Our Mission m We work cooperatively with landowners and communities to protect natural features and working landscapes in the Kennebec River and Lakes Region. Working with conservation-minded landowners since 1988, the Trust has protected over 3,300 acres of land through donations, purchases, and conservation easements. Our stewardship practices preserve the natural, educational, and recreational values of the land. Most of our properties are open to the public for walking, hiking, hunting, fishing, and enjoying nature. n The Challenge Nestled in the northwestern portion of Maine's Kennebec County is a land of forests and farms, hills and lakes, villages and homes -- the Kennebec River and Lakes Region. n More than two centuries ago hardy settlers incorporated here the first inland communities in Maine. Today the defining and perhaps the most important feature of our countryside is its cherished, but threatened, rural character. n There are still loons, moose and rare woodland flowers here in central Maine. There are still stretches of unspoiled lakeshores, working farms, wood lots, and country roads with scenic views of island speckled ponds here.

How the Kennebec Land Trust Works m Land Protection: KLT holds conservation easements on, accepts gifts of, and purchases significant lands. Conservation arrangements are custom crafted for each protected property to ensure that they are appropriate to the conservation values of the parcel and the circumstances and wishes of the owner. n Stewardship: KLT actively cares for easements it holds and for lands it owns. The land trust becomes a voice for the lands under its care. It inspects the property periodically and has the right of legal action if a conservation provision is violated. n Education: KLT publishes a newsletter, makes available slide and speaker programs, produce and distributing educational materials, and sponsors conferences and workshops. We are especially interested in providing information to landowners and communities about land protection options. n Advocacy: KLT works with our state and local governments in support of land conservation initiatives that benefit our region. n Membership Meetings: KLT hosts an annual members meeting, occasional informal gatherings for members, and field trips to protected properties. n Cooperation: As a private partner, we work in the public interest with landowners, developers and government officials. We cooperate with state and national conservation groups. Many others have an important role, but KLT is the leading voice for the land in the Kennebec River and Lakes Region of Maine.   What Lies Ahead? b The future of the Kennebec River and Lakes Region is being decided today. If all of our shorelands, forests and farms are subdivided and developed, what will be left of the natural environment? If we don't act now to protect some of our best remaining open spaces we could lose them forever. n Throughout our region there are sites that are suitable for development just as there are important open space and recreational lands that deserve to be protected. The voice of those who would preserve the special character of these lands needs to be strong to provide balance. What we save now is all we will ever be able to save. n The Kennebec River and Lakes Region of Maine can best be protected by those who know it and love it.

Echo Lake Watershed© Jym St. Pierre

 

To volunteer or to find out about visiting the KLT office, in Winthrop, please contact our staff:

Theresa Kerchner, Executive Director, tkerchner@tklt.org

Gina Lamarche, Program Assistant

Phone: 207-377-2848
134 Main Street Suite 2B Winthrop, Maine 04364

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

     Copyright ©2009-2019 Kennebec Land Trust