(Photo courtesy of Great Works Regional Land Trust)
The Great Works Land Trust has applied to the state for some $645,000 toward protection of an additional 70 acres of pristine land along the banks of the Salmon Falls River Estuary in South Berwick. So far, $899,000 has been raised toward the $2,241,000 needed for the project. Townspeople approved a $250,000 contribution in a referendum vote in November.
The state’s Land for Maine Future board will meet with land trust representatives on May 16 to discuss the 94-page application, and will render its decision a few days later, according to Tin Smith, assistant project manager of the land trust, who addressed the Town Council at Wednesday’s meeting. Approval of the application would bring total funds raised to 70% of the goal, and the land trust will continue to pursue fund-raising avenues, Smith said.
According to the application, the effort represents the last opportunity to conserve the largest undeveloped tract on the Maine side of the Salmon Falls River Estuary, an area off Old Fields Road, including15 acres of tidal and salt marsh. Benefits of the project noted in the application include prevention of further habitat encroachment, protection of water quality, and preservation of public access to uplands for such low impact activities as walking, wildlife viewing, and hunting and trapping with no restrictions.
In other business the Council accepted the resignation of Burnell Bailey from the Panning Board and thanked him for his service. Action on a replacement was tabled after members of the public who have a project pending before the Planning Board protested the nominee. Town Manager Tim Pellerin said it was a personnel issue and asked the couple to make a written complaint, The Council will discuss the complaint in executive session prior to a vote on the nomination.
The council also adopted the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 23/24 that runs from July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, and set a public hearing on the budget for April 11. Other public hearings scheduled include storm water ordinance changes on April 25 and zoning ordinance changes related to medical cannabis on May 9.
The council voted unanimously to continue Individual alewife and blueback herring fishing rights on the Salmon Falls River for another season, with a daily limit of 25 fish per day. Commercial fishing rights for alewives and blueback herring has long been prohibited on the river.
