Have you checked your septic tank lately?

When did you last check your septic tank? Do you even know where it is located on your property? When was the last time you pumped out your septic tank? Many of us forget that our septic systems should be pumped out every 2-3 years to maintain healthy septic field function. A properly maintained septic tank will extend the life of your septic field by years. By the time problems are identified with your septic field it is usually too late. Spending a couple hundred dollars is good insurance against a failed septic system that can cost thousands if it needs to be replaced. I encourage everyone to locate their tanks and take a look? Is it time for pumping?

Public service announcement - Submitted by Dennis Prior

BCC 2009 Sterling Dow Award Recipient

The Bremen Conservation Commission was recently awarded the Sterling Dow Conservation Commission of the Year Award by the Maine Association of Conservation Commissions for 2009.
Bob Shafto of the MEACC presented the award May 21st to the Bremen selectmen in front of well attended selectmen's meeting of BCC members, associates, volunteers and supporters.
The MEACC recognized the BCC for its outstanding leadership, community involvement, ongoing public conservation awareness programs and the completion of its open space plan which has been a model for open space planning in the State of Maine.
The BCC wishes to thank everyone who contributed to and supported its efforts over the past 3 years.

Bremen Favors Conservation Bonds

Are Bremen residents in favor of Open Space Conservation? The Bremen Conservation Commission thinks so. Attendence at workshops and public forums held by the BCC, and town votes to set up and appropriate funds for a Conservation Account seem to indicate that they are. But we've found further proof.

At a recent Open Space Conservation Planning and Finance Workshop, we learned that Maine voters passed three referendum questions favoring conservation bonds in 1999, 2005, and 2007 by what one speaker called significant margins -- 69%, 65%, and 63% respectively.

These bonds have been used to purchase public lands and easements for such things as conservation, water access, working waterfront, outdoor recreation, wildlife and fish habitat and farmland preservation throughout the State.

Curious as to how Bremen voted on these referenda questions, we checked elections results on the Secretary of State's website, and found Bremen voters favored issuing conservation bonds by even higher margins -- 71%, 74%, and 65%.

Way to go, Bremen!

Recreation Committee Gearing Up

If you are a Bremen resident and have interest in getting involved with the Bremen Recreation Committee please email bcc@tidewater.net or call Dennis Prior @ 529-2987

Lakesmart Training Program to be held in Bremen

LakeSmart Volunteer Site Evaluator Training will be held at the Bremen Town House, Monday June 22nd, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Two sample site visits will be conducted to supplement the training on Damariscotta Lake. If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer for the Lakesmart Program please RSVP with info@pemaquidwatershed.org.

What is Lakesmart?

How we develop the land that drains to a lake can have a huge effect on the water quality. If we bring the suburban landscaping practice or large lush lawns to the lakeshore or even the lake watershed, we bring more sources of pollution. With fewer natural, vegetated areas to absorb stormwater, more pollutants from the land get washed into the lake each time it rains or snow melts.

Pristine lake waters add beauty, increase property value and provide recreational opportunities throughout the seasons. Studies have shown that as water quality declines the value of shorefront property also decreases. Declining water quality can also affect the type and number of fish species that inhabit the lake and can hinder other recreational uses of the lake as well as the local economy.

Clearly it is in everyone's best interest to take whatever actions they can to protect lake water quality. LakeSmart is an educational program that offers FREE opportunities for homeowners to learn how to manage their home and yard to protect the water quality of their lake. The goal of LakeSmart is to change the increasingly common suburban landscaping practices around lakes to more natural, lake-friendly environments.

The primary focus of LakeSmart is to keep our lake water clean by stabilizing eroding areas, reducing the use of chemicals, diverting rainwater into vegetated areas, and minimizing lawns and other impervious areas. Landscaping and managing your property in an environmentally friendly manner through LakeSmart is one way to do your part in protecting your lake's water quality and have a low maintenance, great looking property.

For more info on the Lakesmart Program click on the link below:

www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doclake/lakesmart/index.htm

ALB Threat: Asian Longhorned Beetles

The Maine Department of Agriculture will be holding a day-long workshop on Tuesday, June 16 in Augusta to train volunteers to educate the public about the potential threat of ALB. They are looking for people willing to attend this workshop and share the information within their communities. The workshop is free, and lunch and snacks will be provided. Participants will be asked to conduct three or more outreach events in their communities in July and August, with the assistance of the Department.

If interested please contact Anne Bills at the Department of Agriculture at annebills@rocketmail.com or 207-287-3892 and more information will be provided.

The Asian longhorned beetle is a destructive pest of many hardwood tree species including maple, elm, ash, and birch. The threat to shade trees, forests, lumber and maple sugar production, nurseries and tourism is very high should this beetle become established in Maine. ALB was first discovered in New York in 1996 and has since been found in three other states, the closest being Massachusetts. Beetles may be transported by movement of wood products such as firewood, packing crates and pallets. Educating the public about this major forest threat is crucial to the health of Maine’s trees.

Sold Out!

The Earth Day sale of compost bins by the Bremen Conservation Commission was a success way beyond what we ever imagined, a total of 140 bins! The pick up date for the bins is Saturday, May 23, 8 a.m. to noon, in the parking lot by the Bremen Fire Station.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the sale, and a special thanks to Town Clerk Joanne McGregor who ended up fielding a lot of the phone calls and organzied our order forms.

The BCC did not make any profit on the compost bin sale; we sponsored it as a service to the citizens of Bremen and neighboring towns, and as a way for them to learn about us and what we do.

Crazy idea saved a piece of paradise By Bill Nemitz

A wonderful story of how people worked together to conserve land. A must read! Click on link below to read full story
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=249334&ac=PHnws

Calendar Photo

Do you have a favorite photograph you've taken in the Medomak Valley Watershed?  If so, why not submit it for the Medomak Valley Land Trust's 2010 Calendar. Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2009.  You may email photos to volmvlt@midcoast.com. Or mail to: Maria Jenness c/o Medomak Valley Land Trust, PO Box 180, Waldoboro ME 04572.   For details about the contest, and a map of the watershed, see the MVLT website, listed at the bottom right side of this page.  

 

Speaking of land trusts, Bremen is fortunate to be served by two outstanding local land trusts, MVLT and the Pemaquid Watershed Assocation.  Both have numerous spring and summer activites planned.  Check out their websites at the bottom right of this page.  

Biodiversity

Maintaining biodiversity is an important aspect of conservation efforts. Here's some information about scientific studies and reports on biodiversity.

For the first time, the science on Maine's freshwater animals and plans has been collected into one report, "Freshwater Biodiversity in Maine." The report includes every known freshwater species and habitat type in Maine, provides information on habitat types and threats to Maine's freshwater biodiversity, and offers recommendations to protect that biodiversity. The report can be viewed or downloaded from
www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mnap/aquatic/index/htm.

A study from the Environmental Law Institute www.eli.org/ called "Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners" provides a review and synthesis of information from the most up-to-date scientific literature for land use planners to use when making decisions affecting biodiversity. The report summarizes what is known within the scientific community about potential land use planning and design thresholds and offers general guidance on how to transform traditional planning aproaches into more ecologically-based conservation tools. The study may be downloaded from http://www.elistore.org/reports_detail.asp?ID=10839. We have Chuck McGregor to thank for letting us know about this study.

Thank-you Bremen

For the second year in a row Bremen voters approved funds for deposit into the Land Conservation Reserve Fund. Despite these tough economic times and while other towns have had to make tough decisions, Bremen voters displayed their dedication to conservation by generously approving the request as submitted by the Bremen Conservation Commission.

Thank-you,

Dennis Prior
Chairman, Bremen Conservation Commission

Compost Bins Available

As part of Earth Day 2009 celebration, the Bremen Conservation Commission is participating in a statewide sale of backyard composting bins. Through May 2, a home compost bin and how-to guide with a combined retail value of $100 can be purchase for only $37.50 (tax included). Order forms are available now at the Town Office. On Bremen Clean Up Day, Sat., April 18, the BCC will take orders and have a sample bin on display in Bremen Fire Station parking lot; on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, they will be set up in the Town Center parking lot. There are a limited number of compost bins available and they are being sold on a first come, first serve basis.

It's estimated that 25 percent of the average household's waste consists of yard trimmings and kitchen scraps that can be easily composted and turned into rich soil for your garden.

Residents from other towns are welcome to participate in the sale. For more information, or to receive an order form, call Diane at 529-4499 or email doc@tidewater.net.

Woodland Assistance

Need assistance in caring for your woodland? The 2008 Farm Bill expanded access to some conservation programs for forest landowners and managers. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts are sponsoring meetings throughout Maine in March to provide information about programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Forest Stewardship; how they could benefit Maine's forest landowners; and eligibility requirements. One meeting is scheduled for Waldoboro on Thursday, March 26, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at the Knox-Lincoln Extension Service office at 377 Manktown Road. If you'd like to attend, please call 273-3005, ext. 3, a week in advance.

A list of all the meeting dates, locations, times and contact information is available at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

Coastal Access

If you are interested in coastal access issues, check out this new website developed by Maine Sea Grant. Www.seagrant.umaine.edu/accesslaw offers legal tools to address specific coastal access questions, and is a resource for coastal property owners, beach and waterfront users, public and environmental interests groups, and governments. It is well designed, easy to use and offers a lot of concrete suggestions.

Tax Benefits of Donating Conservation Land by Robert Levin

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There are several kinds of tax benefits available to donors of land or conservation easements. This article attempts to summarize these benefits and provide some examples of how they work. If you are uncertain about the differences between bargain sales and donations, or conservation easements and whole interests in property, go to Conservation 101 for a quick brush up.

Federal Tax Benefits

There are two main kinds of federal tax benefits available to conservation donors: federal income tax benefits and federal estate tax benefits.

Federal Income Tax Benefits- Donors of land and conservation easements may claim an income tax deduction under § 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. The exact amount of tax savings depends on several factors:

• How long the donor has owned the property (benefits are generally greater if owned for more than one year);
• How the donor has used the property (residence, investment, agricultural);
• The income of the donor (the higher one’s income, the more one will save on taxes); and
• The value of the donated property (the more valuable the property, the bigger the deduction).

Federal Estate Tax Benefits - A donor may also save substantially on estate taxes if he donates a conservation easement. Under § 2031(c) of the Code, up to $500,000 may be excluded from one’s taxable estate if he or she had donated a qualifying easement. As with the income tax benefits, the larger the value of the donated easement, the bigger the deduction.

The federal estate tax is currently in great flux. In 2003, any estate of $1 million or more is subject to the estate tax. This number rises gradually and the estate tax is completely phased out in 2010. But in 2011, the estate tax is back, along with the $1 million threshold. It is likely that Congress will revisit the estate tax in the coming years, so it is impossible to make any long-term predictions.

State Tax Benefits

Some states have enacted income tax deductions or credits for the donation of land or conservation easements. Check with your local land trust for more information. For example, there is no such state income tax benefit in Maine.

Local Property Tax Benefits

In general, property tax reductions are available for landowners who grant land or a conservation easement. The exact results depend on state law. In Maine, for example, property subject to a conservation easement. will qualify under the Open Space Tax Program. The landowner must file an application with the local tax assessor, who will then make the final decision on the amount of the reduction.

See some hypothetical examples of how much one couple could save

Woodland Management Workshops Offered

Do you own woodland? If so, you might be interested in free two woodland management workshops being offered this month, both led by Morten Moesswilde, the midcoast district forester for the Maine Forest Service.

On Sat., March 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Coastal Mountains Land Trust will host a condensed forest management course at their office at 101 Mt. Battie Street in Camden on the fundamentals of managing woodlands. Advance registration is required; to register or for more information, call 236-7091 or visit www.coastalmountains.org.

Sheepscot Valley Conservation Assn. and the Maine Forest Service are hosting a two-part "Woodland Owner's Shortcourse" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, March 17 and 24, at SVCA's office in Sheepscot Village. Pre-registration is required by March 12; call 586-5616 or send an email to svca@sheepscot.org.

Ocean Front Property: To Preserve Or Not Preserve
By John Maguire

Bremen residents learned how landowners could preserve oceanfront property for commercial fishing use during a presentation at the Town Center on Feb. 25.

Jeff Kendall, a property appraiser from the Property Tax Division at the Maine Revenue Service, spoke in front of a small audience about the state Working Waterfront current use program.

Bremen had the highest acreage (20.70 acres) in Maine classified under the Working Waterfront program in 2008, according to Kendall and the Maine Revenue Service.

To read the article in its entirety link to Lincoln County News by clicking on the link below:

http://www.mainelincolncountynews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=44149&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=75&S=1

BCC to take part in Open Space Conservation Planning and Financing Workshop

On Monday, April 27th, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Resources and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust Conservation Innovation Program will be hosting a workshop at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick for people involved in open space conservation and planning.

The Bremen Conservation Commission has been invited to take part in a panel presentation that will discuss open space planning and the path taken in developing the conservation plan for the Town of Bremen.

The 9:00 am - 3:30 pm workshop will also cover Town Bonding for Open Space Plan Implementation, Town Installment Purchase Agreements, and Installment Purchase Agreements for Land Trusts. The finance portion with Daniel O'Connell will acquaint town officials, conservation commissions and land trusts with a very innovative financing method that can save the buyer and seller money.

Community Forests

MEACC will co-sponsor a conference with the Maine Forest Service and the Community Forest Collaborative on Community Forests in October. Two sessions will be offered: Bangor, October 16th and Bath, October 23rd. If you have a community forest, or see the establishment of a community forest as a way of getting your town involved in open space acquisition, be sure to save the date. This is a particularly good strategy for policy makers who see open space just taking property off the tax rolls for the enjoyment of "elites." Community forests can pay real dividends to towns, often in excess of whatever property taxes these lands might otherwise generate.

Discussing Maine's Working Waterfront Tax Law Program

The Bremen Conservation Commission will hold a public informational meeting regarding Maine’s Working Waterfront Tax Law Program on Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm at the Bremen Town Center. Jeff Kendall of the Maine Revenue Service and Town Assessor Juanita Hennessey will provide insight into this program and discuss its benefits to those living and working along Bremen’s Working Waterfront. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend.

Working Waterfront Land Application
www.maine.gov/revenue/forms/property/apps/workingwaterfrontapp.pdf