Mills announces new Land for Maine's Future projects
Courtesy / Land For Maine’s Future, Natural Resources Council of Maine
Twelve new Land for Maine’s Future conservation projects are in the works. This map shows the department’s projects over the years.
Gov. Janet Mills announced 12 Land for Maine’s Future Conservation projects across Maine that will protect working lands and wildlife habitat and preserve public access to lakes, rivers, scenic views and mountain vistas.
The projects include Reed Deadwater, the state’s largest conservation project to protect deer wintering habitat.
Three projects will preserve working farmland, four will preserve working waterfront and five projects will preserve working forests.
The projects total $7.7 million and are expected to leverage an additional $24 million in private and federal funds.
“Today, we mark the state’s largest conservation project to protect deer wintering habitat, which will help restore this once iconic species in Northern Maine and renew the hope of sportsmen and women across our state,” Mills said.
The Land for Maine's Future program was established in 1987 when voters approved a $35 million bond to fund the purchase of land and easements. In 35 years, it has conserved 610,000 acres, including 333,425 acres of working lands. The work includes 70 water access sites with over 67 miles of shoreline on rivers, lakes and ponds; 41 farms and 9,884 acres of protected farmlands; 30 working waterfront properties;158 miles of former railroad corridors for recreational trails and 69 miles of coastal access.
Project details
The Reed Deadwater: is a 6,300-acre parcel in southern Aroostook County that contains over 3,000 acres of historic deer wintering habitat, along with habitat for many at-risk species. It covers an additional 45,000 acres of conserved land. There are 2,500 acres of significant wetlands supporting rare species, as the Reed Deadwater contains a rare bog ecosystem. Once the project is completed it will be the single largest acquisition in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife history and the state’s most significant purchase to conserve deer wintering habitat.
Kennebago Woodlands: A 5,000-acre addition to the Kennebago Headwaters project previously selected by the Land Maine Future board. The conservation of this property will protect the uplands area and tributary streams of the Kennebago River.
Mill Hill and Edwards Mill Forest: The multi-parcel project spans multiple towns and counties in southwestern Maine. It includes over three miles of frontage on the Crooked River, the largest tributary to Sebago Lake, and critical spawning grounds for Maine's native land-locked salmon population. Sebago Lake provides the drinking water supply to a sixth of Maine's population.
Square Lake, Cross Lake: The 4,000-acre property will be acquired by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Public Lands, and added to their Square Lake Public Lands unit. This will support public access to over five miles of shore frontage on Square and Cross Lakes.
Chadbourne Tree Farm: This multi-parcel project will protect 10,000 acres in Bethel with a working forest conservation easement held by BPL.
E&E Farm: The 274-acre property outside of Lisbon Falls has 119 acres of open space and 154 acres of forest, the land at E&E is well situated for a variety of cattle and dairy enterprises. It has been home to a dairy herd and heifer operation in the Smith Family at different points in its history. With the farm's proximity to the Brunswick, Lewiston/Auburn and Greater Portland areas, development pressure in the area is strong.
Roseberry Farm: In Richmond is one of the larger contiguous tracts of dairyland still under active management in the area at over 1,000 acres,it provides a unique opportunity for a livestock-based business to thrive in the future.
New Leaf Farm: A 74-acre farm in Durham is home to one of Maine's pioneer organic vegetable operations, this easement will enable the current owners to work on a succession plan. Development pressure has led to the conversion of significant amounts of open space in the area.
Sea Meadow Marine Foundation: A nonprofit is preserving and protecting the Even Keel Boatyard to provide affordable access to individuals and families who make their living directly or indirectly from the sea. This land is the last exclusively working waterfront site in the Yarmouth/Freeport area.
Small Point Development Corp: A 61-year-old jointly owned shareholder corporation run by local Phippsburg fishermen and summer residents, this project permanently protects working waterfront for commercial fishing and aquaculture and preserves the community's shared vision as a traditional, multi-use Maine harbor.
Fisherman's Wharf: The only landing on the Minturn side of Swan’s Island and one of two public landings on the Island, currently unusable because of disrepair. This project will revitalize the wharf to ensure the public's safe use, transforming it into a vital commercial outlet that can make valuable contributions to the local economy.
Evelyn D LLC Working Waterfront: This waterfront is preserving the heritage and history of commercial fishing and boat building in Harpswell and ensuring future generations can operate the property as a working waterfront.
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