Coastal Mountains Land Trust acquired three properties in the month of December as part of the Waldo County Conservation Initiative – an effort that launched in November 2022 with the goal of conserving open space in the 12 Waldo County towns served by the Land Trust for wildlife conservation, recreation, outdoor learning, and climate mitigation.

On December 13, the Land Trust acquired its first Preserve in the Town of Waldo, a 119-acre property that is almost entirely forested with mixed hardwood and oak-pine forest stands, in addition to a small field located along Kendall Corner Road. Ann and David Somers donated a significant percentage of the value of this property, allowing the Land Trust to purchase it at a deep discount to ensure that it remained undeveloped and available for public recreation.

“We are grateful for their generosity,” said CMLT, in a news release.

The new preserve abuts the Waldo County Technical Center (WCTC), which provides career and technical education to area high school students. The preserve’s proximity to WCTC will provide opportunities for outdoor education – “another big step forward in our Learning Landscapes work to connect students with nature,” said CMLT.

The preserve also hosts a quarter-mile section of the Hills to Sea Trail, a 47-mile path that winds its way from Unity to Belfast. Conserving another section of the trail will help to ensure the longevity of this important recreational community resource. The Land Trust plans to develop an additional 1.5 to 2-mile trail network for local users and integrate unique features of the property in the trail design, including an old stone-wall structure, known as the “town pound,” where residents would bring wayward cattle.  

On December 14, Elizabeth Wolfe and Michael Cunning, of Belfast, donated 23 acres to be added to the existing the McLellan-Poor Preserve in Northport, expanding the Preserve to 100 contiguous acres. Home to mature stands of hemlock, and a mixed conifer forest on the southern shore of the Little River, the preserve is a haven for porcupines, beavers, and other wildlife. It will also facilitate future trail extensions that cross streams, move alongside ravines, and connect to an open field ideal for cross country skiing.

On December 18, the Land Trust purchased an additional 20 acres of forestland and rugged cliffside above the Penobscot Narrows that will be added to the Mt. Tuck Preserve and add to the more than 1,000 acres of contiguous land on Mount Tuck in Stockton Springs and Prospect. This purchase will buffer Mount Tuck’s summit, the destination on the new Mount Tuck trail, “which has quickly become a popular local hiking spot,” said CMLT.

Led by Coastal Mountains Land Trust, the Waldo County Conservation Initiative is supported by a committee of 14 local volunteers who are working together to build a fund to support the acquisition and stewardship of priority open spaces. Exemplified by the 11 projects completed in 2022, the three properties described above, and the handful of other projects currently underway, the Land Trust’s focus is to conserve properties of two kinds: land within large ecologically significant areas that preserve the most diverse ecosystems in the region, and special properties valued by the community, that provide for trails, access to lakes, rivers and the ocean, and spaces for outdoor learning.

This year, the committee is seeking to raise $265,000 by April 1 that will support the estimated acquisition and stewardship costs of this year’s project list.

There are many ways to get involved: make a gift to the initiative, volunteer to help spread the word, or learn more about the initiative by visiting one or more of the proposed projects with a Land Trust representative. The Land Trust invites members of the community who are interested to contact the Land Trust directly through its Development and Communications Manager, Tempe Landi, by email at tempe@coastalmountains.org or phone at 236-7091.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay region. The Land Trust has protected over 13,000 acres, offering 55 miles of trails for public recreation. The Land Trust currently has over 25 preserves in Waldo County and was a lead partner alongside the City of Belfast in establishing the Belfast Rail Trail in Belfast.

For more information, please visit www.coastalmountains.org/waldo-county-conservation-initiative.