Funding Round/Year:
2017
Project Sponsor:
Blue Hill Heritage Trust
MNRCP Region:
Central Interior and Midcoast
Location:
Surry
Total Cost of Project:
$45,500
MNRCP Award:
$45,500
Project Type:
Culvert Replacement
Project Description:
The Surry Forest property was purchased by BHHTwith funds from MNRCP in 2016 with a goal to conserve the land in perpetuity for the benefit of wildlife and our local communities. Prior to BHHT ownership, marketable forest stands on the property were heavily harvested in 2015. During harvesting, insufficient wetland buffers were maintained in many areas and three wetland road crossings were constructed improperly which were greatly impacting wetland communities on the property. All three crossing sites involve logging roads through wetland habitat without properly sized culverts (or no culvert in one instance), failing road shoulders causing erosion, increased sedimentation, and threatening conversion of vegetation and wetland types. This project restored wetland habitat function across the property by rebuilding two of the poorly designed road crossings identified as restoration opportunities by Maine Natural Areas Program staff, during a 2016 site visit. The third crossing was completely removed as part of the 2016 MNRCP award.