Long Island proposed conservation easement

National Park Service, Acadia National Park

From the executive summary: "Long Island in Blue Hill Bay, Maine, is a large (4,560 acres), essentially undeveloped coastal island. It is the largest primarily undeveloped Maine island that remains unconnected to the mainland by bridge or ferry. The island has significant conservation values including the largest unfragmented saltwater island habitat on the Eastern seaboard, endangered species habitat, valuable scenic resources, and recreational opportunities. Long Island's features are outstanding and of significance on a local, state, and national level. Collectively, these features put the island in a class of its own; when combined with the current threat of development, they make Long Island the top priority for land conservation in coastal Maine and Acadia National Park. Long Island's sheer size and unfragmented nature are an unlikely combination, given the island's proximate location to some of the East Coast's most desirable seasonal communities and New England's only national park. Long Island has survived intact due in large part to the Florian family's ownership of 95% of the island since 1949. A conservation easement is proposed that would maintain most of the island in a "forever wild" state. If a conservation easement is not purchased, the family will likely implement plans to subdivide and sell their holdings. The future of the largest primarily undeveloped island along the Maine coast is clearly at a crossroads. The chance to preserve 4,350 acres on a Maine island will likely never come again. Acadia National Park's land protection plan, derived from 1986 boundary legislation, identifies specific parcels for which fee simple title can be acquired from willing sellers. Long Island is not included. Instead, NPS has the authority to protect the island through conservation easements, either by donation or by purchase from willing sellers. NPS has determined that the purchase of a conservation easement is in the interest of the park and the public."