| |
Current Weather Conditions at the Refuge |
WELCOME!
The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge has released its
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (CCP/EA)!!
Rachel Carson National Wildlife
Refuge was established in 1966 in
cooperation with the State of Maine
to protect valuable salt marshes
and estuaries for migratory birds.
Scattered along 50 miles of coastline
in York and Cumberland counties,
the refuge consists of ten divisions
between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth. It will contain approximately
9,125 acres when land acquisition
is complete.
The proximity of the refuge to the
coast and its location between the eastern deciduous forest and the
boreal forest creates a composition of plants and animals not found
elsewhere in Maine. Major habitat
types present on the refuge include
forested upland, barrier beach/dune,
coastal meadows, tidal salt marsh,
and the distinctive rocky coast.
History of the Refuge
The southern Maine coast has been
treasured for over 11,000 years. The
Abenaki, Sokaki and Saco peoples
established thriving cultures using
the coastal rivers that provided
fresh water, ransportation routes,
abundant fish, shellfish, and
lowland wildlife.
The French explorer Samuel de
Champlain arrived in the region in
1604. Shortly thereafter and into the
1700’s, European settlers made their
livelihood from the coast and adjacent
marshes. They also pressed inland
to clear land for development and
to obtain lumber for the emerging
shipbuilding business.
In the 1800’s, southern Maine
shipbuilding reached its height.
Vessels up to 400 tons were
manufactured in Kennebunkport,
and locally-built schooners boosted
trade. The fishing industry supported
many people and commercial hunters
made their living from the wildlife
frequenting local marshes.
Recreational use of the Maine Coast
increased in the 19th and 20th
Centuries. Interest and access were
particularly spurred by the arrival
of the railroad in 1842. Thousands of
visitors came by train, trolley and
later, automobile. Now, tourism and
recreational activities rank highest
in the area’s economy. Between 260,000 to 330,000
nature enthusiasts from all over the
world visit the refuge annually.
Rachel Louise Carson ( 1907-1964)
Rachel Carson was a world-renowned
marine biologist, author and
environmentalist. She served as an
aquatic biologist and Editor-in-Chief
for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
During her tenure, she composed a
series of articles on Atlantic Coast
wildlife refuges.
Ms. Carson was born in Pennsylvania
in 1907. Though the mystery of the
sea and its creatures captivated her
at an early age, the Maine coast
particularly inspired her. Beginning
in 1952, she summered on Southport
Island, where she studied its beach
and tide pools to research The Edge
of the Sea (1955).
Through tireless investigation for her
greatest work, Silent Spring (1962),
she linked the unrestrained use
of post-World War II chemical
pesticides with fearsome, biological
consequences. Overcoming industry
and government pressure to abandon
her research, she persevered. Carson
simply and convincingly explained the
connections between humans and all
creatures of the Earth. She alerted
generations to use chemicals with
utmost caution, warning that their
improper use has dreadful effects on
public health and the environment.
Rachel Carson died in 1964, a victim
of cancer. As fitting recognition of
her tireless work, this refuge, first
known as the Coastal Maine National
Wildlife Refuge, was renamed in
her honor on October 28, 1969 and
formally dedicated June 27, 1970.
April 2002 marked the 40th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's groundbreaking book, Silent Spring. By publishing it, Carson has been credited with launching the contemporary environmental movement and awakening the concern of Americans for the environment.
May 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rachel Carson!
Click on Carson's photo to learn about her life and career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read her comments on wildlife refuges. See examples of her writing. |
