Since 1989, Great Auk Land Trust has been working in cooperation with local communities, landowners and conservation partners to conserve the natural character, resources, and traditional uses of land in southwest Washington County, Maine. Explore our site to learn more about us and our work.

View our 2007 Annual Report (click below)

GALT2007AnnualReportFinalFormat.pdf.

Click here to learn more about our Summer Events, Outings & Volunteer Opportunities.

Conservation Momentum Continues

for Great Auk Land Trust in 2008

Pigeon Hill Phase II.

View from the summit of Pigeon Hill

Great Auk closed on the core 117-acre Pigeon Hill Vista & Recreational Preserve in September 2007. We now have the opportunity to purchase two additional parcels comprising a 34-acre Trail Parcel to Pigeon Hill’s summit and a 17-acre Summit Parcel that shares the summit with Great Auk’s existing Preserve. The properties will be added to Great Auk’s 117-acre core preserve—increasing its size by 46% for a total of 168 acres—and will be open to the general public for hiking, picnicking, nature study, hunting and other low-impact recreational and educational activities. For many years, Pigeon Hill has drawn visitors to hike, picnic and take in the scenery that so defines this corner of Down East Maine.

This project will extend protection to the summit and its sweeping views ranging from CadillacMountain on Mount DesertIsland to the bold coast of Cutler and will also ensure that the traditional trail forever remains part of this breathtaking destination. In March, Great Auk submitted a grant proposal to the State of Maine's Land for Maine’s Future Program requesting $300,000 toward the purchase of these two parcels. Once Phase II of the project is completed, we can begin with the natural resource inventory and management planning that will guide the care and use of the property. The future of this property will include improved parking, educational information, and well-sited trails to explore what will be a 168-acre recreational preserve.

Grain Point (Beaver Meadow/Back Bay).

Beaver Meadow Estuary & Back Bay aerial

Great Auk has the opportunity to add a significant parcel to its efforts in the Beaver Meadow Estuary/Back Bay focus area in Milbridge. The Grain Point property totals 84 acres with 8114 feet of shore frontage, boasting 74% of the total acreage being wetlands according to the National Wetlands Index. In addition to being a key parcel at the mouth of the Beaver Meadow estuary, an analysis by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (Gulf of Maine Program) shows that Grain Point provides exceptional habitat for species including the American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Hudsonian Godwit, Least Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Snowy Egret. Great Auk worked with staff from Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) to prepare a National Coastal Wetlands grant proposal for $375,000 that would provide the necessary funds to purchase this ecologically rich property.

Great Auk, acting as sub-grantee, will ultimately own this property, but Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is the official grantee under the grant guidelines. The Coastal Wetlands funding will compliment the remaining North American Wetland Conservation Act funds awarded to Great Auk & MCHT for protection of high value habitat in Greater Pleasant Bay. If you would like more information on these land acquisitions or to make a donation, please contact the Great Auk office at 546-7926.