Downeast Maine is Under Threat
Amherst is home to the headwaters of the Union River — a lifeline that runs through eastern Hancock County. The Union River watershed begins in the upper reaches of northwest Amherst and runs south through the City of Ellsworth into the Union River Bay and Frenchman Bay. Our region’s clean and clear waters rely on the health of the Union River.
Climate change, sprawling development, and loss of wildlife corridors are threatening to fundamentally change the Upper Union River region’s identity. Right now, there are still valuable stretches of undeveloped land, clean waters, and wildlife habitat that we can protect — but, the time to act is now.
In the Union River’s upper reaches, a new interstate highway extension threatens to change the landscape. The Maine Department of Transportation recently extended Interstate-395 from Brewer directly to Route 9 in Eddington.
This interstate extension makes the towns of Amherst, Aurora and Clifton more attractive commuter communities for the greater Bangor area. These small, rural towns do not have the capacity to adequately plan and prepare for increased traffic and development area.
Join us in protecting Headwater Bluffs in Amherst
Frenchman Bay Conservancy has a unique opportunity to conserve nearly 6000 acres of land crucial to the health of the woods and waters of eastern Hancock County. The future Headwater Bluffs is a key piece to a larger conservation puzzle in Downeast Maine. Conserving this unique property will bring the total of contiguous permanently conserved lands to over 43,000 acres — protecting woods, waters, wildlife and the character of our region.
The future Headwater Bluffs in Amherst will be our largest acquisition to date — and offers the greatest conservation impact of any single project in FBC’s history!
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The wild estuaries, sparkling bays, and thriving fisheries in the Union River and Frenchman Bay region begin at the headwaters of the Union River — where towns like Amherst source the freshwater tributaries that are the lifeways of our region.
Public drinking water supplies, commercial fishing grounds, and recreation and hunting opportunities our special corner of Maine is known for all begin here in the headwaters of the Union River. For generations, Mainers have chosen small close knit communities, a slower pace of life, and the strong connection to place that towns like Amherst offer. Connection to the woods and waters of the Upper Union must be conserved for all us — and for future generations.
