Weber Kelly Preserve
The Preserve is open free of charge to the public from dawn to dusk.
Ecology of the Preserve
Mixed Woods
Red oak, hemlock and pine dominate the woods, a habitat favored by warblers, woodpeckers, and owls. Red tailed hawks cruise the margins for unwary mice. Deer and raccoon forage the land.
Salt Marsh
Endangered short-nosed sturgeon, striped bass and many seagoing fish visit Sagadahoc Bay, protected by the wetlands of the Preserve. Ducks and migrating birds feed along the shores. Great blue heron and snowy egret wade the tidal banks of the creek in this nationally significant wildlife habitat. Salt marshes are nurseries for many commercial fish species.
The ribbon cutting at the preserve's grand opening in 2008.
Geology of the Preserve
The Preserve is located in the geologic domain known as the Avalon Terrane, a piece of Europe that was accreted to North America about 360-400 million years ago.
The bedrock is thinly bedded metamorphic rock, including amphibolite, granofels, and schist, of Ordovician age (~500-450 million yr). The dark gray and rusty colored rocks are intruded by light-colored pegmatites that have exceptionally large crystals and may contain gemstones such as aquamarine, beryl, and tourmaline. In the late 1800s, pegmatites in the Midcoast region were quarried for feldspar used as an abrasive and in the manufacture of porcelain. One such quarry occurs on the preserve and can be seen from the southernmost path a short walk from Bay Point Road.
- Driving Directions -
Take Route 127 south from Route 1. Go 8 miles to Bay Point Road, turn right. Preserve parking area and kiosk is located two miles south on the left. View Map.
Share what you see at Weber Kelly!
Use iNaturalist to document the plants and animals you see while wandering through Sewall Woods’ trails. The observations you make will appear below, use the tool to check out what people have already recorded!