The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Kennebec Land Trust Celebrates 20 Years of Protecting Maine

March 26, 2008 - As the Kennebec Land Trust celebrates its 20th anniversary, we reflect on our mission "to work cooperatively with landowners and communities to protect our natural features, working landscapes and fragile ecosystems." That mission has guided us well over the years.

We have protected more than 3,200 acres in 14 communities in the Kennebec River and lakes region. Better-known and frequently visited properties include Vaughan Woods in Hallowell, Mt. Pisgah in Winthrop, the Curtis Homestead in Leeds, Parker Pond Headland in Fayette, and Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area in Manchester.

Many lesser-known, but no less outstanding properties, including islands, lake and stream shorelines, wetlands, forests and fields, are available to the public for outdoor recreational activities thanks to many generous donors and KLT. These include Davidson Nature Preserve and Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat in Vassalboro, Gannett Woods in Readfield, Gott Pasture Preserve in Wayne, Macdonald Woods in Readfield, and Webber-Rogers Farmstead in Litchfield. Our Web site, www.tklt.org, features an interactive map of all of our properties.

As more of our natural landscapes are threatened by sprawl, the importance of KLT's work is becoming even more evident. Imagine, if you will, Maine without Baxter State Park. In our own communities, these "islands of hope," as founding president Jim St. Pierre once remarked. "help preserve our natural heritage and sense of place." Furthermore, conservation isn't just about woods, waters and wildlife; it's about people, work and the economy.

Last year's Brookings Institution report cites one of Maine's key assets is its "globally known 'brand' built on images of livable communities, stunning scenery and great recreational opportunities."

KLT, one of more than 100 land trusts in Maine, is regional in scope. KLT's founders correctly believed that a regional model would better serve capital area communities by providing economies of scale, enhancing fundraising and setting priorities for conservation initiatives without regard to municipal botindaries.

One of KLT's greatest strengths is its ability to attract dedicated, highly qualified volunteers and leaders from a variety of backgrounds. Attorneys have donated invaluable pro bono legal services. Our financial affairs are ably overseen by a volunteer certified public accountant. Like many of the state's successful land trusts, the skills and commitment of our volunteers make KLT what it is today.

With success come new challenges. In 2002, it became clear that the trust's responsibilities had outgrown its capacity to run entirely on volunteers. In that year, we hired our first stewardship director and opened an office in Winthrop. Theresa Kerchner works with our volunteer stewards and donors to design and implement management plans for KLT properties, organizes the trust's field trips and educational events, and is a respected voice for regional conservation and high standards of responsible stewardship.

Looking forward to the next 20 years, we see both challenges and opportunities. In order to sustain our efforts, we need to get the word out about our work and continue to expand our membership. This anniversary year, as we develop our third strategic plan, another goal will focus on long-term financial stability. Toward that end, we will announce the details of an endowment fund.

In our core mission, land conservation, we will continue to see development pressures and increased property values, making our work doubly challenging. To meet these challenges, we will: 1) Be more strategic in identifying and setting priorities on conservation properties. B) Look to connect the dots between conserved lands, creating a system of woods and waters that will maintain and enhance wildlife corridors. C) Add to existing landscape-sized properties, such as Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area (930 acres) and Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area (730 acres). D) Focus on high value lake, stream and river shorelines and islands like the Kennebec River and important feeder streams. KLT already has partnered with the city of Gardiner to preserve a significant section of Cobbossee Stream and we are working with the city of Augusta to preserve parts of the Bond Brook watershed. E) Continue to work with the Maine Land Trust Network, Land for Maine's Future Board, the Maine Farmland Trust, local conservation commissions, lake associations, colleges and other organizations to leverage our conservation capacity.

The KLT board welcomes these challenges and opportunities. We are confident that our 30th anniversary will be cause for further celebration. We invite you to join us in this exciting endeavor and help us conserve the special places that help define our communities.

Written by Norm Rodrigue, a longtime KLT Board member from Manchester.

SOURCE: KENNEBEC JOURNAL

DATE: 03-16-2008


Lakes: Parker Pond
Regions: Belgrade


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News