WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has awarded $1,000,000 to the Clark Island Wetlands Conservation Project in Saint George. As part of the project, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) will purchase an additional 168 acres of Clark Island neighboring the existing 250-acre Clark Island conservation area. The overall site will protect breeding and migratory habitats for birds while also enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.

“For decades, Maine people and visitors alike have explored the beloved Clark Island, which is home to dozens of species that need defending,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “Through this funding, we will be able to ensure that the public continue to experience the beauty of this land and take important steps to protect the species that live there — a successful outcome for Maine’s people, economy, and ecosystems.”

The Clark Island Wetlands Conservation Project directly addresses almost thirty habitat protection goals for species of bird deemed ‘highest priority’ by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, an organization focused on the habitat conservation for Atlantic Coast migratory birds from Maine to Puerto Rico.