Maine Island Trail Association

Maine Island Trail Association
Name	Maine Island Trail Association
Formation	1987
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Rockland, Maine
Region	Maine coast
Purpose	Recreation, conservation, access

Maine Island Trail Association

The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) is a nonprofit membership organization that maintains a coastal trail of islands and mainland sites for small-boat cruising, camping, and conservation along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Maine. It links recreational access with habitat protection, working with federal entities such as the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, state agencies like the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and local organizations including the Rockland community and regional land trusts. The association coordinates with historic preservation groups such as the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and environmental NGOs including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Audubon Society of Maine.

Overview

The association manages a linear island trail spanning from the mouth of the Piscataqua River near New Hampshire to the border with Canada, incorporating sites in counties like Cumberland County, Maine, Lincoln County, Maine, Knox County, Maine, and Hancock County, Maine. The trail system includes properties owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, and municipal parks in towns such as Portland, Maine, Belfast, Maine, Bar Harbor, Maine, and Castine, Maine. Membership provides access maps, guidelines, and stewardship opportunities tied to federal statutes like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and regional plans such as the Gulf of Maine Research Institute marine spatial strategies. Partners include academic institutions like Colby College, Bowdoin College, University of New England, and research centers like the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

History

Origins trace to recreational and conservation movements inspired by organizations including the Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra Club, and historic coastal clubs in Maine. Founders collaborated with leaders from the Maine Audubon Society and planners from the Maine Land Trust Network. Early efforts connected to federal programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state initiatives modeled on the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. Over decades, the association negotiated access agreements with private stewards like the Roosevelt Campobello International Park administrators and established protocols influenced by litigation and precedents such as decisions from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court concerning public access to tidelands.

Trail System and Access

The trail features hundreds of island stops, campsites, and mainland day-use sites accessible by small craft including kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and motorboats. Popular embarkation points include harbors in Rockland, Stonington, Camden, and Boothbay Harbor. Navigation and safety resources reference charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and advisories from the United States Coast Guard. Access agreements coordinate with managers of protected areas like Acadia National Park and sanctuaries administered by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The association’s trail guide draws on mapping from regional GIS programs at institutions such as the University of Maine and consulting with marine research entities including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Conservation and Stewardship

Stewardship programs emphasize habitat protection for species monitored by agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners such as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Conservation priorities include nesting seabird sites important to Piping Plover recovery initiatives and shoreline restoration projects funded by programs from the Environmental Protection Agency and regional philanthropic partners such as the Maine Community Foundation. The association collaborates with land trusts including the Coastal Mountains Land Trust and national partners like the National Wildlife Federation on invasive species control, shoreline erosion mitigation, and marine debris removal supported by volunteers trained through workshops with the Island Institute and the New England Aquarium.

Programs and Education

Educational offerings include safety trainings developed with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Leave No Trace courses aligned with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and citizen science projects in partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and academic labs at Colby College. Youth programs coordinate with regional school systems such as the Maine School Administrative Districts and summer camps including the Chewonki Foundation. Public events feature lectures and field trips with scholars from the Maine Maritime Academy and museum collaborations with institutions like the Penobscot Marine Museum.

Organization and Governance

The nonprofit is governed by a board of directors representing constituencies across coastal communities and professional backgrounds including conservation law, boating safety, and land trust management. Financial oversight aligns with standards used by philanthropic organizations such as the Kresge Foundation and compliance with federal tax regulation enforced by the Internal Revenue Service. Collaborations with municipal governments involve working with town select boards in communities like Searsport, Maine and harbor committees in places such as Isle au Haut, Maine. Volunteer stewards and seasonal staff coordinate logistics with marinas and outfitters including those in Port Clyde, Maine and Jonesport, Maine.

Notable Islands and Landmarks

Noteworthy stops on the trail include islands and sites with historical, ecological, or recreational significance such as Matinicus Isle, Monhegan Island, Islesboro, Chebeague Island, North Haven, Isle au Haut, Frenchboro, and landmarks adjacent to Mount Desert Island. The trail connects to maritime heritage sites including the Maine Lighthouse Museum, light stations like Burnt Island Light, and shipwreck sites recorded by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. The association’s network aids access to cultural resources maintained by organizations such as the Penobscot Nation and regional historical societies in towns like Sullivan, Maine and Brooklin, Maine.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Maine