This proposal will protect and restore valuable habitat in an area considered one of the world s most biologically productive environments, the gulf of maine ecosystem

The maine wetlands conservation initiative (mwci) was formed in 2018, spearheaded by the applicant maine coast heritage trust, to engage diverse conservation partners from across maine and target projects of highest conservation impact. The coalition has since grown into a group of more than 30 matching partners contributing over 42.7 million in match against 13 million in requested grant funds. This phase III proposal builds on the successes of maine wetlands conservation initiative i and II, and will add 2,324.7 acres of permanently protected or restored wetlands and surrounding upland buffers to over 4.2 million protected acres in the proposal area, including nearly 500,000 acres of conserved wetlands. The maine wetlands conservation initiative III proposal includes activities in cumberland, oxford, sagadahoc, washington and york counties, maine.proposal activities include 5 acquisitions and 1 habitat restoration project in the following ecologically rich areas of maine: 1) downeast maine, a longstanding continental stronghold for american black duck, providing ICE-free sheltered wintering habitat in close proximity to quality breeding areas as well as hosting tens of thousands of shorebirds during annual migration. This proposal will protect the entire shore of 12.3-acre western lake, a publicly owned great pond UN maine law, as well as acquire a coastal tract in an acjv focus area for breeding nelson s sharp-tailed sparrow. 2) kennebec estuary and merrymeeting BAY - a globally-unusual enclosed inland delta formed by 6 different rivers, containing 20 of maine s tidal marshes, and one of the premier waterfowl staging grounds on the atlantic flyway, historically supporting 40,000 ducks each fall. This proposal will protect breeding habitat in the top 10 in range-wide significance to saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow and protect state-designated essential habitat for piping plover and least tern adjacent to a state park and state wildlife management area. 3) the presumpscot river sub-basin, connecting maine s western foothills region to casco BAY. The region includes the watershed of 30,000-acre sebago lake - with outstanding water quality and providing drinking water to 1 6TH of the state s population - and its main outlet, presumpscot river. Proposal acquisitions in the region include protection of one of the state s largest inland rookeries for maine special concern species great blue heron and the protection of a nearly 1,300-acre tract that includes extensive freshwater wetlands in a forested landscape context. 4) southern coastal maine, including rachel carson national wildlife refuge, dominated by salt marshes and estuaries dotted along 50 miles of coastline containing a collection of divers habitats that together support a composition of species not seen elsewhere in the state. This proposal includes the restoration of vital breeding habitat for saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow on a long-term monitoring site where breeding birds are in significant decline due to nest flooding.