Cathance

COMMUNITY ATLAS PROJECT


 CATHANCE RIVER NATURE PRESERVE

History of CREA - Click here for Cathance Preserve Map

In 1999 the development of a 250 home retirement community with an eighteen hole golf course was proposed by local businessman, John Wasileski. It was to be constructed on 600 acres of a clear-cut wooded area consisting of streams, wetlands, quarries, a large heath, and along the northern border, the Cathance River. When word got out about the development, people became worried about the Cathance River and the rich natural environment that surrounded it. To protect the land an organization was created, Topsham's Future.


In the fall of 1999, the Highland Green developer and the newly formed citizen's committee met. Topsham's Future, led by John and Carla Rensenbrink, suggested that Mr. Wasileski should reconsider building his golf course. But eliminating the golf course from the development plan might cost the marketing success of the project. What was to come, would however, prove to be an even more valuable asset to both communities, Highland Green and the Cathance watershed.

Over the next few weeks, meetings continued and in March 2000 the two groups reached a compromise. Mr. Wasileski volunteered to move the golf course south. This proposal produced a 1,000ft buffer between the development and the river and also provided for the protection of more than 230 acres of conservation land. Topsham's Future lobbied for an organic nine hole golf course, that would be operated in an environmentally responsible manner. As part of the agreement CREA, the Cathance River Education Alliance was created with seed money from Mr Wasileski.

CREA dedicates their work to promote environmental awareness and education about the Cathance watershed. CREA's goal is to turn the Cathance River preserve and watershed into a teaching tool for environmental studies. It assists teachers, students, and administrators in twelve schools throughout Brunswick and MSAD #75. It develops appropriate curricula, workshops, and presentations for these schools. By doing so, it improves the management of the preserve and enables the program to work with other environmental organizations to help spread awareness and support. In past years, CREA has sponsored workshops on forest ecology, water monitoring, mammal tracking, vernal pools, and GPS technology. Ten to fifteen teachers attended each workshop. CREA now has teacher representatives in ten schools throughout the area including ongoing collaboration with Bowdoin College faculty and Woodlot Alternatives, a local environmental firm. Bowdoin College students have initiated a water-monitoring program with CREA. Six stations are monitored by the Bowdoin students. In addition, Geo/Ecology students have tested samples from the only location along the river where any significant agriculture occurs. The results show consistently high dissolved oxygen levels along with only trace amounts of nitrates or phosphates.

A system of access trails throughout the preserve has been completed for public use and educational field trips for teachers and their classes. CREA maintains a website with a wealth of information for teachers, their students, Highland Green residents and the public. Recently, CREA's grant writers have received one hundred thousand dollars toward funding projects like the completion of the Ecology Center using green-building technology. Solar panels and a battery storage system will be the alternative fuel source used for heating and electricity. This alternative fuel source will also be used in a laboratory room that local school systems will have access to. The Ecology Center is built with reclaimed lumber and has a passive solar architectural design. Also, with the grant money, a network of low-impact boardwalks and bridges in the 230-acre preserve are planned.

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