Founded in 1980 by a team of dedicated volunteers in an effort to preserve and maintain Little River Dam in East Boothbay, Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) has since grown to protect open space and public access to natural lands and waterfront across the Boothbay Region. Our service area encompasses the towns of Edgecomb, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport Island. After 40 years, and now with a staff of 5 year-round employees, Boothbay Region Land Trust strives to carry out its mission to conserve for the public benefit the natural habitat, scenic beauty and working land of the Boothbay region.
Just a few years after its formation, in 1983 BRLT acquired 23 acres of shoreline property on Barters Island in Boothbay through a generous donation. The property was named Porter Preserve and became BRLT’s first public nature preserve. This conservation project quickly directed BRLT’s focus toward not only land conservation, but also public access. BRLT has continued that legacy to this day by focusing our acquisitions on public access, ensuring that the forests and shoreline of our region are forever protected for public use. In 2005, BRLT acquired the two adjacent acres to Porter Preserve known as Roberts Wharf to ensure traditional access for local fishermen. Roberts Wharf serves as a model for linking shorefront preservation with working waterfront goals.
In 2014, BRLT received accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a nationally recognized program of the Land Trust Alliance. This distinction attests to BRLT’s commitment to rigorous standards that ensure high ethical practices in our fundraising and operations and guarantees that conservation efforts are permanent.
In 2018, BRLT moved its headquarters to the newly acquired Oak Point Farm, providing for the first time a permanent home and center for its operations and programming. Oak Point Farm is the last remaining undeveloped saltwater farm in Boothbay Harbor. With its late-1700s farmhouse alongside open fields, heirloom apple trees, forest, a freshwater pond, and 2,000 feet of shoreline, this property is uniquely suited to a wide variety of year-round programming and public use. The farmhouse serves as a visitor and education center for Boothbay Region Land Trust and is the hub to our network of preserves throughout the region.
Today BRLT offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails open to the public, year-round, free of charge. Properties include woodlands, wetlands, salt marshes, islands, seabird and wading bird habitat, feeding areas for migratory birds and butterflies, historical and archaeological sites, and working waterfront. A small committed staff, dedicated and enthusiastic board members and hundreds of volunteers and members generous with their time and money have brought BRLT successfully through its first 40 years. We look forward to serving this region and its people for many generations to come.
