Category Archives: Spring Monitoring

Ready for Monitoring at Battery Steele

Spring Monitoring 2021

Oceanside Conservation Trust has ownership or Easement interests in open space properties on several of the islands in western Casco Bay.  Once a year, a team from the Board of Directors monitors those interests.  We traditionally do this in May before the island communities – or the Directors! - get too busy enjoying Summer.  May 27 was the date for checking out the parcels on Peaks Island; Little Diamond, Long, College and Cliff Islands will fill out the rest of 2021’s OCT Monitoring Week.

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Phragmites east of Battery Steele about the same.

Spring Monitoring 2020

AJ Monument overlooking Casco Bay

AJ's Monument overlooking Hussey Sound, Daveis Sanctuary, Peaks Island.

Tom Bergh checks a survey marker in Skillings Woods

Tom Bergh checks a survey marker in Skillings Woods, Peaks Island.

Liz Johnson at Battery Steel north entrance. Pallets for water crossing.

Liz Johnson finds pallets at the north entrance to Battery Steele, Peaks Island.

Being mindful of Covid-19 recommendations, OCT Directors and Stewards walked each property for the annual Spring Monitoring visits. All the properties are visited every year, whether OCT holds a conservation easement on a property or whether it is one which OCT owns in fee. During these visits, we check the boundaries and document and photograph any changes, paying particular attention to issues which are controlled by the easements. We keep records of which species we find, both native, occasional and invasive. This helps our understanding of the various ecosystems and why it is important to conserve them.

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