Over the past few weeks, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) completed the purchase of a narrow strip of property in South Gouldsboro to provide shore access for clam harvesters and others seeking access to Bunker’s Cove, Stave Island, and the Stave Island Bar. MCHT is now working with surrounding property owners to finalize plans for parking and other arrangements. They intend to have the access point ready for use this summer.
We have described our work with clam harvesters to identify essential harvest areas in other posts. Knowing where the clam harvesters need to get to helps in making judgments about which shore properties are most useful as potential access points. The property that MCHT has acquired, though just a narrow strip of land, checks all the boxes. It will be able to support some limited but essential parking and provides ready access by boat to Stave Island, an important harvest area. It also is only a short boat trip to Stave Island Bar, a formerly productive site that the shellfish committee hopes to restore.
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