On May 25, 2005, the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and the Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) completed three purchases allowing the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership to meet all deadlines. Today, DLLT owns 27,080 acres of community forest and NEFF holds a conservation easement over 312,000 acres of adjacent forestland for a total of 342,000 acres of contiguous woodlands and waterways, permanently protected from development and available forever for public recreation.

Much of this was made possible because of tremendous support the Acres for America program, a partnership of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wal-Mart, and from: the Open Space Conservancy at the Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Mrs. Elmina Sewall, the Land For Maine’s Future Program, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Sweet Water Trust, the Conservation Fund, the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township, National Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Forever, and many other individuals, corporations, and foundations.  While NEFF did have to secure bridge financing, NEFF and DLLT are confident that continued fundraising will fill this gap.

NECN has teamed up with NEFF and the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership. NECN's Scot Yount highlighted this beautiful part of our region, and offered viewers the opportunity to be a part of this historic conservation project to keep this land unspoiled.

The Partnership Began This Effort In 2001 And Completed The First Purchase On March, 20, 2003

St. Croix Corridor

A 50-mile, 3,019-acre conservation corridor along Spednic Lake and the Upper St. Croix River was acquired by the State of Maine, a purchase facilitated by NEFF and the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust.  The purchase was made on March 20, 2003. Click for map

A Second Purchase Was Completed On December 16, 2004

Fee Purchase

            The second purchase, the 11,780-acre Fourth Machias Tract, was completed

on December 16, 2005.  This purchase contains a 3,560-acre ecological reserve and a 3,750 acre old-growth forest management area.  DLLT is the new owner, with NEFF and the Sweet Water Trust holding permanent, no-development conservation easements.

 The Remaining Purchases Were Completed On May 25, 2005

Fee Purchase

The two remaining purchases, a total of 15,300 acres in the Farm Cove and McClellan Cove tracts, took place on May 25th.  The total, 27,080 acres, border 62 miles of pristine lakeshore and now is owned by DLLT for management as a community forest.  NEFF holds a permanent, no-development conservation easement on the Farm Cove and McClellan Cove tracts.  Click for map

This is the first northern Maine forest conservation project that is community incubated, community supported, community led, and designed to sustain a natural resource based, rural community economy and the lifestyle of residents in Washington County, Maine. An extraordinary group of public and private partners are coming together to take advantage of this incredible conservation opportunity, one that will offer support to the local economy, linked by tradition to the natural resource base for sustenance.

THE NATURAL RESOURCES TO BE CONSERVED INCLUDE:

More than 445 miles of lake shoreline;
More than 1,500 miles of river and stream shoreline;
A least eight active Bald Eagle nests;
More than 10% of the loons of northern Maine;
More than 54,000 acres of productive wetland;
A significant peatland complex;
A tremendous cold water fishery for salmon and bass;
Habitat for at least 185 bird species including 23 warblers, loons, American black ducks, Canada     geese, and wood ducks;
Habitat for bear, moose, deer, pine marten, beaver, otter and other mammals;
Vernal pools so important to frogs and salamanders;
Historic Native American canoe routes; and
More than 60 lakes supporting fish and wildlife.

PROJECT COST: To complete these purchases, fund the capital campaign, and fund necessary monitoring endowments the project partners must raise $29.5 million. We still need about $6 million to close and another $2 million for monitoring endowments Your generous contribution will help us get there.

Project Location

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