Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is pleased to announce the purchase and conservation of a large tract of forested land off River Road in Edgecomb, ME. The property, which transferred ownership to BRLT on October 13, 2023, includes just over 100 acres of mostly forested land with frontage on River Road. The land abuts existing BRLT conservation land on the backside and is contiguous with numerous other conserved properties as part of the River~Link system.
The acres closest to River Road are landscaped and contain an old farmhouse with a somewhat recent addition, as well as a two-bay garage and attached two-bedroom apartment. BRLT plans to section off a smaller 3-to-5 acre lot, including road frontage and structures, for resale to recoup a significant amount of the organization’s original investment. Meanwhile, the remaining roughly 100 acres of forested land on the backside will be maintained as conservation property by BRLT. This new conservation parcel will further extend the natural lands in BRLT’s River~Link focus area, creating greater connectivity for wildlife in the largest conservation corridor on the Boothbay peninsula.
River~Link began in 2002 as a conservation effort to create a continuous natural corridor between and along the Sheepscot and Damariscotta River watersheds. A number of partners have collaborated in this process over the years, including neighboring land trusts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and state agencies. Following several significant conservation projects within the River~Link focus area, including BRLT’s 2006 acquisition of land on McKay Road abutting Edgecomb’s Schmid Preserve, a corridor was established connecting BRLT’s Zak Preserve on the southern end of River~Link with Dodge Point Public Land in Newcastle on the North. Currently the River~Link initiative encompasses over 1,400 acres of continuous protected natural space. The new River Road property will further extend the natural lands in this corridor, providing greater protection for wildlife at a critical time.
“The flora and fauna of the Boothbay region are important to the identity and livelihoods of the people who live here,” explains Executive Director, Nick Ullo. “The properties that are part of River~Link, including this newly acquired parcel, represent rare unfragmented, forested lands within the rapidly developing and progressively more-congested Midcoast region. By adding to this natural corridor, BRLT is supporting protected habitat for wildlife species from birds to moose, and providing resources for our community to remain resilient in the face of climate change.”
