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Contents KLT Helps Preserve Mt. Pisgah President's Message Welcome To Our Newest Members Board of Directors Advisory Board Many Thanks to Mt. Pisgah, Cobbossee and Androscoggin Donors Parker Pond Property Protected Stewardship Notes A Tale of Two Land Trusts News from Norris Island Spend Time in the Great Outdoors with KLT Annual Meeting Celebrates Vaughan Woods Volunteer Trail Work Dat at Jamies Pond Summer Events at Camp Bearnstow Join Us to Explore The Curtis Homestead Thanks to All Newsletter Contributors

On October 25, 2002, approximately 40 area residents and public officials attended a community forum organized by Representative Linda Rogers McKee to discuss the future of Mt. Pisgah. The Kennebec Land Trust related its interest in the conservation and stewardship of the mountain area, and its willingness to help with the public protection and care of the state-owned Mt. Pisgah property. Community members expressed strong support for maintaining the Mt. Pisgah area as a cultural landmark and open space for recreation.

In recent years the condition of the access road and tower facility have deteriorated badly to the point of being serious environmental and safety hasards. At the meeting the Maine Forest Service (MFS) acknowledged its responsibility for the property and stated their commitment to restore the site to acceptable condition. Representatives of the MFS presented a plan to fix the road and to re-establish gates to control unauthorized use. In addition, they announced that the local cable company would remove its building and equipment from the mountain, and that the MFS would arrange for the removal and clean up of the ranger cabin on the Pisgah Road. Participants expressed strong community interest in maintaining the fire tower as an observation platform. A representative of the State Bureau of Parks and Lands reported that they are willing to conduct a structural analysis of the tower to determine its suitability for conversion to an observation platform.

As of press time, the Maine Forest Service has installed a new gate to control unauthorized vehicle use of the tower road. While the new gate was left open for the winter season to allow safe passage of snowmobiles and other winter trail users, it closed on March 15th. This policy will be reviewed within the context of overall trail use and management around the mountain. Serious issues remain regarding uncontrolled access on unsuitable informal "roadways" on the backside of the mountain.

The Maine Forest Service has determined that it no longer needs the lookout tower for its own purposes. Without an alternative use, they plan to remove at least the damaged cab on top of the tower and are leaning towards taking down the entire tower. Attendees at the community meeting expressed a strong desire to keep the tower in place for use as an observation platform. The opportunity to climb the tower for a panoramic view is an important part of the mountain climbing experience. In response, the Bureau of Parks and Lands in the Department of Conservation has committed to pay for an engineering evaluation of the tower to assess its suitability as a lookout platform. Several other fire towers in Maine (Old Speck, Rangeley Bald Mountain, and Kineo) have been successfully converted into observation platforms.

The Maine Forest Service has expressed a willingness to "sell" the 96-acre Mt. Pisgah property to a public entity that would keep the site available for community recreational use. The Kennebec Land Trust is working with the Winthrop Town Council and state officials to facilitate appropriate long-term ownership and stewardship of the property. At its February 4, 2002 meeting, the council discussed the committee report and then voted 6 to 1 to authorize the town manager to proceed with negotiations to purchase the state land. Winthrop will work in partnership with the Kennebec Land Trust and possibly the towns of Monmouth and Wayne.

Launched by Rep McKee's efforts to discuss the future of the mountain, these decisions demonstrate broad community support for the long-term protection of Mt. Pisgah as an important open space resource. Many people and groups are working together to protect a large contiguous area of undeveloped land around the mountain for present and future generations, and the KLT has played a significant role in getting to this point. Good work everyone!

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Dear Members,

As usual there is a lot happening with the KLT. It is both pleasing and a bit daunting to reflect on the range of projects that are underway. Thankfully we have many hands on board who are continually generous with their time and energy. I want to thank all of you who volunteered for the first time or again offered to help out with stewardship on your renewal forms. We received over 40 new offers!

You will read in more detail throughout the newsletter about current happenings, but there are several projects I want to bring to your attention.

The 6,000 acre Kennebec Highlands project in the Belgrade Lakes area is over 90% complete! Last year the KLT committed to raise funds to support this project, and we raised about $40,000 from local businesses to help the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance reach its $1 million dollar fundraising target. The Highlands will be a stunning addition to conserved lands in central Maine when the project is finally completed this year. I am proud we could help in a small way on this important undertaking.

The KLT has begun another partnership, this time with the Androscoggin Land Trust in order to combine and compliment our efforts around Androscoggin Lake. Our boards met jointly on a bright winter day in February to ski around the deadwater, the Indian Carry, and Norris Island. KLT and ALT will continue discussing acquisition strategies for this biologically important area of the lake.

In late fall, the National Land Trust Alliance awarded a capacity building grant to the Kennebec Land Trust. We plan to use this matching grant to engage the services of a fundraising consultant. Our purpose is to explore how we can continue to grow in the best and most careful way. This project will help the KLT to understand our ability to raise funds and possibly hire staff in the future. Is is clear that as our opportunities to conserve land increase, so do our responsibilities to care for and manage the 1,300 acres we currently own. Look for more details on this project as it develops.

I hope to see you out in the woods and on the lakes this spring and summer.

In Trust,
Andrew Fisk

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The trust has focused much of its efforts on protecting the water quality and the beauty of the lakes in the central Maine region. We greatly appreciate this generous gift which furthers our goal to protect undeveloped shoreline on lovely Parker Pond. KLT currently conserves 60 acres on the east side of the lake at Camp Bearnstow.

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Stewardship activities this season are concentrating on the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area in Leeds, the Islands in Cobbossee Lake, and the Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area. In addition, the land trust is maintaining managed use of Norris Island in Androscoggin Lake and care of properties in which the KLT has a conservation interest, such as the Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area.

The Curtis Homestead Conservation Area is being managed as a community resource for education and recreational use. A small parking area (which was plowed this winter to provide full-year access) now provides safe access to the property. We are planning to clear two trail loops, using a Maine Conservation Corps crew to help with the "heavier" work of trail construction. Steward Andy Bosworth is planning Thursday evening clean-up parties, and a Saturday work day, to begin restoration of the field area in order to improve its value for grassland birds. Volunteers are also needed to conduct plant surveys and bird and other wildlife censuses in order to inform conservation decisions for the property.

On Lake Cobbosseecontee the Stewardship committee will be working closely with people to improve monitoring activities and to educate and inform island users about appropriate uses of protected properties.

Stewardship activities around Mt. Pisgah are just beginning. As the conserved properties have coalesced into a fairly contiguous management area, the KLT has begun working with the town of Winthrop on the protection and care of the state parcel. Other trail users, including local snowmobile clubs and mountain bikers, will be invited to discuss trail development and maintenance issues around the mountain. Ideas include building a new access trail with better grades and a more natural setting than that of the existing tower road.

See Volunteer Trail Work Day at Jamies Pond and Summer Events at Camp Bearnstow for upcoming events.

The Stewardship Committee has revised the Norris Island Overnight Use Policy, for detail see News from Norris Island. The new policy more clearly explains the rules for public use of the cabin on the island. Both the cabin and the campsites may be reserved through the Ladd Center in Wayne. We are planning to hold a spruce-up visit to the island this spring. Contact stewards Diana and Steve McLaughlin at 207-685-9540 or email Diana.M.McLaughlin@state.me.us for details.

Thank you to the many renewing members who indicated a willingness to help with stewardship efforts. We will be incorporating these volunteers into our lists for stewardship activities, including participation in work sessions. No experience is necessary, and as the old saying goes, many hands make light work. The strong support of our members is very much appreciated.

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Board members from both land trusts and a few friends toured along the shore of the Dead River delta and floodplain on the southwestern side of the lake. The group discussed the importance of conservation in this area. There are several miles of undeveloped shoreline and islands, as well as a host of rare plants. Many plants on this part of the lake and on Norris and Lothrop Islands are at the very northern tip of their range, including White Oak, Black Tupelo, and New Jersey Tea. Eagles, muskrats, otters, ospreys and loons call Androscoggin Lake home.

The Kennebec Land Trust already owns Norris Island and the Brackett-Longley Rare Plant Habitat on the floodplain, thanks to years of volunteer efforts, your past financial support, and donations of land. KLT and ALT have formed an alliance to protect as much of the Androscoggin Lake delta and floodplain as possible.

If you're unfamiliar with this wonderful area, put in a canoe at the Dead River Campground on Route 106, paddle east down the Dead River, portage over the Indian Carry, and canoe out to Norris Island. For more information see News from Norris Island. Take your time and admire the varied shorelines and wildlife. This trip will convince you too of the need to conserve this beautiful, undeveloped part of Androscoggin Lake.

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To reserve a campsite or the cabin, call the Ladd Recreation Center in Wayne at (207) 685-4616. Leave a message and a member of KLT's Stewardship Committee will contact you. There is no fee for reserving the campsites or cabin, although users of the cabin are encouraged to participate in its upkeep. We are planning a one or two day "work party" later this spring to catch up on some minor maintenance and housekeeping chores at the cabin site. Volunteers are wanted and no experience is needed! If you would like to help, please call Steve McLaughlin at (207) 685-9540.

KLT urges all visitors of this beautiful island to respect, preserve and enjoy the fragile plants and wildlife that resite there.

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Wondering what to do on those nice Sunday afternoons? Interested in getting to know some of the areas being preserved as open space by KLT? We have started to organize bimonthly field trips and encourage both members and non-members to join us.

On March 10th 29 people showed up at the Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area to walk the partially snow-covered trails. The warmer temperatures and return of the sun made the walk especially enjoyable. The group walked a loop to Jamies Pond, then through the hardwood and conifer forest on land that KLT helped to conserve.

On June 2nd we'll be hiking part of the wonderful Curtis Homestead Conservation Area in Leeds, recently donated to the KLT. For more detail, see Join Us to Explore the Curtis Homestead. Watch for future trips, including a canoe/kayak trip on either Lake Androscoggin or Cobbossee this summer, and a hike up Mt. Pisgah. On August 18, we will offer guided walks in Vaughan Woods as part of our Annual Meeting festivities.

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Annual Meeting Celebrates Vaughan Woods

More information to come. We hope you can join us!

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Volunteer Trail Work Day at Jamies Pond

Saturday, April 28th, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Bring work gloves, small saws, loppers, rakes and/or other tools you may have. Meet at the new trail head parking lot on the north side of the Collins Road in Manchester, just east of the Benton road.

Directions: From 202 in Manchester, to south on Pond Rd. 3.3 miles to Outlet Rd. Go east on Outlet Rd. about 0.9 miles and the parking lot is on the left. For more information, contact Tom Bartol at (207) 621-0787.

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Summer Events at Camp Bearnstow

From July 1-6 there will be a service week devoted to opening trails on the property. Volunteers can participate in a variety of ways. For more information contact Sue Liebling, KLT steward, at 207-293-2628 or email LieblingS@aol.com.

For further information, a more complete schedule of Camp Bearnstow offerings, or to sign up, visit their website at www.bearnstow.org. After June 15, you can call the camp at 207-293-2280.

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Join Us to Explore The Curtis Homestead

Directions from Augusta: Take Route 202 west through Winthrop, heading toward Lewiston; turn right onto the Bog Road in Leeds. The Curtis Homestead Conservation Area is about 1.5 miles on the right.

Tn case of rain or for more information, call Jim Connors at 207-933-4293 or email jimconnors@prexar.com .

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