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We have anived! Yes, we have reached our $500,000 goal and forever
preserved six spectacular properties in four communities. This was by
far our most ambitious fundraising goal ever, representing a three-fold
increase over our last campaign. Daunting as it was, our members,
friends and partners rolled up their collective sleeves and made it
happen. There are tons of thanks to go around (see list of generous donors), but we want to recognize a few groups and organizations whose help and support made this campaign a success:
For the record, our Kennebec Landscapes campaign raised $502,943. We preserved over $1,000,000 worth of undeveloped shoreland, forests, streams and wildlife habitat and set aside significant funds for the continual stewardship of these properties. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the many generous supporters who made it possible for us to save these veiy special places:
It’s with great pride that I reflect on our successful $500,000 Capital Campaign that guaranteed the preservation of Parker Headland and five other spectacular properties. Through many hours of volunteer effort by both KLT and our partners, lead by our own Norm Rodrigue, we have done it! It is heartening to know that conservation is important to so many people in our area.
We
now own or have conservation easements on 41 properties totaling 2,540
acres. Of course success comes with costs; acquiring property is only
part of conservation. When a property comes our way, we take on the
responsibility of taking care of it forever. This is a long time. It
involves a lot of work:
monitoring boundaries and conservation easement conditions,
inventorying the flora and fauna, building and maintaining trails,
removing invasive plants,
meeting with surrounding land owners, and many other things. Our
stewardship responsibilities have grown past our ability to have
volunteers do all of the work. Education and Stewardship Coordinator,
Theresa Kerchner, has been instrumental in helping KLT accomplish our
stewardship goals. Although having an office and a part-time employee
increases the land trust’s expenses, Theresa and the new office have
brought KLT significant membership growth, a much increased number of
volunteers and visibility as a community resource. A major focus for
this year is to expand membership and raise income to meet our
increased expenses.
I’m confident we will again meet our goals. It’s too important not to, when we think about how essential local conservation is. What is Kennebec Land Trust conservation? It is large areas of protected forest, woodland warblers, hawks, and wildflowers on Mt. Pisgah in Winthrop and Wayne, Curtis Homestead in Leeds and MacDonald Woods in Readfield. It is canoeing past rocky shoreline and thick cedar and pine forest on KLT island property in Cobbosseecontee Lake. It is preserving rare plants on the islands and shores of Androscoggin Lake. It is community outdoor recreation at Vaughan Woods in Hallowell. It is keeping land that has been in the same family for many generations from being sold and subdivided. It is an active organic farm in Vienna. In the end, it is about preserving the land that makes our area so special. That’s the reason why KLT’s work is so important. That’s the reason we volunteer hundreds of hours per year for the trust and why we donate money to KLT when there are so many other pulls on our limited resources.
In Trust,
Glenn Hodgkins
| Janet H. Adelberg | Betty Bennett | William Besse |
| Christopher Cushman & Leslie Burhoe | Wendy Flaschner & Daniel Meyer | Jane and Ray Giglio |
| Andrew & Deirdre Gilbert | Dr. Antonio & Anita Gotto | Gabriella Howard |
| Jonathan & Anne Huntington | Colleen Kelly | Charlie King |
| Harold & Marjorie Lovejoy | Julian Holmes & Audrey Marra | Jim & Rachel McNaughton |
| Cynthia Mervis | Terry Moulton | Ann Pistell & Katherine Todd |
| Thomas R. Spears | Mary E. Tooman | Gary & Candy Walters |
| We are growing - acre by acre and member by member. | ||
We are pleased to announce that the Perkins property now has a walking trail, which takes visitors on a pleasant ramble through a beautiful parcel of land. The trail work was done over the summer by KLT stewards Jane and Stan Davis, with help from Theresa Kerchner, Jim Connors, and high school students Beth Shattuck and Daniel Perkins.
The
Perkins property is a fourteen-acre parcel with 2700 feet of frontage
on Androscoggin Lake in Wayne. Access is by small boat (or snowshoes
and skis when the lake is frozen) from either the Androscoggin Yacht
Club or the public boat launch on Route 133 in Wayne. From the Yacht
Club, paddlers should head southwest, aiming at the undeveloped
shoreline between the West Acres development and the Androscoggin Camp
for Boys. From the public boat launch, cross the cove, then follow the
shoreline until the Kennebec Land Trust sign is visible. Small boats
may pull up near the sign.
The yellow-blazed trail begins at the KLT sign and meanders up a small incline and through a mixed hardwood-conifer forest to a small beautiful park-like grove of large white pine and hemlock. Cores taken from two of these conifers in August, 2003 indicate that a number of trees in this stand are 130 — 150 years old. The trail winds through this grove and then follows a stone wall through the interior of the property, ending at a rocky point overlooking the lake, a nice spot for a picnic lunch and swim. Looking north along the property’s shoreline and across a small cove, one can see a dead pitch pine. This tree had an active osprey nest for years until it blew down this past winter. Ospreys were sighted near the shoreline this summer, and we hope that they will be nesting somewhere on the property in future years. In late August we saw an immature bald eagle fly out of one of the property’s large pine trees. Whitewash on the ground suggests that this tree has been used on several occasions as a perch for large birds.
For those interested in plant species, the property includes three trees somewhat uncommon in this area — tupelo, white oak, and pitch pine. Pipsissewa and rattlesnake plantain can also be found, as well as blueberries, witch hazel, partridge berry, cranberries and a variety of ferns.
This property provides valuable protection for a significant stretch of shoreline on a busy lake. When donating the parcel to KLT in 2001, owners John and Pat Perkins expressed the desire for the property to remain wild and open. They visited the property in August and were very enthusiastic about the work KLT is doing to maintain the property and provide a trail so that others might enjoy this beautiful spot. We hope many of you will visit the Perkins Woods.
Dear Kennebec Land Trust,
Being an intern with the KLT was great. I had the opportunity to work with the environment and some wonderful people. I helped make a trail on the KLT Perkins Woods property with Jane Davis, and distributed KLT newsletters to local libraries with another intern, Maddy Edwards. I also had the chance to see Shannon Cromley’s plant ecology research at the Dead River Delta on Androscoggin Lake. I’m certain that this internship will be an important stepping stone for my future endeavors in biology. I’d like to thank Theresa Kerchner and the Kennebec Land Trust for letting me participate.
Over the past 16 years member investment in KLT has conserved:
A letter from Doug Scott is often the first piece of mail that KLT members see. Doug has provided membership and financial services to KLT since 1994. He has been a big part of KLT’s growth over the years. Not only did Doug start us on double-entry bookkeeping, he has allowed us to keep in regular touch with our 500 members. Together with new assistant Lex Lannan, Doug is now helping three different land trusts run efficiently.
Doug couldn’t have imagined his land trust work in 1962, when he graduated from Maine Maritime Academy as a deck officer. His seafaring education led him to a job with the Military Sealift Command in the Pacific. One trip to Antarctica left him stranded for 3 months in 13 feet of ice. Fortunately his ship was strong, and he made it back to civilization more quickly than the men of the Endurance. Jobs followed with the CIA, active duty in the Navy, Assistant Operations Manager for Barber Steamship lines and sales for Sea Land Service. Doug seized the chance to move back to Maine in 1971 with his wife, Ingrid, and worked for years as a Sales Engineer for Dumont Corp. of Monmouth.
Doug and Ingrid have now been married for 41 years. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. Very active in the greater Monmouth community, Doug is President and Chair of the Board of D.F.D. Russell Medical Centers, Secretary of the Monmouth Lions Club, Treasurer of Friends of Cumston Hall, and Secretary of Healthy Futures of Winthrop. He also volunteers many hours for KLT. It’s reported that he sometimes has time to eat and sleep.
We as a land trust are very fortunate to have Doug working for us and look forward to benefiting from his expertise for many more years.
| Anonymous | Augusta Fuel Company | Jamie & George Ault |
| Rodney & Betsy Barker | Friends of the Unitarian Universalist | Community Church of Augusta |
| Tom Bartol & Barbara Moss | Joseph Bauer & Mary Brown Parlee | Walter Belden |
| Frederick & Lisa Best | Jerry Bley | Madeline Brandt |
| John & Charlene Bridge | Stephen & Elizabeth Brooke | Peter Burbank |
| Pamela Burleigh, In honor of the marriage of Dr. Theresa White & Paul Muller | Jim & Susan Caldwell | Camp Androscoggin |
| Peter & Margaret Carhart | Jim & Harriet Connors | David Courtemanch |
| Charles & Elizabeth Crandall | Stephen & Sandra Crockett | James & Cecilia Cumming |
| Peter H. Danforth | Elizabeth Davidson | Stan & Jane Davis |
| Leland Davis, Jr. | Chester & Deena Day | Dr. Robert & Mary Jane Day |
| Mark & Renee Dershwitz | Holly & David Dominie | Jean E. Dorson |
| George & Elsie Dragonetti | Dyer, Goodall & Federle, LLC | Patricia Ender |
| Andrew Fisk | John & Patricia Gannett | Virginia Geyer |
| Wayne & Linda Gifford | Cindy Glidden | Patricia Gordon & John McPhedran |
| John & Susan Gross | Sue & Roger Hanson | Cheryl Harrington & Dennis Harnish |
| Nancy A. Hasenfus | Marty Henson & Jim Betts | Elizabeth & Richard Hicks |
| Glenn & Sara Hodgkins | S. Jeanette Hopkins | Dr. Michael Hoyt |
| Jim & Phyllis Huettner | Doug Ide & Carol Saunders | Lloyd Irland |
| The Isaacson/Lape Family | Jeffrey Janell & Daisy Dore | Jodi & Tom Federle |
| Barbara & Paul Johnson | Todd Johnson | J.S. McCarthy Printing |
| Ann Judd & Ron Giard | Kevin & Judy Kane | Sue & John Kannegieser |
| Kennebec Savings Bank | Theresa Kerchner & James Perkins | Lincoln & Gloria Ladd |
| Edward & Brenda Lake | Howard & Brenda Lake | William Laubenstein III |
| Mort & Barbara Libby | Susan & Larry Liebling | Jon Lund |
| Douglas Macdonald | The Maitland Family | Robert & Cheryl Marvinney, In memory of A. Victor Lykens |
| Jane Matrisciano | Kevin Mattson | Sally McGonigle |
| Dr. James & Helen McKendry | Stephen & Diana Mclaughlin | Winnie & Alex McPhedran, In memory of our son, David P. McPhedran |
| Ernest & Joan McPherson | Tom & Donna Mickewich | Philip & Gwendolyn Mohlar |
| Robert G. Mohlar | Marilyn R. Noyes Mollicone | John & Kathryn Morris |
| Melvin Mounts | Jane & Barry Mower | Beth Nagusky |
| Judith Nisbett | Wm. R. Nye, In memory of Kenneth F. Nye | Joseph O’Donnell |
| Michael O’Malley | Sean Edward O’Malley & Mia Jensen | Hope Olmstead |
| David B. Osborne | Francesca Perazzi, In memory of Madeline Perazzi | Dave & Shirley Petherbridge |
| Jeff& Ginny Pidot | Lynn E. Randall | Beatrice Kay Reynolds |
| Harry B. & Dee Richardson, In memory of Robert D. O’Malley, M.D. | Celia & Isadore Risen | Joyce M. Rivers |
| Norm Rodrigue | Dianne E. & H. Allen Ryan | Dr. Robert L. Sands |
| William & Charlotte Sawtelle | Lee M. Schepps | Jeannie Scudder |
| Sydney & Deborah Sewall | Jim & Karen Simpson, In memory of Isabel Nelson | Bernard Slofer |
| Jane G. Smith | Tim & Luvia Sniffen | Sue & Ken Spalding |
| Jym St. Pierre | Joyce T. Sterling | Mark & Nancy Sutherland |
| Roberta Swift, In memory of Lawrence F. Swift | Paula Thomson | Barry S. Timson |
| Andy Tolman | Ben Townsend & Dorcas Miller | Phil & Marjorie Tribou |
| David & Amy Trunnell | Romaine Turyn & Al Prysunka | William & Debora Uliasz |
| Richard & Josephine Wagner | Clyde & Patricia Walton | Margaret L. Weaver |
| Jeff& Allison Wells | Robert N. Weston & Mickie Weston, In memory of Lowell N. Weston & William F. Needham | R. Frederick Woolworth |
| Milton R. Wright | John Yindra |
| Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, In memory of Marie Brown | Dick Courtiss, Camp Vega for Girls | Dr. Peter & Lisa DeWolfe |
| Charles Elvin | Douglas Frantzen | Peter Geiger |
| Ron Giard & Ann Judd | Donald & Stephanie Hunsinger | Edward E. Johnson |
| David R. Ketcham, Turtle Island Camp | Keith Klein, Camp Laurel | Lynn, Phil & Andy Lilienthal, Camp Winnebago, In memory of Emmy Lou & Howard Lilienthal |
| Bruce & Amy Merluzzi | John & Barbara Moment | Dr. Patricia M. Mooney, In memory of May Howson Mooney & William H. Mooney |
| William Mooney | Dorothea H. Mooney | Bert & Pamela Murray In memory of David Jones Fleet Jr. (Pop-Pop) |
| Ralph & Gloria POwers | Marion E. Rank, In memory of Charles W. Rank | Bill & Sarah Reed |
| John Roberts & Kenneth Schmidt, In memory of Esther H. Roberts | Deborah Page Sanders, In memory of David Jones Fleet, Jr. (Pop-Pop) | Ken & Lea Stabinski |
| Raymond H. Terepka | Paul & Ginny Warren and Douglas Pierson, In memory of Frances Pierson | Alan M. Willemsen |
| Dr. Frederick L. Yarger |
| Burton & Joan Anderson | Martin & Fiora Arnold | Margaret & David Barrow |
| Rist & Joy Bonnefond | Nona & Doug Boyink | Daniel & Michelle Caron |
| Deborah Cayer & Bill Dunham | Courtenay & Mary Jane Chase | Stephen Cowperthwaite |
| Albert & Ruth Desnoyers | Gary & Deborah Dubord | Helen Duryea |
| Betty & Alton Earle | Katherine & Henry Flynn | Charles David Ford |
| Wesley Ford | Marie & Richard Fox | Robert & Leslie Grenier |
| Alan & Margaret Grometstein | Gerald & Heidi Hartz | Jeremiah Healy & Bonnie Tisler |
| Morgan & Jean Henika | Cyndy Hoeh & Paul Staincloff | Elizabeth Huettner |
| Phyllis & James Huettner | Pauline & Jere Hughes | Nancy & David Hunt |
| Barbara & James Kelly | Sarah & Kingsley Kelly | Leonard & Susan Knorr |
| Jennifer & Stefan Knust | Marilyn & Henry Kobik | Vicki Kozak |
| David & Elizabeth Landis | Henry & Doris Laskey | Benjamin Leber |
| Lauren & John Linton | David & Kathy Markovchick | Cindy & Pat McInerney |
| Addie & Alfie Michaud | Anonymous | Dan & Pat Onion |
| Frederick & Susan Onion | Lois Peterson | John Pier & Stephanie Paine |
| Stephen & Susan Plate | Susan Potter & Wesley Babula | Lidie & Josh Robbins |
| William & Karen Rogers | Thomas & Veronica Sawyer | Alan & Ruth Schactman |
| Eliza Slavet & Anthony Burr | Gerald & Susan Slavet | David & Sandra Snow |
| Kitsey Snow In honor of David Snow’s 70th birthday | Jean & Brent St. Clair | Gregory & Andrea Thon |
| Robert Weirnont & Maggie Chadwick | Jeannine & Dean Wells | Jeff & Ann Whitehead |
| Waine & Millie Whittier | Kenneth Wilson & Alison Brown | Phyllis York |
The Annual Meeting of the Kennebec Land Trust, held August 22nd, was an occasion for members to celebrate. A beautiful day for field trips was followed by a wonderful dinner at the Manchester Country Club. KLT President Glenn Hodgkins had his hands full recounting the many accomplishments in FY 2004 and thanking the dozens of individuals who helped make the year such a success.
In
the afternoon, KLT members enjoyed field trips at Parker Pond and at
the new Torsey Pond Nature Preserve. A good sized group of paddlers put
in at Ruth Grauert’s Camp Bearnstow and made a short journey to Parker
Pond Headland, one of the jewels of the Kennebec Landscape Campaign.
Hikers at the Torsey Pond Nature Preserve explored the new
woodland-to-marsh trail built by the Town of Readfield. Conservation
Commission members Dave Bagley and Tim Sniffen and KLT founder Jym St.
Pierre led the group.
At
the meeting that evening, President Hodgkins recognized organizations
and individuals who had raised funds, donated land or granted
conservation easements. The honorees included: Lynn Lilienthal and Pat
Mooney, the Echo Lake Association, Ann Farr and family, Douglas and
Jesse MacDonald, the Town of Readfield, Erica Karp and Tony Diller, the
Parker Pond Association and Beatrice Reynolds. Their generosity and
foresight made possible the protection of some 420 acres of land in
2004, bringing the KLT total to 2,540 acres.
Norm Rodrigue, organizer of the Kennebec Landscapes Campaign, marveled at the success of this ambitious, highly coordinated effort - a historic achievement for KLT and a testament to the generosity and passion for conservation of the KLT membership.
President Hodgkins recapped KLT’s successes in recruiting volunteers for stewardship activities, field trips, and the Lyceum Series. Mary Sturtevant received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Jim Connors, Stewardship Chair, presented the Outstanding Stewardship Award to Tom and Donna Mickewich, stewards at Curtis Homestead. Property stewards, the backbone of the trust’s efforts to maintain our growing land holdings, received stewardship pins, designed locally by Dwain Young of Augusta. Also recognized was Theresa Kerchner, Education and Stewardship Coordinator. Theresa’s ideas and hard work have paid off tremendously and are much appreciated. In board news, Bob Weston was recognized for his contributions as a long term director; he is retiring from the Board and his wise counsel will be missed. Howard Lake presented an award to Bob on behalf of the KLT. Curtis co-steward and Manchester resident Tom Mickewich was nominated to join the Board.
| Ruth Grauert, Camp Bearnstow
Readfield Conservation Commission Jym St. Pierre Gloria Powers Bonnie Michaud Tamara and Scott Gleason Ron Giard and Ann Judd Cranberry Creations John Harker Molly and Steve Saunders Wayne Villiage Pottery |
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| Special thanks to Hank Redmond and his staff at the Augusta Country club for a superb dinner and a memorable evening. | |
There
are a number of on-going projects at the Curtis Homestead this fall.
Zac Sager, a senior at Monmouth Academy, has finished building an
information kiosk for us as his community service project for his Eagle
Scout award. In addition, the development of a brochure for the
Homestead is progressing nicely. This effort is supported generously by
KLT members Mort and Barbara Libby. The brochure will include a map
created by KIT volunteer Chris Dimeo showing trails and other points of
interest at the Homestead.
Thanks to the Maine Conservation Corps and all of the community volunteers who worked with us, we now have several new trails that are available for hiking and cross country skiing. This project was supported by a USDA NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program grant. Finally, those brush piles left from the field clearing work day last April, which some of you may have wondered about this summer, will be burned in early winter, as soon as there is snow on the ground. We will have more details on all of these projects in the spring newsletter.
At the annual meeting, KLT President Glenn Hodgkins read from the family history of Parker Pond Headland, provided by Erica Karp and Anthony Diller. This land is now preserved so that future generations will be able to create enduring memories surrounded by its pristine beauty. An excerpt of that story:
Take a look at the Parker Pond Headland. You'll see the long shoreline and sloping evergreen hill, about the same view folks would have had back in 1890. That’s when Frank and Jean Diller first came to the lake and it didn ‘t take Frank much time to locate some of the best fishing spots. Back then, before motors, to get around on the lake you paddled, rowed or sailed. The loudest noise was Mother Loon's warning call as the Eagle flew out from the Split Rock Swamp. Since then, new generations of loans, along with young Dillers, have developed their swimming skills in Parker's waters. Jean and Frank's eldest son Elliot, called Van by everyone, always considered Parker Pond his real home. In 1929 Van and his young bride Berta spent their honeymoon on the lake. We can imagine them paddling their green canoe to the Headland, clambering up the cliffs on the eastern side and looking out over Birch Island, as you can still do today - then climbing back down to the shore and taking a cool Parker's plunge.
Thank you to Headmaster Rist Bonnefond, teacher Jim Smucker and Kents Hill students for their efforts at the 17 acre KLT Mathews property in Fayette. The Kents Hill students dedicate two days each year to work with KLT stewards Ann Judd, Ron Giard, and Jim Brogan of the Mathews family, to maintain the Mathews fields for wildlife habitat.
This
was a fall to remember with bright days all through October. The
weather was perfect over Columbus Day weekend with temperatures that
were cool and then warmer by the day’s end. I could have been tending
to the end of the season garden chores, but instead I took some time to
roam KLT properties by foot and in a canoe. My favorite outing was
paddling on Bog Brook to the Oak Island, part of the Curtis Homestead
Conservation Area. The peatland plants and the surrounding hardwoods on
the upland were brilliant.
Our new map includes information about all of our properties, including those with water access. The following KLT lands have public access points:
We are pleased to announce that KLT’s annual lyceum topic will focus on the connections between Landscape Painting and Conservation. Our evening programs will be on three Thursdays: March 17th, 24th, and 31st at the Ladd Recreation Center in Wayne. Our opening presentation is Natural Visions: American Landscape Painting before the Civil War with Dr. Martha McNamara, University of Maine.
To follow up on the lectures, guest artists will lead several lyceum field trips at KLT properties. We are looking forward to seeing how our members will paint and interpret KLT landscapes! We plan to hold an exhibit of finished art work at Slate’s restaurant in Hallowell with a benefit reception late next year.
Thank you to the Kennebec Valley Art Association (KVAA) and the Ladd Recreation Center for co-sponsoring the series this year and to Gloria, Lincoln and Robert Ladd for funding the lyceum. Details about each of the lectures and the field trips will be mailed to all members this winter. Please contact the office if you have any questions or are interested in assisting with our annual lyceum program.
This summer we distributed our draft KLT property map. We are currently refining the text and the format so that the map will be in a convenient foldable from. The map will be mailed with membership renewal confirination letters this winter. A heartfelt thank you to KLT member, Andy Tolman, and the staff at Screamin’ Machines in Winthrop for their patience and assistance with this project.
The Vaughan Homestead Foundation held its first lecture on August 22nd, a bright sunny Sunday. Barry Timson, geologist and mayor of Hallowell, and Hank Tyler, botanist, gave the joint presentation and field trip. They focused on the geology and botany of the Vaughan Woods.
Using
maps and diagrams, Bany explained the environment 12,000 years ago as
the glacier receded from the Kennebec River Valley. Marine waters
invaded the depressed river valley land and coated existing glacial
till with a thin layer of marine clay. A thick layer of gravel was
deposited. Within this gravel deposit, mostly in Chelsea, is
Hallowell’s current water supply. As the glacier retreated, the height
of land at Granite Hill acted as a dam and prevented glacial melt
waters from further sculpting Hallowell’s landscape. During the field
trip, Barry used an auger to core into the marine clay on the ridge at
the top of Vaughan Brook. During deglaciation, large volumes of water
cut into the glacial and marine deposits quickly creating the ravine.
Hank Tyler gave an overview of Maine’s flora. Kennebec County contains about 1,000 vascular plant species, about half of the plant species found in Maine. Vaughan Woods contains a rich variety of plant species. Hank estimates that over three hundred plant species grow in the Woods. He prepared a handout list featuring 95 plant species in 40 plant families. Highlights of the field trip included: the old-growth white pine stand, a Critical Area, the maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum), and a large population of Indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora), Emily Dickinson’s favorite plant.
Diana Gibson granted a conservation easement to the KLT in 1990. Geo, Ellen and David Gibson, George and Diana Gibson’s children, hosted the summer lecture and walk. The Vaughan Homestead Foundation plans to hold additional lectures and field trips, and will also continue to work on stewardship projects with the KLT and the Hallowell Conservation Commission.
On
October 23rd, the Vaughan Homestead Foundation, in conjunction with the
Hallowell Conservation Commission and the Kennebec Land Trust, held
their annual work day. Over 20 people removed barbed wire from the
field perimeter, spread wood chips along the main trail, and cleared
woody vegetation from stone retaining walls. Daniel Ucci, a stonemason
from Pittston, donated his time to begin repairing one of the stone
culverts along the main trail. Dan worked with a crew of six volunteers
to lift and reset the granite slabs that make up the culvert. Most of
the culvert was repaired, but additional work is needed to rehabilitate
one end of the retaining wall supporting the granite.
In addition, the Maine Conservation Corp worked for two weeks in October and early November to continue upgrading the Brook Trail and assist in culvert repair. Volunteer efforts are essential in order to maintain the beautiful and much loved trails at the Vaughan Woods.
The
Kennebec Land Trust is very fortunate to have over thirty dedicated
property stewards. These volunteers are the foundation of our
monitoring program and the individuals who know the most about our
conservation lands. Responsibilities vary with each property and once a
year we hold a stewardship training session with a guest speaker. Each
steward has the opportunity to speak briefly about recent projects,
natural history observations, field trips or proposed plans. This year
our workshop will be on Saturday, January 22nd, at the Helen and George
Ladd home in Wayne. We always welcome new volunteers. Please call the
KLT office (377-2848) or talk to one of our stewards if you are
interested in being part of this important and rewarding work.
Torsey Shore Conservation Area, Mount Vernon: Charlie Jacobs
Vaughan Woods, Hallowell: Andrew Fisk, Paul Johnson, Jeff Pidot & the Hallowell Conservation Commission.
Avery-Smith Shore Land, Readfield: Ann Judd, Ron Giard, Paula Thomson
Fogg Farm Conservation Area, Readfield: Brooke Barnes, the Readfield Conservation Commission
Cobbossee Islands: Perry, Hodgdon & Horseshoe Island Properties, Winthrop: Torn Bartol, Jodi Michaud Federle
Wyman Memorial Forest, Readfield: Dave Courtemanch
Bearnstow, Mt Vernon: Sue Liebling
St. Andre Fields, Readfield: Beth Craigie
Mathews Wildlife Habitat, Fayette: Ann Judd, Paula Thomson, Jim Brogan, Kents Hill School
Mt Pisgah Conservation Area, Winthrop and Wayne: Jeff Jannell, Jennifer McLean, Jim Connors, Jane Andrews
Androscoggin Lake Conservation Area
Norris Island, Wayne: Diana and Steve McLaughlin, Dave Stevenson
Brackett-Longley Rare Plant Preserve, Leeds: Diana and Steve McLaughlin
Perkins Woods, Wayne: Jane and Stan Davis
Cobbossee Stream Conservation Area, Gardiner: Ian Burns
Besse Historic Conservation Area, Wayne: Mary & Tom Sturtevant, Theresa Kerchner & Jim Perkins
Curtis Homestead Conservation Area, Leeds: Donna & Tom Mickewich, Andy Bosworth
Whittier Shore Land, Parker Pond, Vienna: Sue Liebling
Sturtevant Farm Scenic Area, Fayette: Beth Craigie
Gott Pasture Preserve, Wayne: Charlie Jacobs
Flying Pond Farm, Vienna: Diane Friese
Tyler Conservation Area, Readfield: John and Peggy Barnes
McGurdy Stream Preserve, Vienna: Tim and Maggie Davis
Torsey Pond Nature Preserve, Readfield: Marty Henson & Jim Betts, the Readfield Conservation Commission
Monmouth/Leeds Bog, Monmouth: KLT Stewardship Committee
Reynolds Forest, Sidney: George Viles and Nancy Ross
MacDonald Conservation Area, Readfield and Wayne: Howard Lake.
Echo Lake Watershed Preserve, Readfield: Ann Judd, Ron Giard, the Echo Lake Association
Parker Pond Headland, Fayette: Clyde Walton
Gannett Woods, Manchester and Readfield: KLT Stewardship Committee & Manchester Open Space Committee
This
is a new feature for our newsletter! During the course of the year, you
may meet one of our thirty stewards leading a community field trip or a
KLT work day. Behind the scenes, these volunteers submit annual
inspection reports, meet with landowners and plan trails and public
access locations. Since our stewards visit their properties often, we
have asked them to submit notes about their seasonal observations.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our first column.
During a visit to the Perkins Woods property on
Androscoggin Lake in Wayne on October 8, 2004 we found that the leaves
on the tupelo trees (Nyssa sylvatica) were at their full color - a very
deep and beautiful red.
Jane and Stan Davis
On the KLT field trip to MacDonald Woods on October 9, 2004 we heard a ruffed grouse, found an owl pellet and coyote scat, and saw LARGE moose prints.
Howard Lake and Jym St Pierre
The vernal pool at the Besse Historic Conservation Area
was empty of water, but filled with red and yellow red maple (Acer
rubrum) leaves on Columbus Day, October 11th. This fall we submitted
our fifth and final annual report to the Maine vernal pool monitoring
project. For the years 2000 - 2004 the hydroperiods (length of time the
pool held water each year) were: 2000 - 136 days; 2001 - 89 days; 2002 - 113 days; 2003 - 76 days; 2004 - 103 days.
Mary Sturtevant and Theresa Kerchner
One of the more spectacular fall botanical sightings at the Curtis Homestead
this year was the pink and green maple leaf viburnum (Viburnum
acerifolium) leaves. We saw these lovely shrubs near Curtis Rock, and
on two of our new trails - the Curtis Rock Trail and Woodlot Loop Trail
during the Maine Conservation Corps work week.
Donna and Tom Mickewich, October 20, 2004
| Jane Andrews | Lois Ault | By The Board Lumber, Sonia & Russ Godbout, Mt. Vernon |
| Ginny Coady | Readfield Conservation Commission | The Maine Conservation Corps |
| Beth Craigie | Jane & Stan Davis | Mary Denison |
| Chris Dimeo | Maddy Edwards | Karen Fisk & the Unitarian Universalist Youth Group |
| Bea Horne | Charlie Jacobs | Josh Lake |
| Ed Lake | Mort and Barbara Libby | Julie Mecham, KLT Webmaster |
| Donna and Tom Mickewich | Miles Morris | Daniel Perkins |
| Jim Perkins | Jym St. Pierre | Zac Sager |
| Syd Sewall | Beth Shattuck | Mary Sturtevant |
| Andy Tolman | George Viles and Nancy Ross | Clyde Walton |
| Alan Weaver | Dwain Young |
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