Middle Bay Conservation Focus Area
The Middle Bay focus area encompasses shoreland and upland around the head of Middle Bay between Route 123 and Mere Point Road. It includes the Brunswick neighborhoods of Pennellville, Mere Brook, and Miller Creek. This area is also a Focus Area of Statewide Ecological Significance and is identified as a priority habitat block in the Rural Brunswick Smart Growth Plan.
The focus area is notable for its diverse habitats and wide array of ecological values. Spartina saltmarsh, inter-tidal mudflats, and eelgrass beds support fish, invertebrates, waterfowl, wading birds, and other wildlife, including commercially valuable species such as shellfish and bait worms. Open fields along Pennellville Road and Pennell Way provide scenic views of the historic Pennellville neighborhood for bicyclists, runners, and walkers.
Middle Bay is economically important for commercial fisheries such as clamming, and possesses some of the best hard shell clam (quahog) flats in the region. The bay is also an important area for marine innovations such as aquaculture. The area is popular with visitors and residents for birdwatching, paddling, swimming, hunting, and fishing. Middle Bay and its marshes also provide an important protective buffer from storm surge and rising sea levels.
Middle Bay Focus Area
Middle Bay Conservation Properties:
Click the image below to learn more about each property in this conservation focus area.
Coleman Farm
Coleman Farm’s 86 acres provide woodland buffers that protect water quality, habitat for migratory shorebirds, tidal flats, protection for ecologically significant Middle Bay, and active pastureland.
Dunbar
While functioning as an agriculturally productive hayfield, the Dunbar property also provides an iconic scenic vista surrounding the historic house.
Packard Farm
Packard Farm protects 511 feet of shorefront on Middle Bay.
Peggy Coffin Pond Preserve
Peggy Coffin Pond Peserve maintains scenic, rural open space of the historic Pennellville district, and protects water quality in Middle Bay.
Pennell Brothers – Coffin Preserve
The Pennell Brothers – Coffin Preserve maintains scenic, rural open space of the historic Pennellville district, and protects water quality in Middle Bay.
Pennellville Meadow
The 16-acre Pennellville Meadow abuts Middle Bay and, while the easement does not provide for public access, many people walk and bike on the roads of Pennellville and enjoy this scenic meadow.
Shipyard
Shipyard is a 1.8-acre easement property located on Middle Bay in the historic Pennellville district of Brunswick.
Silverman
Silverman is a 5-acre easement property located on Middle Bay.
Skolfield Preserve
Skolfield Preserve has important historic, recreation, habitat, and watershed protection conservation values.
Middle Bay Resources at a glance:
Recreation
Land-based Recreation
- Biking
- Trails
- Hunting
Water-based Recreation
- Fishing
- Clamming
- Swimming
- Boating
Traditional Land Uses
Shellfish Harvesting
(Historic) Ship Building
Ecological
- FOCUS AREA OF STATEWIDE ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Rare Natural Communities
- Salt-hay Saltmarsh
Significant Wildlife Habitat
- Tidal Wadingbird and Waterfowl Habitats
- Shorebird Feeding and Roosting Habitat
- Significant Vernal Pools
Rare Animal Species
- None Mapped
Rare Plant Species
- Mountain Honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa)
Agricultural Lands
- Open fields, prime soils, active farms
Notable Landscape Features
- Grassland Habitat
- Significant shellfish resource
- Opportunities to support marsh migration (sea level rise)