PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 10, 2022
The area where the rare Steller’s sea eagle settled for three months – in and around the mouth of the Kennebec River, just downstream of Merrymeeting Bay – is blessed with a forested coastline and waters teeming with fish and wildlife. Forty percent of Maine’s fresh water drains through Merrymeeting Bay. If you were an apex avian predator with a high tolerance for cold and a taste for fish, it might be hard to imagine a better spot. The fact that such vibrant wildlife habitat is thriving amidst increasing development in Midcoast Maine is no accident. Far from it – it’s the result of decades of dedicated work by conservation groups, local leaders and municipal, state and federal government, all supported by Maine voters. The story of conservation in the Merrymeeting Bay region is one of dire threats, high stakes and incredible collaboration. ~ Kate Dempsey, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, and Judy Camuso, Maine inland fisheries and wildlife commissioner