“As an avid outdoorsman, I am committed to the responsible growth and preservation of our region, a region which I love to share and promote among the 270 employees of Machias Savings Bank. As an ardent supporter of Downeast Coastal Conservancy, I’m confident that the stewardship initiative for Vining Lake is a unique opportunity to ensure the protection of another of our rich natural assets, while preserving responsible community use. I hope you will join me in supporting this project.”
Larry Barker, President & CEO, Machias Savings Bank
Vining Lake
Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC) plans to acquire the 27-acre Vining Lake in Washington County, Maine, including the lake and all the land surrounding the lake, approximately 406 acres. DCC’s goal is to establish a community-based conservation preserve so that the public can continue to enjoy forever Vining Lake’s many reactional and educational attractions. A private conservation buyer concerned about the threats of granite quarrying, commercial forestry and lakeside development currently owns this property. The property has good road access and is a short drive from a state highway. There are no structures or other development on the property. The property is naturally reforesting after logging more than 10 years ago, but no logging occurred near the lake. The land surrounding the lake has stands of white pine and other native trees, and there are several small meadows, some of which serve as winter deer habitat. There are extensive granite outcroppings. The lake’s outlet includes a stream and associated wetlands.
Conservation Values
DCC strongly believes that conservation and stewardship of this property is critically important because of the lake’s uniquely pristine condition and the lack of any development around the lake. There are few lakes in Downeast Maine that have no camps, cottages, subdivisions or nearby structures.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) habitat analysis stated that “the forest habitat parcel of Vining Lake are of high value (within the top 25% in the Gulf of Maine Watershed), based on their value for rare or declining species of birds and fish.” USFWS’s analysis further determined that Vining Lake and its surrounding land provide important habitat for 28 of 91 USFWS priority trust species and is particularly high value habitat, in comparison with the rest of the Gulf of Maine watershed, for 10 of those 28 species.
Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) considers the lake to be among the top twelve brook trout habitats in New England. Stocking reports by IF&W indicate Vining Lake has been annually stocked with brook trout since at least 1996. The lake and its outlet stream and wetland are part of the East Machias River watershed, one of the few remaining Atlantic salmon rivers in the United States.
“This is particularly central to a strategic focus on the East Machias watershed and the resultant benefits to water quality protections necessary to support the fisheries recovery efforts of Downeast Salmon Federation and our partners.” – Dwayne Shaw, Downeast Salmon Federation.
