Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today welcomed news that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) has been awarded $1 million from the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants program.

“I’m excited to see that the Department of the Interior understands just how special Clark Island is—and how important it is to protect it,” Pingree said. “Clark Island is a wonderful treasure on Maine’s coast and is readily accessible to the general public. This means that generations of Maine visitors have been able to appreciate and experience Clark Island, and the DOI conservation grant ensures future generations will be able to share in that experience.”

MDIFW will work with Maine Coast Heritage Trust as a subrecipient for the Clark Island Wetlands Conservation Project. Funding will be used to purchase 168 acres of Clark Island abutting the existing MDIFW conservation easement of 250 acres in Saint George, Maine. The site will be a preserve that protects bird habitats and enhances wildlife-oriented recreation opportunities.

Pingree is the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Interior-Environment which has oversight of the US Fish and Wildlife service, an agency within the Department of the Interior. 

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