BIDDEFORD — Timber Point, located at the end of Granite Point Road in Biddeford, is one the last remaining, large, unspoiled spots of natural beauty under single ownership along the southern Maine coastline.
This unique property, located where Little River meets the Atlantic Ocean, is comprised of a 97-acre peninsula and a 13-acre island.
There are more than 2.25 miles of coastline, with rocky shore as well as a sheltered sandy cove.
The site, which is a noted habitat for a wide array of wildlife, migratory birds and waterfowl, has been an acquisition target for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for decades.
Recently, the refuge has moved one step closer toward its goal of acquiring the property.
Nearly half of the $7 million purchase price was included in a federal appropriations bill, which sets spending priorities for natural resource programs for the next fiscal year.
U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree were key in working to secure $3 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, said Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Manager Ward Feurt.
He praised Maine’s congressional delegation for its hard work in securing the funding, and recognizing the importance of the property.
“It’s one of the most exciting land deals going on anywhere,” said Feurt.
Preserving Timber Point is important, said Feurt, because there are few large blocks of land remaining on southern Maine’s coastline.
Large, unfragmented blocks are important to sustain a wide variety of wildlife that need to move on vast expanses of land, he said.
The land is a critical stopping ground for migratory waterfowl traveling the coast to and from northern nesting grounds.
Timber Point’s diverse habitats such as shrubby wetlands, early successional thickets and grassy openings, said Feurt, support a wide variety of shorebirds including the American woodcock, bobolink, willow flycatcher, Eastern towhee, chestnut-sided warblers and gray catbirds.
“Black ducks winter on the shorelines where sea ducks and migratory shorebirds feed and sanderlings congregate,” said Feurt.
“The rocky offshore habitat serves as a productive lobster nursery,” he said.
Timber Point is also important for protecting water quality.
It will provide additional area for the public to enjoy recreational activities, like bird-watching, at the refuge, said Feurt.
If acquired, Timber Point would be added to the refuge’s Little River Division, which, along with the Biddeford Pool division make up the refuge’s holdings in Biddeford.
The refuge, which was dedicated to writer, scientist and ecologist Rachel Carson in 1970, protects nearly 6,000 acres between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth.
While Timber Point is located in Biddeford it is part of the scenic vista of Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport.
“It is one of the last remaining really spectacular properties on the coast,” said Tom Bradbury, executive director of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.
“It’s rare to have such a large piece of land remain relatively undeveloped for such a long time,” he said.
The trust is supportive of the acquisition, said Bradbury, because its mission is “to protect the beauty and character of the community for the future ”¦ to provide access to the shoreline so no one is shut out of their own community.”
Timber Point is currently owned by the third and fourth generation descendants of Louise P. and Charles Ewing.
According to one of the descendants, Sarah Ewing, Louise Ewing purchased the property in the 1920s.
Under the Ewing’s ownership, the property has always been farmed, wrote Sarah Ewing in an e-mail. Throughout the years it has been home to cows, sheep, ducks, chickens, pigs and horses.
It has also been the heart of many Ewing family gatherings, such as weddings and funerals.
“Timber Point is a deep-rooted part of our family history and experience,” wrote Ewing.
The property is being sold now because of the cost of the property taxes, she stated.
Many members of the family regret having to sell the property.
“For many of us, the prospect of conserving the land greatly lessens the ache,” wrote Ewing.
“Our decision to offer first rights (to Rachel Carson) is based on our long interest in land stewardship and conservation,” she wrote.
“We have watched the land around Timber Point develop over many years,” stated Ewing, “and believe that the refuge Timber point offers is a great benefit to the people and the wildlife who inhabit the area.”
The Public Land Trust, along with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working together to generate from private sources the remaining $4 million to purchase the property.
The federal award is an important leveraging tool, said Bill Durkin, President of the Friends of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
“Now the people we want to get involved will see this is serious,” he said.
Wolfe Tone of the Public Land Trust said he is confident there are enough conservation supporters who recognize the importance of this land who will pony up the necessary funds.
Already a $200,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has been raised in matching funding.
If fundraising efforts are successful and Timber Point is acquired for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, “Biddeford would be holding a jewel of the coast, something to be proud of,” said Durkin.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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