Kennebec Estuary Project

The Basin, on the New Meadows River in Phippsburg
© Heather Perry

Why The Conservancy Selected this Site
At the heart of the Kennebec Estuary is Merrymeeting Bay, the most important waterfowl concentration area in New England. Six rivers, draining one-third of the state of Maine, converge in Merrymeeting Bay, an inland, freshwater tidal delta. Below the outlet of the Bay, the salty, tidal waters of the Lower Kennebec River support an abundant community of animal and plant life. The river's brackish waters and strong tidal currents prevents the River's waters from freezing solid, creating critical wintering habitat for waterfowl.

The region's extensive estuarine system is one of Maine's most significant and unique natural areas. Containing over 20 percent of Maine's tidal marshes, this estuarine system provides critical habitat for several endangered and threatened species, shorebirds, wading birds, migratory fish, and other water-dependent species. The Kennebec Estuary encompases hundreds of miles of shoreline and 25,000 acres of prime waterfowl habitat.

The Kennebec Estuary is located less than an hour northeast of Portland, Maine's largest city, in the midcoast towns of Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoinham, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham and Woolwich. Rapid increases in residential and second home development in the area are leading to rising land prices, producing the incentive fo rlandowners to sell land for development.

Plants and Animals
Merrymeeting Bay's freshwater intertidal regions provide excellent habitat for a variety of common and rare plant species, such as the globally-rare Eaton's bur-marigold.

The Merrymeeting Bay and the lower Kennebec River provide habitat for bald eagles, more than 50 species of freshwater fish and all 10 of Maine's migratory fish species, including Atlantic salmon, sturgeon, shad, and alewives. The region supports thousands of ducks, geese, rails, wading birds and other water-dependent species during the annual spring and fall migration periods. In addition to providing habitat for breeding and wintering, the area is frequented by every species of waterfowl that uses the Atlantic Flyway during the migration periods.

What the Conservancy Is Doing
©Harold Malde Protecting a natural area like the Kennebec Estuary is a significant challenge - one that requires effective partnerships, good science and active outreach to the local community. In response to intense development pressure, The Nature Conservancy has increased its work in the region. Working with a variety of local partners, the Conservancy is protecting wildlife habitat and restoring the health of the ecosystem. In addition to land acquisition, wetland restoration and improved access to spawning areas for migratory fish are strategies the Conservancy is employing to conserve the region's natural character.

To date, The Nature Conservancy and its partners in the Maine Wetlands Protection Coalition have added nearly 5,000 acres to the 10,800 acres of conservation land throughout the region.

Learn about the new Basin Preserve, a 1,910-acre land donation in Phippsburg.