2019 Stewardship Program
Caring for the Land We All Love
KELT works to care for our lands to provide access to natural places, protect sensitive habitats, as well as build and maintain sustainable trails for many different types of visitors: hikers, mountain bikers, dog walkers, birders, naturalists, hunters, and more!
As caretakers, we must understand the ecological resources of the land, including species diversity, habitat, water quality, and the impact of invasive plants. These needs are balanced with providing access and recreation for people.
Stewardship is a serious and costly undertaking requiring time and money for expertise, labor, equipment, materials, and management. Each year, KELT staff and volunteers visit all 28 of our conservation easement properties and 23 KELT-owned properties. As the number of acres we protect increases, so do the resources needed to meet these responsibilities.
Below are project highlights and special recognition of volunteers. The people that enable KELT to care for the wild places that are home to plants and wildlife and to keep the trails you love open year-round.
“I love working with KELT. Not only do we get to make a difference by protecting and stewarding these beautiful lands, we also get to be a part of a strong community and work with some truly wonderful volunteers.”
Welcome to Red Rose Preserve
KELT opened our very first preserve in Bowdoinham! Red Rose Preserve is 62 acres and includes a 1 mile loop traversing the rolling landscape through quiet woodland. Located near the Town of Bowdoinham’s sports fields and elementary school, it is a convenient spot to visit for families, hikers, birders, and walkers with leashed pets.
Red Rose Preserve, a former dairy farm, includes two hayfields, mixed forest with a perennial stream, and scrub-shrub habitat. This new preserve boasts sloping ravines, a variety of birds, and a plethora of plants and wildlife to discover.
“I am proud of how all the volunteers came together to build the lengthy bog bridges at the Red Rose Preserve in Bowdoinham. I have never worked with a better crew!”
Powered by Volunteers!
KELT calls on a village of volunteers to help us care for 12 public preserves, 25+ miles of trail, and 3880+ acres of protected land. We are grateful that our village includes people of different ages, skills, and backgrounds AND that we all come together for a common goal: to care for natural places we all cherish!
Thanks to our stewardship volunteers in 2019, KELT was able to:
Build 195 feet of bog bridging
Construct a 1-mile loop trail and open a new public preserve
Uncover a historic foundation from under a pile of deadfalls at Segerstrom Preserve
Search for possible vernal pools in the newer portion of Lilly Pond Community Forest
Pull out hundreds of invasive plants to help protect places for native plants and animals to thrive
Refresh hundreds of trail blazes to keep hikers on track
Clean-up countless storm-damaged trees
Scout miles of trail throughout the year to ensure they are user-friendly and accessible
Install dozens of new and replacement trail signs
Complete annual reports for all KELT protected properties
2019 Volunteer Preserve Stewards - THank you!
These volunteers go the extra trail-mile and adopt a KELT preserve. They become our “eyes, ears, and hiking-boots on the ground!” These dedicated individuals commit to regularly visit and walk on and off the trails. They often do the tasks that aren’t glamorous…like picking up trash, hauling in lumber to build bridges, and removing invasive plants. KELT is very grateful to have their time, energy, and skills!
Bob Trabona, Higgins Mountain Preserve & Back River Preserve*
Archie Bonyun, Bonyun Preserve
Nina Ciffolillo, Kathryn Sargent, & Steven Dreiver, Green Point Preserve
Travis and Kendra Wolfel, Lilly Pond Community Forest
Nancy Sferra, Lundstrom Little River Preserve*
Paul Dumdey & Dave Wilkinson, Merrymeeting Fields Preserve
Roger Bogart, Morse Pond Preserve
Amy Ruksznis, Red Rose Preserve
John Swenson, Thorne Head and Sewall Woods Preserves
Rich Lorenson & Dave Avery, Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve at Squam Creek
Dave Anderson, Varney Island Preserve (accessible through Maine Island Trails network)
Michael Guethle, Weber Kelly Preserve
Bill Milam, Whiskeag Creek Preserve (accessible by the Whiskeag Trail)
Jim Peavey, Schoener Preserve (owned by University of Maine, KELT conservation easement)
*No public access at this time.
Photo courtesy of Paul Burns
We thank the continuing efforts and generosity of many community members and partners, in particular the Six Rivers New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA). Six Rivers NEMBA members have graciously and repeatedly donated their time, energy, and expertise to plan, build, and maintain trails. It is community partners like this that enable KELT to expand and care for our trail system.