Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Interpretive Panel Series

Illustrated Interpretive Panels Exploring the Natural and Cultural History of Coastal Maine

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, based in Damariscotta, Maine, wanted a series of interpretive panels that would help visitors understand how the region’s natural resources, communities, and history are interconnected. We used the same design system that we created for their trailhead kiosk panels in this signage project—creating a cohesive signage style across all preserves. Rather than focusing on a single site or story, the panels explore different themes that have shaped the landscape around Great Salt Bay and the Damariscotta River.

Green Goat Maps designed and illustrated four coordinated panels covering alewives and the historic fish ladder, the transformation of farmland into conserved habitat, oyster harvesting and aquaculture on the Damariscotta River, and the region’s timber and shipbuilding history. Each panel combines original illustrations with historical photographs, timelines, and interpretive text to connect past land and water use with the landscape visitors see today.

One of the key challenges was presenting complex stories involving ecology, Indigenous history, industry, conservation, and local communities in a way that felt engaging rather than overwhelming. We developed a consistent visual style across the series while giving each topic its own imagery and storytelling approach—from an illustrated fish ladder showing migrating alewives to a landscape depicting the relationship between working farmland and wildlife habitat.

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The result is a cohesive interpretive series that helps visitors see the landscape as more than scenery. Each panel connects the places around them with the people, wildlife, industries, and conservation efforts that have shaped the region over time.

Have a Bigger Story to Tell About Your Landscape?

Interpretive signage can bring together ecology, history, culture, maps, photographs, and illustrations to reveal stories that are not immediately visible when someone arrives at a site.

Green Goat Maps can develop a single interpretive panel or an entire coordinated series, helping conservation organizations and communities turn complex stories into engaging visual experiences that connect visitors more deeply with a place.