News
Recent and past news articles regarding the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT)
FAYETTE — The Kennebec Land Trust intends to buy and permanently conserve 120 acres of land in Fayette, hoping to complete the $250,000 purchase by the end of the year.
The land, according to the organization’s website, includes “a ridgeline just above Echo Lake and a mature hardwood-conifer woodland adjacent to Hales Brook.”
Read MoreJust 6 miles separate the hubbub of downtown Augusta from the relative peace and quiet around Shed Pond, an undeveloped 37-acre pond straddling the Manchester–Readfield town line. Monks Hill rises to 750 feet over the pond’s west shore, its wooded summit marked by a simple sign amid a park-like grove of white pines.
MONMOUTH — A 273-acre parcel that includes forest, wetlands, open fields and 3,670 feet of shorefront on Annabessacook Lake will be protected forever from most types of development.
Landowners Charlie Jacobs and Rebecca Stanley donated a conservation easement Monday to the Kennebec Land Trust, preventing the land from being developed, other than minor residential development on a 17-acre homestead part of the property, or some agricultural structures elsewhere on the property.
Read MoreThe top of Baldwin Hill in Fayette looks like hundreds, probably thousands, of similar hills across Maine. Ancient stone walls crisscross through second-growth stands of trees, the thick forest beneath tall pines is littered with blowdowns and a carpet of dead leaves.
Read MoreIn late December, after over a year of planning and fundraising, The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) announced that it has permanently protected the 55-acre Weston Woods Preserve on Little Cobbossee Lake in East Winthrop. Conserving this land, which is adjacent to the Trust’s 90-acre Little Cobbossee Oatway Preserve, advances KLT’s mission of protecting important ecosystems and providing open space for our region’s communities.
Read MoreDuring this difficult year, time in the outdoors, trails close to home, and publicly accessible conservation land have become more important than ever. Now, just in time for the holidays, we’re excited to announce the publication of the second edition of our popular Take a Hike! hiking guide.
We received many thoughtful responses to our June 8 letter about these historic times, as communities, families, businesses, and non-profits struggle to address the non-partisan topic of racial inequality in our country.
Read MoreThe Dr. Shaw Memorial Library received a grant from the Maine Bicentennial Commission to create a Storywalk at the Ezra Smith Conservation Area on Route 41 (Pond Road) in Mt. Vernon.
This Storywalk features Winthrop author Lynn Plourde’s book, “At One In a Place Called Maine.” On the flipside of the pages are fun facts that correspond to the text and provide information about various aspects of our Maine environment. It begins at the head of the Deer Trail, going counterclockwise, ending at the head of the Beaver Trail.
It should be up through the end of August and can be enjoyed at any time. A notebook is located inside the KLT’s sign-in box at the head of the trails, feel free to leave comments and thoughts in the notebook regarding the story walk.
For more information, call 293-2565.
by Elizabeth Byrd Wood
“Blueberry muffins and juice will be ready when you return,” my aunt used to call out as my sister and I, along with our children, would make our way over the damp paths to the blueberry fields behind her house, carrying tin pails and blueberry rakes. Berry picking was a favorite activity of our summers in Maine, from the time when our children were toddlers to when they were youngsters, then teens. The morning sun would warm us as we crouched in the fields, picking the tiny wild berries. Breezes mercifully kept the bugs away, and after the first plink, plink, plink of berries landing in the pails, the only sounds we heard were the chirps of the goldfinches and chickadees flitting among the birches.
These blueberry fields and the surroundings woods and wetlands now make up the Davidson Nature Preserve, a 97-acre preserve in North Vassalboro. In 2005 my aunt, Elizabeth Davidson, who had retired and moved to Maine thirteen years earlier, donated the land to the Kennebec Land Trust. Today the property welcomes visitors of all ages and interests who come to pick berries, hike down to the fen to watch the herons, or seek out the many varieties of birds found in the woods and open fields.
My aunt’s love of the natural world, especially the birds, and her attachment to Maine prompted her gift of land to KLT. During her time in Maine (she now lives in a retirement home near Boston), Elizabeth was a keen observer of what was occurring in the preserve over the seasons. She recalls a magical expedition organized by KLT Advisory Board member Ron Joseph to watch the aerial displays of the woodcocks, and hearing their insistent peenting calls during courtship rituals in the early spring. She remembers seeing golden-crowned kinglets in the hemlocks on the path to the fen and scarlet tanagers on the now-named Tanager Trail. My aunt is a musician, and the flute-like call of the shy evening thrush echoing through the deep woods was a particular delight to her. She is pleased that the Davidson Nature Preserve not only provides a sanctuary for birds, but also serves as a critical habitat for bees and other insects that pollinate the blueberries.
Last summer my aunt and I visited the preserve late in the afternoon. Bright coral-colored Canada lilies and Queen Anne’s lace dotted the fields, and a few blueberries still remained. My aunt noted—with approval—the dedicated work of the KLT summer interns to remove invasive plants and keep the trails cleared. We checked the visitor log, and she was delighted to see that her former neighbors continue to make use of the property along with newcomers from other states.
KLT has been focused on climate change solutions for many years. Land conservation itself, is a natural solution. With your support, we have protected 6,600 acres of forestland, fields, and wetlands, and the soils and vegetation on these lands are constantly absorbing and storing carbon.
Read MoreOur spring newsletter featured the new Eastern River Preserve Additions and an explanation of our Stewardship Fund. We still need to raise about $7,000 to support the permanent conservation of the ERP. Donations of all sizes are welcome!
You may also mail a check to The Kennebec Land Trust, PO Box 261 Winthrop, ME 04364.
Please indicate in the memo that you would like your donation to support the Stewardship Fund for the Eastern River Preserve.
KLT is proud to announce that we recently purchased two parcels totaling 28 acres adjacent to our 22-acre Eastern River Preserve in Pittston.
Read MoreKLT’s President, Kim Vandermeulen, shared this message in our spring 2020 newsletter.
As the KLT community prepared earlier this year for the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, planning a celebration at the top of Howard Hill behind the capitol in Augusta, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was beginning its worldwide spread. By Earth Day the pandemic had caused the cancellation of all KLT community gatherings, with of course even more severe repercussions for humankind worldwide. Nonetheless, as I write the semi-annual president’s column, I will focus on both the accomplishments of the past fifty years and a few things we have learned during our COVID-19-imposed social distancing.
Fifty years ago the private land trust community was in its infancy. According to biological scientist Richard Brewer, writing in “Special Places” (the quarterly newsletter of the Trustees of Reservations, founded in 1891 in Massachusetts and the earliest still-existing land trust), there were fewer than fifty land trusts in the U.S. in the mid-twentieth century. By 1980 the number was 400; by 1990, 900; and by 2005, 1,667. Today, even after a series of mergers, the number stands at over 1,300. Conserved acres climbed to over 56,000,000 by 2015.
According to Brewer, the national land trust movement began in 1981 with the creation of the “Land Trust Exchange” for the purpose of encouraging cooperation and the exchange of information among land trusts across the country. The Exchange became the Land Trust Alliance in 1990, and the LTA continues to be the national organization supporting land trust activities. By 2015 the LTA reported that the land trust movement was supported by over 200,000 volunteers—members and volunteer stewards like you. Clearly much has happened since Earth Day 1970. Environmental improvements of equal magnitude have happened in water quality, air quality, control of hazardous substances, and many other important areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible hardship across the planet. It reminds us that the Earth and all living things are fully interconnected. Humankind’s impact on the Earth is a paramount consideration in thinking about the future of the natural systems. Our work—the support of the land trust movement in the United States, more particularly Maine’s land trust activity, and even more concretely our own KLT—is one very important factor in the sustenance of the ecosystem. As I walked with my wife, Linda Young, last week at the Baldwin Hill Conservation Burial Ground site, I was struck by the impactful work of KLT and the realization that my small part in it was only possible because of all the past and current work of dedicated members, volunteers, and staff. In its thirty-plus years of work, KLT has attracted the expertise and respect of many community members, thus enabling us to advance important conservation endeavors.
During our social distancing, we have been reminded in stark terms of the absolute importance of a community’s access to shared, conserved areas of natural beauty. Joining together to care for and enjoy the forests of Maine soothes the soul. Please continue to support and enjoy the lands conserved by the donors, members, staff, and community of KLT. We can’t do it without you!
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts
Warren Whitney, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, wwhitney@mcht.org
Jeremy Cluchey, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, jeremy.cluchey@tnc.org
Jim Britt, DACF, jim.britt@maine.gov
Get Outside for Physical and Mental Wellbeing but do it Safely.
AUGUSTA, Maine – Biking, boating, hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and other outdoor activities are great ways to stay healthy in the age of COVID-19 – provided they are conducted in accordance with all public health restrictions and guidance. As summer weather is fast approaching, Maine’s conservation and recreation communities, natural resource agencies, and outdoor brands developed the following checklists to help us all enjoy Maine’s outdoors in ways that are safe and responsible during this difficult time. Before you hit the trail, cast a line, or launch a canoe, please be sure to:
Find the Right Time and Place
Know What’s Available: Consider visiting a nearby Wildlife Management Area, or a less-trafficked state park, public land, or local land trust (Maine Trail Finder is a great resource!)
Check before you go: While some popular conservation lands have closed recently due to overuse and crowding, the vast majority remains open to the public. Visit websites to see the latest information on closures or conditions. Please respect all property closures.
Have a plan B: If the parking lot is full, the destination is too crowded. If your first destination has a busy parking lot, go to the next spot on your list!
Avoid peak times: Get out earlier or later in the day.
Be Prepared Before Heading Out
Expect limited services: Facilities like public restrooms could be closed, so plan accordingly.
Dress for success: Be aware of current conditions and bring appropriate gear to match those conditions. Local outdoor brands are open for online sales and are available to give advice on appropriate gear and equipment.
Support local businesses: Many local businesses – from restaurants and retailers to guides and lodges – are working hard to provide services in ways that are safe and in keeping with public health rules and guidance. If you’re comfortable, consider finding ways to support them while you’re enjoying the outdoors.
Don’t take risks: Stick to familiar terrain and avoid unnecessary chances to avoid injuries, which add stress on first responders and medical resources.
Be aware of the rules: Check before you go to see what activities are allowed. If dogs are permitted remember to bring a leash and to properly dispose of waste.
Watch out for ticks and biting insects: Wear light-colored pants, closed-toe shoes, and apply EPA-approved bug repellent.
Leave home prepared with sanitizer and disinfectant.
Heed All COVID-19 Health Warnings
Practice social distancing: Stay at least six feet away from other people who do not live in your household. If necessary, step aside when passing other people on the trail.
Don’t linger: Shorten your stay when visiting natural stopping points such as waterfalls, summits, and viewpoints so everyone can enjoy them while maintaining a safe distance.
Bring a mask: When you’re in the vicinity of others, even with six feet of separation, a mask will help keep everyone safer.
Don’t touch: Avoid touching signs, kiosks, buildings, and benches to minimize the potential spread of the virus.
If you’re sick, stay home: It puts others at risk when you leave home while exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19, or if you have recently been exposed to the virus.
If we all follow these guidelines and put public health first, we can enjoy Maine’s natural resources in safe and responsible ways as we work through this difficult time together.
We have updated our Property Guidelines page with some new information about our parking areas. Due to the coronavirus, natural areas and parks around the globe are seeing an increase in visitors. While we are thrilled to provide access to the outdoors, an increase in use does come with challenges. KLT always strives to be a good neighbor, to protect our natural resources, and to provide a positive experience for visitors.
Remember, even if hikers are able to be physically distant on a trail, it is not always easy to keep distant when there are too many cars in a lot or on a road.
Overcrowded parking lots can create safety hazards, particularly if they are on high-speed roads.
We continue to encourage you to visit nature in your own neighborhood or community.
Additional parking guidelines are below:
Please be courteous of our neighbors. Never block driveways or roadways.
Leave No Trace, always, including in parking areas.
Most of our conservation areas have limited available parking. Please plan your outing during a time when the property may have fewer visitors (early morning, weekdays). If the parking lot is full, please move on to another location.
Please check individual property pages for specific information about parking.
By Jonah Raether
Kennebec Land Trust
FAYETTE — As town manager, Mark Robinson is very aware of the resources that make his town so special. The extensive shorelines of Lovejoy and Parker ponds, Echo Lake and other area ponds and streams are a draw for residents and visitors of all ages. The small population ensures a tight-knit community.
Robinson is also aware of threats to the community and the natural environment — the unstable future in the wake of climate change; local forests and waters threatened by the introduction of invasive species; the need for federal and state funding for education; concerns about the growing population of older individuals and their needs for future support as they age in place; and, as in many rural Maine communities, a concern about how a fast-growing population would impact the municipal budget and corresponding taxes for families and landowners.
He sees natural areas in Fayette as fundamental to addressing multiple issues at once, as long as the resources are sustainably managed with long-term consideration for future generations. In particular, large undeveloped and un-fragmented parcels of land, including those used for sustainable agriculture and forestry, or those providing “public value” through hunting, fishing or recreation, are resources that can benefit the entire community. These lands, mostly held by private landowners, provide valuable ecosystem services, like protecting drinking water, providing clean air, and helping mitigate climate change. Further, they help to ensure a viable
As an example, many of the largest parcels in town have dense conifers, lots of cedar, and large trees, all of which are requirements for a healthy deer wintering area. At a time when the number of DWAs across the state is declining, property owners in Fayette are helping to support their survival by keeping existing woodland intact. This is important to the town, because deer hunting brings visitors throughout the fall, and visiting hunters provide a boost for local businesses.
Ensuring sustainable wildlife habitat, however, is only one element of Fayette’s conservation goals. Robinson would like to see the “protection of a rural working landscape” all over town. In particular, there is a need for lands that are actively used for farming and forest management that will support and diversify the local economic base, while also contributing to statewide and global private and public conservation efforts.
The open expanses of land in Fayette are an asset to the community, but only if the parcels remain intact and undeveloped. Through partnerships and community-based land and resource management efforts, Robinson and the town are working to ensure long-term success for the community and the region.
In 2019, Kennebec Land Trust intern Jonah Raether interviewed five Kennebec County community members about their relationships and connections to the land and natural spaces. The Kennebec Land Trust works cooperatively with landowners and communities to conserve the forests, shorelands, fields and wildlife that define central Maine. The trust welcomes the public to explore its trails and properties, making their own connection with the natural world. For more information visit www.tklt.org or call 207-377-2848.
Last Updated: April 30, 2020 - 7:52pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2020
Contacts: Sarah Fuller, Chair, Winthrop Town Council, 207.446.6462; sarah@fullerink.com; Jeffrey Kobrock, Town Manager; 207.377.7200 ext 423; manager@winthropmaine.org
Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area Temporarily Closed
WINTHROP, Maine – The Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area, a popular hiking destination managed by the Town of Winthrop and The Kennebec Land Trust will be closed to the public beginning Friday, May 1, 2020. Despite signs requesting hikers use other recreational properties if the parking lot was full to ensure uncrowded trails and safe parking and road conditions, vehicles have been overflowing the lot and creating safety issues along the roadway.
The town, in conjunction with staff at the Land Trust, have attempted several tactics to keep the property open. Recent roadside parking bans designed to limit the number of people on the property at one time and maintain road safety were unsuccessful with people continuing to park along the road and on the private property of local residents, and created difficulty for service vehicles trying to access private homes along the road.
“This is an unfortunate change as we recognize that people need places to get outside, but given the repeated flouting of parking and regulations designed to keep the number of people limited for physical distancing, trails safe, and the roadway uncongested, it’s a step we must take,” noted Sarah Fuller, Chair of the Winthrop Town Council. She added, “As conditions warrant, we will re-evaluate the situation and hopefully will be able to open Mt. Pisgah to visitors again soon.”
The area will be regularly patrolled by Winthrop Police and violators will be subject the Governor’s orders under against the Safer-at-Home regulations and may be fined.
The Kennebec Land Trust has been working with the Town to expand the existing parking lot at the Mt. Pisgah property but resources are still being collected and plans finalized to add several additional spaces. “More off-road parking would be welcome, and likely adequate under usual circumstances, but the number of cars we are getting along the roadway far exceeds even that potential capacity. Having people and cars lining the roadway is an accident in the making,” commented Winthrop Police Chief Ryan Frost.
Winthrop’s Emergency Management Agency will be examining the Town’s additional recreational facilities and what options are available as certain restrictions for public access and gatherings are adjusted based on the phased plan Governor Mills announced earlier this week.
For additional Winthrop notices:
As a reminder: people can sign-up to receive updates on the new town website under the section marked “Winthrop Alerts.” This new email notification system will provide updates as they are available, as well as on the Town’s Facebook page and those of the emergency departments (EMS/Ambulance, Police, Fire).
Questions for school-related activities and polices should be directed to Superintendent Dr. Cornelia Brown: 377-2296 x2001.
Questions for municipal-related activities should be directed to Town Manager Jeffrey Kobrock, 207.377.7200 ext 423.
The Reynolds Forest in Sidney is small but packs A LOT into its 35 acres. A highlight is the powerful Goff brook with its foaming water roaring over exposed rocks into stone-lined pools. This brook once hosted saw and grist mills, the foundations of which are still visible from trails within today’s Reynolds Forest. The brook also creates a floodplain habitat. The property also has interesting wildflowers and excellent birding opportunities.
The property is located on River Road in Sidney just north of the Dinsmore Road. Parking is on the shoulder of the road, please use caution. There also is poison ivy near the trailhead-be careful!
Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and the land we love is in the headlines, worldwide. To our KLT members and volunteers, thank you for your many contributions to land conservation in our own backyards. Our close-to-home conservation properties are helping people stay healthy everyday.
To recognize the significance of this anniversary, KLT was planning to host an afternoon of community service on the scenic 164-acre Howard Hill Historical Park. We were going to invite nearby residents, neighbors, youth groups, local workers, and school students to come together for a spring afternoon on the ridge, in the woods, and on the trails. As committed land stewards, we would work together to tackle invasive plant species while we celebrated the beauty of the natural world around us.
This community event was our proposed kick-off for a new land stewardship program, the “Friends of Howard Hill.” Unfortunately, we cannot gather in-person, but we will look forward to hosting this community service day in the future. In the meantime, we will continue to help organize the Friends of Howard Hill.
Thank you to the City of Augusta, Ansley and Janet Sawyer, KLT volunteers and interns, and the Maine Conservation Corps for your good work on Howard Hill to date! The project took many years of concerted effort, and the result is well worth every minute. It is inspiring to see hikers, young and old, enjoying the paths that you helped build.
If you are interested in Howard Hill, using the trails already, or live nearby, you are a great candidate for the Friends of Howard Hill! Please sign-up on our website, and if you have questions, please contact us at info@tklt.org. (Also, we have other volunteer opportunities throughout our service area).
In the meantime, today is a good day to celebrate and to take care of the earth!
The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) works cooperatively with landowners and communities to conserve the forests, shorelands, fields, and wildlife that define central Maine. KLT protects land permanently, offers opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the natural world, and works with partners to support sustainable forestry and farming.
The Kennebec Land Trust | 331 Main St, Winthrop, ME, 04364, United States
