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'A wild state' - Conservationists Eye Biodiverse Alfred-Shapleigh Land

June 03, 2009 - ALFRED -- Median cost of a buildable house lot in Shapleigh: $35,000. Median cost of a buildable house lot in Alfred: $35,000. Cost of untouched land in York County: priceless.

And that’s why the Shapleigh Conservation Commission is working with its Alfred counterpart to educate people about a unique piece of land called Walnut Hill. It encompasses 600 acres and is one of the largest, unfragmented, forested areas in York County. Charles Gruber, secretary of the Shapleigh Conservation Commission, and Fred Frodyma, chairman of the Alfred Conservation Commission, want to make sure people understand the property's significance.

“When I say unfragmented, I mean there are no roads through it,” said Gruber. “It’s quite a wild state.”

About 30 residents of Alfred and Shapleigh attended a talk May 20 by Steve Walker of Beginning with Habitat, an organization dedicated to conservation, and Jonathan Mays, a wildlife biologist from Maine's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to hear about ways to conserve the land.

However, Gruber said, the conservation commissions have no plans at this point to attempt to do anything with or to the land, which is all privately owned.

“We’re just giving information about how to help preserve it,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by Frodyma and hosted by the conservation commissions of Alfred and Shapleigh, who hope to have the landowners start thinking of conservation measures in the Walnut Hill and Fort Ridge areas. The state has identified the area as one of 141 with ecological significance, according to Frodyma.

"York County is one of the richest areas of biological diversity that could be threatened by developmental growth," he said,

The parcel, located off Fort Ridge Road in Alfred, can be hiked into from Gebung Road in Alfred and Back Road in Shapleigh. It is almost evenly located in the two towns, according to Gruber.

The designation is noteworthy because while there are 141 areas of ecological interest statewide, “there aren’t very many of them in southern Maine,” said Gruber.

According to Walker, the areas have been highlighted because of the variety of at-risk plant and animal species within their boundaries. The areas are identified by biologists from the Department of Conservation’s Maine Natural Areas Program, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and Maine Audubon, along with several other conservation agencies and organizations.

If the parcel were to be developed, Rhonda Junkins, who owns Maine Red Door Realty in Cornish, said land in both towns is valued about the same – $35,000 for a building lot.

According to the Beginning with Habitat Web site, one or more of the following must be present before an area is considered a focus area:

• Globally rare plant or animal.
• Three or more healthy populations of a rare plant species.
• Any healthy population of a rare animal species
• Rare natural community.
• Excellent example of a common natural community.
• Good example of a common natural community and one or more high value wildlife habitats.
• Large undeveloped block and at least one of the following: a good example of a common natural community or high value wildlife habitat or two or more healthy populations of a rare plant species.

John Cook, who owns 300 acres of land in the targeted area in both Alfred and Shapleigh, attended the presentation. He said he knew the land he owns in the Fort Ridge area was valuable. What he didn't know is how rare large swaths of undeveloped land are in southern Maine.

"I'd like to learn more about it (conservation easements)," said Cook. "I have no intention of house lots. I'd like it to stay the same."

Right now, Cook has his property in tree growth and uses sustainable yield forestry practices to manage his wood lot. He also said he uses the services of a professional forester to help him prevent over-logging.

According to Gruber and Mays, Walnut Hill is a sanctuary for several rare species of animals, particularly the Blandings turtle, the northern black racer snake and the ebony boghaunter dragonfly. The land itself has extremely steep slopes and poor soil, according to Gruber.

At the presentation, Mays pointed out that it takes 14 to 16 years for the Blandings turtle to reach maturity and hatch offspring.

Additionally, there are several vernal pools on site, said Walker, offering offer critical breeding habitats for some species of amphibians and invertebrates, such as wood frogs, spotted salamanders and fairy shrimp. According to biologists, vernal pools provide an important food resource for other animals like snakes, turtles, birds and small mammals.

Maps and charts of the focus areas were presented by the conservation commissions and were used to help residents who live within Walnut hill and/or own land in that area. Gruber said he identified and invited 83 people to the meeting.

Members of the Board of Directors of Three Rivers Land Trust, which has been actively preserving land in York County since 2003 in the inland towns of York County, were also present to offer further information and assistance in conservation approaches. Three Rivers Land Trust concentrates it conservation efforts in the towns of Acton, Alfred, Lebanon, Sanford and Shapleigh.

Information about the Shapleigh/Alfred Walnut Hill parcel and maps of the site are available on the Beginning with Habitat Web site, www.beginningwithhabitat.org.

By Ann Fisher
Reporter – The Reporter
www.keepmecurrrent.com
May 26, 2009


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Regions: Sanford


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