Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust recently completed two land conservation projects in Bristol, adding a total of 60 acres to the existing Half Moon Pond Conservation Area that now stretches 979 acres from Route 130 to Benner Road. 

In August, Christopher and Natalie Coombs donated a 56-acre conservation easement on their property, which includes part of a large wetland area known as Yates Meadow and about 500 feet of shoreline on the west side of Half Moon Pond. They have called it the Kenneth and Geraldine Coombs Conservation Area, in memory of Chris Coombs’ aunt and uncle, who left the land and associated house and barn to Chris and Natalie Coombs. Kenneth Coombs was a noted local historian and was active in the Old Bristol Historical Society. 

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a conservation agency or organization, such as a land trust, that permanently limits uses of the property in order to maintain its conservation values. The landowner continues to own and manage the land, and retains the right to sell the land or pass it on to future generations. The owner can also specify in the agreement whether or not public access to the conserved land is permanently required. 

Chris and Natalie Coombs wished to conserve their property because of its value to water quality, wildlife, recreation, and the adjacent conservation area. In addition to the shoreline along Half Moon Pond, the land includes part of Yates Meadow, a sprawling wetland that absorbs and filters water before it flows into the Damariscotta River. The area is important for ducks and other wetland birds and supports many other forms of wildlife, both large and small. 

In addition, the “Route 66” snowmobile trail crosses the property, a traditional trail used by snowmobilers as well as hikers, cross-country skiers, and others. It was important to the Coombs that their agreement allow permanent public access along the trail.  

“As a family, we discussed providing the easement to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust,” said Chris Coombs. “We decided it would be a wonderful way to protect the land and the animals living there. Knowing the land will be forever wild, and also managed by [Coastal Rivers], gives us peace knowing we have helped ensure a much greater area will be protected.” 

Just this month, on December 15, Coastal Rivers also purchased a small property adjacent to the Coombs easement from Ken and Judith Woodward. The Woodward purchase fills in another piece of Yates Meadow and provides an important stewardship access to the larger Half Moon Pond Conservation Area from Route 130.  

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit coastalrivers.org.