Dingley Island facts for kids

Dingley Island is a small island located in Casco Bay, off the coast of Maine in the United States. It's not far from the town of Brunswick.

The Story of Dingley Island

How Dingley Island Got Its Name

Long ago, in the 1750s, this island had different names. First, it was called Bateman's Island. Later, people knew it as Indian Island.

But in 1788, a man named Captain Levi Dingley bought some land on the island. Four years later, in 1792, he built a house there. From that time on, the island has been known as Dingley Island.

The Old Causeway Problem

For many years, Dingley Island was connected to a nearby island called Great Island. A long, solid path, about 200 feet (61 meters) long, was built in 1954. This path was called a causeway.

However, the causeway caused a problem. It blocked the natural flow of ocean water into a part of the island called Dingley Cove. Because of this, mud and sand started to build up. By the mid-1990s, this area was in danger of becoming a salt marsh.

Why Clams Matter

Turning into a salt marsh would have been bad news for the local community. Dingley Cove is very important for harvesting clams. Clams are a big part of the local economy. The clam flats on the island, which cover about 45 acres (18 hectares), bring in about $225,000 each year! If the area became a salt marsh, many people would lose their jobs and income from clamming.

Building a Bridge for the Future

Working Together for a Solution

To fix this environmental problem, the people living near Dingley Island decided to act. In 1996, they started looking into replacing part of the causeway with a bridge. A bridge would let the ocean water flow freely again into the cove. This would help restore the natural environment.

Over the next few years, many groups joined the effort. These partners included the Town of Harpswell, the US Navy, and students and teachers from Bowdoin College. Other groups like the New Meadows River Watershed Project and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also helped.

A Community Success Story

Led by a Harpswell resident named Elsa Martz, these partners worked together. They planned how to build the bridge and found the money needed for the project. The bridge cost about $174,000.

On October 1, 2003, the community celebrated a big success. They, along with Governor John Baldacci, officially opened the new bridge. This project showed how people can work together to protect nature and support their community.