New group rises to protect Belfast Bay’s intertidal zones
A new citizen-action organization joins the controversy surrounding a proposed fish-raising operation on the outskirts of Belfast. Aimed at protecting the intertidal zone below the Little River, the Friends of Harriet L. Hartley Conservation Foundation will “stake its claim” to the tidal flats owned by Judith Grace and Jeffrey Mabee in a dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 19, at 11:00 a.m. The intertidal area is currently placed in a conservation easement and cannot be crossed without the permission of the easement holder. “The Friends” becomes the third locally backed group that is concerned about the impacts of siting a 900,000 square foot facility on the shore of Belfast Bay.
Friends of Harriet L. Hartley Conservation Area formed over the fall of 2019 to bring local talent, energy, and resources to the mission of preserving intertidal zones along Belfast Bay. The conservation area is a tract of tidal land just north of the mouth of the Little River. Owners Judith Grace and Jeffrey Mabee put the area into a conservation easement to secure its undeveloped nature for future generations. Grace and Mabee named it after Dr. Harriet L. Hartley, a previous owner who deliberately reserved the intertidal zone across her original property to be enjoyed by all and protected from commercial development forever.
“The Friends” will introduce their organization to the mid-coast community by hosting an open house at their first annual meeting on Saturday morning, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. at The Little River Center (LRC), 290 Northport Avenue, Belfast. LRC is located directly across the Route 1 from the entrance to the Belfast Water District. The annual meeting is open to the public and will be followed by a press conference with Jeffrey Mabee and the leaders of the organization. Immediately following the press conference, Jeffrey will unveil three all-weather signposts indicating the extent of the highwater mark that designates the upper boundary of the intertidal zone.
The Grace-Mabee property is at the center of the current controversy over plans by Nordic Aquafarms, LLC to build a land-based, commercial salmon-raising factory across the road on a site now owned by the Belfast Water District.