Land preservation groups are putting together a plan to implement a recent $300,000 federal conservation grant.

The Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust will use the funds and work together to protect 63 acres of valuable wildlife habitat on White Island in Middle Bay, the groups said in a news release.

The national coastal wetland conservation grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was first announced Jan. 30.

Since then, land preservation groups have formed a “collaborative partnership” to conserve ecologically valuable land in Middle Bay.

Harpswell Heritage Land Trust will purchase 16 acres of upland and an associated 47 acres of intertidal wetlands from the family of Julia Stevens of Harpswell.

“The southern shoreline and woods of White Island have, for 50 years, been a wonderful place for my family to experience the remarkable variety of marine wildlife and the fascinating tidal ecology of Middle Bay,” said Mark Stevens, on behalf of the family. “We are absolutely thrilled to know that Harpswell Heritage Land Trust will now continue the important stewardship of this beautiful island habitat for generations to come.”

“We are grateful to the Stevens family for agreeing to sell this land to us,” Harpswell Heritage Land Trust President Charlie Johnson said. “This is a significant step in the Trust’s efforts to protect Harpswell’s critical marine resources upon which our economy and quality of life depend.”

White Island is a 116-acre island with extensive intertidal wetlands, and only seven developed lots, in Middle Bay between Mere Point and Harpswell Neck.

The property to be protected has 3,287 feet of shore frontage and includes mudflats and eel grass beds that provide valuable habitat for wading birds, shore birds, water fowl, mussels, quahogs, and softshell clams.

The project also protects the water quality of Middle Bay and Casco Bay, thus protecting habitat for numerous plants and animals important to commercial and recreational fishing and to the marine food chain.

“This project demonstrates the effectiveness of strong conservation partnerships. Hopefully, working together with the state of Maine, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Coastal Wetlands Grants program, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and local land trusts can continue important conservation progress in Maquoit and Middle bays,” said Keith Fletcher, of Maine Coast Heritage Trust.