,000 people annually, most of them Mainers, promoting the values of kindness, respect for others, and environmental stewardship.
For more information about Kieve-Wavus Education or to make a donation toward this effort, please visit www.kieve.org or call Henry Kennedy at 563-5172.
Maine Farmland Trust is Maine’s leader is protecting farmland, having been involved in close to 200 projects that have permanently conserved over 25,000 acres statewide.
The Trust intends to sell Rolling Acres Farm after placing a conservation easement on it, and thus is seeking a conservation-minded buyer for this amazing 133-acre lakefront property.
The public is invited to attend an information session about these collaborative conservation efforts at Rolling Acres Farm on Tues., Aug. 14 from 5-7 p.m.
The Jerks of Grass will provide some excellent bluegrass music. For additional information, directions and to RSVP, please contact Joan Hallowell at Kieve at 563-5172 or joan@kieve.org.
