Caughey-Taylor Preserve (Sam Orr's Pond)

This preserve near Bocabec encompasses the famous Sam Orr's Pond, a brackish pond created from glacial movements 30,000 years ago. Two sills of hard basaltic rock form a dam between the pond and the ocean. There are actually two ponds and the tide comes into the lower (outer) pond some of the time while the upper pond (inner) only receives salt water at very high tides. The pond is a unique combination of salt and fresh water and because it is shallow remains relatively warm compared to any other brackish ponds in the area. This is the only home of the quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria in the Bay of Fundy and there are assemblages of plants and animals that are found nowhere else on this coastline.

The hills surrounding Sam Orr's Pond were originally covered with local climax vegetation of spruce, fir, cedar, beech, maple and birch. Today there is considerable second growth which has overgrown fields and clear cuts. The surrounding marsh supports dense populations of grasses and marsh plants. Wigeon grass, Ruppia marina and Zostera marina are the dominant pond plants while Fucus vesiculosus and Enteromorpha sp. are common in the rapids. Enteromorpha dominates the isolated ponds in the marsh.

Three major land donations from private landowners made this preserve possible. Sheila and Owen Washburn donated one lot on behalf of Sheila's father, the late Judge Earl Caughey. Gene Sharp, an American from Cambridge, MA donated the neighbouring lot and a large portion of the headland at Berry Point. Included in Gene Sharp's gift were lands on the north side of Highway 127 including a beaver pond and meadow. Dr. Sharp had purchased his land from Garfield Taylor, a descendent of the New England settler, Ira Taylor, who acquired the land following the American revolutionary war. Completing the shoreline on the east side of the preserve was a gift of 25 acres from Sheila Washburn and her brother, Dr. D. Michael Caughey in 2000.

The Nature Trust of New Brunswick gratefully acknowledges The Nature Conservancy (US) and Nature Conservancy Canada for their work in facilitating the transfer of Mr. Sharp's property.

Photo: S. Stroud Kaneko

Sam Orr's Pond Trail Winding around scenic Sam Orr's Pond, over rocky bluffs, through mixed Acadian Forest, and along Birch Cove and the Passamaquoddy Bay, the Sam Orr's Pond Trail showcases the best of Charlotte County's diverse landscapes. Not far from the town of St. Andrews, the trail is open to all looking for a good hike and to experience first-hand the beauty of this preserves. The Trust thanks Outreach Coordinator Jamie Simpson, Trust member Sadie Bryan, and dozens of volunteers for their hard work and inspired dedication in designing and building the trail. For a detailed map including where to find the preserve off Highway 127, click here. The free Adobe Acrobat reader can be downloaded here.