Conserved Lands Committee

The Conserved Lands Committee is one of 3 committees that contribute to the work of the Land Action Team. We welcome new people who want to participate in this committee.

To learn more or volunteer with Conserved Lands, please contact the subcommittee chair, Aaron Dority, Executive Director of Frenchman Bay Conservancy.

Mission

We celebrate the importance of natural and working lands and seek to conserve them as central to our sense of place, our quality of life and our environmental and economic sustainability. Fishing, farming, and forestry framed our heritage and the lands that supported and continue to support those industries remain vital to our City today. We propose that 50% of Ellsworth’s land area should be conserved by 2030 with attention to maximizing large tracts of forested habitat, farmland, wetlands, green connective corridors and trails providing access to the water and healthy recreational opportunities. Apart from enhancing to our quality of life, these lands make our city more sustainable by contributing to air and water quality, mitigating the effects of fossil fuels and extreme weather, contributing to environmental diversity and cheaply reducing storm water impacts on our aging infrastructure.

Action Areas

Conserving 50% of Ellsworth’s land area
Preserving and creating access to the water
Protecting water quality
Protecting habitat and preventing further landscape fragmentation
Creating opportunities for outdoor recreation
Protecting farmland, woodlands, wetlands and open space
Promoting improved climate resilience

Build Out Analysis

The Conserved Lands Committee, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and F.B. Environmental, in partnership with the City of Ellsworth, have created a tool for the community to plan growth, development, and conservation.

Through this Build Out Analysis we can address the following questions:

Under current zoning, how much land is currently available for development?
How might the town’s appearance change over time?
What are the potential impacts from future development?
What do we want to preserve and are we in danger of losing it?

Conserved Lands in Ellsworth

Indian Point Preserve

Frenchman Bay Conservancy manages the Indian Point Preserve near Water Street in Ellsworth. A 1-mile wooded trail ends at a picnic area overlooking the Union River.

Woodlawn Museum

At Woodlawn Museum's historic 180-acre estate, the forest of Woodlawn Park shelters about 2.5 miles of trails for walking, running, snowshoeing, or skiing.

Birdsacre

Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary manages 200 acres of woodland at Birdsacre, located on Route 3 in Ellsworth. Several miles of trails are open to the public year-round.

Branch Lake Public Forest

Managed by the City of Ellsworth, Branch Lake Public Forest on Route 1A helps protect the City's drinking water supply and provides miles of public trails.

Jordan Homestead

Frenchman Bay Conservancy protected the Jordan Homestead's 30 acres along the Union River and Whittaker Brook on Bayside Road in Ellsworth in 2017. Visitors can walk a 1 mile trail which takes them to the Union River. Ultimately the Birdacre trail system will connect with this trail creating a corridor running from Rt 3 to the river.

Green Lake National Fish Hatchery

On Route 180 in Ellsworth, the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery raises Atlantic salmon. The property also features a 1.8 mile trail loop.

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