Five midcoast conservation groups plan merger
Image / Courtesy of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association
A map of the combined organization's coverage area.
Five midcoast conservation groups are proposing to merge into what they say would become one of Maine’s largest regional land trust organizations.
The proposal calls for merging Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Pemaquid Watershed Association and the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance with the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, according to a Tuesday announcement.
If the merger is approved, the conservation supergroup, which would assume a new name and become accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, would support land projects from Palermo in Waldo County to Westport Island in Lincoln County. The combined organization’s coverage area would also include the Damariscotta Lake watershed, Pemaquid River watershed, the Sheepscot River watershed and their many tributaries.
“Maine Coast Heritage Trust is very supportive of this effort, as mergers can lead to long-term sustainability and greater impact than was possible before,” Tim Glidden, president of the Brunswick-based Maine Coast Heritage Trust, said in a statement. “We applaud these organizations for their forward thinking, and hope that their success can become a model for land trusts across the state of Maine and beyond that might be considering a similar move.”
He added: “Local land trust collaborations such as this represent a tangible, intelligent way for small conservation organizations to reduce administrative overload, enhance focus on their missions, and magnify their collective impact.”
Jody Jones, executive director of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, said in a statement the proposed merger is based on the five organizations’ recognition that they need to combine forces and make efficiencies to best serve the midcoast’s communities. She added that becoming accredited would give the combined organization better access to financial and human resources, in addition to giving potential donors more confidence in its sustainability.
Four of the five organization’s boards have voted to approve the merger, with the Pemaquid Watershed Association’s board voting in opposition. However, Pemaquid Watershed Association and three of the other organizations are expected to hold a membership vote by the end of September, which would pave the way for the merger.
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