Preservation of 1,421 Acres in the Saco River Headwaters Completed in 2011
The Greater Lovell Land Trust (GLLT) is pleased to announce the completion of five land conservation
projects that preserve a total of 1,421 acres of forest and wetlands in the headwaters of the Saco River
watershed. “ The scale, scope and quality of the land conservation achieved this past year is
unprecedented in the 26 year history of the GLLT.” Says Tom Henderson, Executive Director—GLLT.
David Cromwell and Sharon Landry partnered with the GLLT to place a conservation easement on their
property, the 890 acre Stone House Farm in Stow. The conservation easement preserves the forest
and fields of the Stone House Farm in an undeveloped state ensuring natural habitat in which vegetation
and wildlife thrive. “I cannot imagine this beautiful property covered with condos or a golf course,” said
David Cromwell. The Stone House Farm (1.4 square miles) is surrounded by the White Mountain
National Forest in the upper portion of Cold River Watershed at Evan’s Notch. The property with its rich
and interesting history surrounds Shell Pond and is host to four popular hiking trails providing access to
Rattlesnake Pool and Blueberry Mountain. The State of Maine designated Rattlesnake Pool as a critical
place of scenic beauty. The conservation easement preserves the land free of commercial, industrial or
real estate development, and permits agriculture and forest management and for continued public
access at the discretion of the landowners. “There are few places more spectacular than this local gem,”
states Tom Henderson.
An additional 99 acres in Lovell was placed under conservation easement with the GLLT by Anne
Pilsbury. The land abuts 801 acres of conservation land owned by the GLLT, known as the Heald and
Bradley Ponds Reserve. “Protecting this property was a high priority for the GLLT. It advances the GLLT
goal of preserving viable, native wildlife populations through the preservation of contiguous habitats
upon which they depend,” states Tom Henderson. “When I bought the land in 1987, it was pure woods
with moose and a calf roaming around, “ states Anne Pilsbury. “ The easement is my way of making sure
the land remains free for moose and other wild animals.” The Pilsbury conservation easement
preserves the forested habitat in an undeveloped state while permitting the landowner to perform
forest and wildlife management.
The GLLT’s land protection program is being guided by the community-based “Conservation Plan for the
Kezar River, Kezar Lake, and Cold River Watersheds” , published by the GLLT in 2008 and available on
this website. The Conservation Plan identified “Focus Areas for Land Protection Efforts” based upon the
presence of multiple, community, conservation values in those areas. The lands of both the Stone
House Farm and the Pilsbury conservation easements are both within identified focus areas. The
preservation of both properties supports the community desire for land conservation in these targeted
locations.
The GLLT recently purchased 329 acres along the west shore of Sucker Brook abutting the 249 acres
acquired by the GLLT along the eastern shore of Sucker Brook. This acquisition creates a 578 acre
wildlife sanctuary in a highly valued forest and wetland ecosystem. The Town of Lovell Comprehensive
Plan, adopted in 1992 states, “Sucker Brook Floating Bog supports bird life and aquatic mammals
requiring an environment unspoiled by the encroachment of man. This area is in need of protection
from further development.” The US Fish and Wildlife Service consider the wetland habitats present to
be “particularly high value” for many priority trust species of concern because they are rare, declining,
threatened or endangered.
For nearly three decades the GLLT has been working diligently to preserve land in the Sucker Brook area
as the brook is a key water source for Kezar Lake’s Lower Bay. More recently, the GLLT goal has been to
preserve a contiguous, unbroken tract of undeveloped land consisting of streams, ponds, wetlands,
swamps and upland forest reaching from the tip of Northwest Cove to Horseshoe Pond and the lands of
the White Mountain National Forest through the Sucker Brook ecosystem. The significance of this
extensive corridor of protected land is that it provides the many local species of mammals, birds and
amphibians the range and type of habitat they need to thrive. The 2011 purchase of the 329 acres at
Sucker Brook and an additional 50 acres at Horseshoe Pond brings habitat protection in the Sucker
Brook ecosystem to 1,262 acres with over 3.5 miles of brook frontage. Bob Winshp-GLLT President
states,” The Sucker Brook corridor, a large connected and varied territory of land and water, with low
and high ground, furnishes the diversity and quality of habitat for the creatures and plants which we
expect to find in the Lovell area. It provides the concealing cover, the geographic variety from lowland
swamp to mountain highlands, the food, the water and the breeding ground for sustainable
populations. By maintaining wildlife corridors such as the one from Sucker Brook’s outlet to the heights
of Adams and Speckled Mountains, this diversity of life will survive for generations to come.”
The GLLT was the fortunate recipient, in 2011 of a 53 acre homestead at the height of land on Christian
Hill in Lovell, Maine. The late Lucy Irion bequeathed her homestead with its 3 acres of productive field
and 50 acres of productive forestland to the GLLT for the purpose of preserving the undeveloped
portion of the property in perpetuity. The forested ecosystem is diverse and includes spruce and pine
forest types, uncommon in this southern part of western Maine.
“2011 was an extremely exciting year for the land trust and those most passionate about the natural
beauty that makes this region such a special place to live, work and play. The GLLT is grateful for the
vision and generosity of the people that made these projects possible. I know their deeds will inspire
others to do more to preserve this special corner of Maine. It is said that we do not inherit the land
from our parents but are borrowing it from our children, “states Tom Henderson.
The GLLT has preserved 4,790 acres including 26 conservation easement properties and another 14
properties owned and managed by the GLLT. The GLLT manages 2,480 acres of its owned land for
multiple uses and most are open to the public for traditional, low–impact recreational uses such as
hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, nature observation, environmental education
programs, hunting and fishing.