MEMBERSHIP FORM Board of Directors: Fred Holt, Treasurer Bill Hutchins, Honorary Three Rivers Membership Categories [email protected] Board Member Acton 636-2737 Land Trust Lebanon Tom Cashin 636-3582 Sanford/Springvale $1000 and above [email protected] John Bozak 457-1435 [email protected] Christine Hull 324-7104 “The Glenn and Betty Wildes Circle” Carl Davis 636-3709 [email protected] 2018 Spring Newsletter [email protected] George Main [email protected] Kathy Neuville 324-7150 $500 Conservator $50 Sponsor Will Williams 226-3808 [email protected] HORIZONS Building stronger, healthier communities through land conservation [email protected] North Berwick $250 Guardian $30 Supporter Jean Noon, President Established 2000 Alfred Martha DoByns 324-3733 Three Rivers Land Trust (3RLT) • P.O. Box 295 • Alfred, 04002 • www.3rlt.org [email protected] [email protected] $100 Steward $20 Member Fred Frodyma, V.P. 475-8140 Shapleigh Nal Tero [email protected] [email protected] WINTER FUN AT CHARLIE’S HOUSE New Member Renewal Madge Baker, Clerk 324-9553 Amy Titcomb, Secretary [email protected] Please make checks payable to: 272-4937 [email protected] Membership: Ruth Gutman [email protected] Three Rivers Land Trust and mail them to: ♻ Printed on Recycled Paper. Printed by: Edison Press P.O. Box 295, Alfred, ME 04002 Phone: 207-324-3733 Join or renew online today at 3rlt.org/BecomeaMember.cfm [email protected] / www.3rlt.org Memberships and contributions are tax deductible. ❏ Yes! Please add me to 3RLT’s email list

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Winter Great Maine Outdoor Weekend passed away in 2016, and we have been Wildlife. Scott talked to the group about was a great success! This annual event is discussing the best way to honor his legacy. the many animal tracks one can fnd in our often plagued by snow storms or frigid We enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies in area, how to identify them, and then led us temperatures, but the sunny and mild the beautifully restored barn, and enjoyed on a walk through the woods for a great weather brought together over 40 people the trails through the woods and along afternoon of tracking. Thank you, Scott, on February 17 to enjoy the trails at the . An additional bonus and all who joined us – it was a really Charles Grubers’ property in Shapleigh. to the day was a visit from Scott Lindsay, wonderful day! Charles, a longtime board member of Regional Wildlife Biologist from the the trust, left his property to us when he Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and

LEBANON SUMMER CAMP KIDS LEARN ABOUT INVASIVE PLANTS Three Rivers Land Trust, the Lebanon Conservation Commission, and Melissa Brandt, District Manager at York County Soil and Water

Conservation District, joined forces to teach

Alfred, ME 04002 ME Alfred, summer camp kids in Lebanon about invasive

P.O. Box 295 Box P.O. plant species. Pictured here, Three Rivers board Three Rivers Land Trust Land Rivers Three member Amy Titcomb leads a group in some hands-on exploration. This is our fourth year working with the summer camp, and we look forward to teaching them more about their natural world again this summer. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE We appreciate our members, PRESIDENT’S REFLECTIONS Thank you to all of you who have night in February 2016 to discuss what volunteers, sponsors, and grant Coast Heritage Trust, Great East Lake by conservation easements, which will renewed your memberships for 2018! I is most important to you when it comes funders! Thank you for helping us Improvement Association, Wilson ensure this productive land remains feel such a great sense of joy and purpose to land conservation and your vision for grow our membership – the backbone Pond Association, Square Pond available for farming and forestry in when the replies to our year end appeals our future, and we hope you will join of our organization. Improvement Association, and all the future. The two easements involved start fooding in, because this is the frst us again to see where we are two years of the other grantors and individual the purchase of the development rights indication that Three Rivers is going to later. We hope that members of our local donors for being such great partners! on the farmland and was funded by have another great year. If you haven’t yet conservation commissions, planning NEW MEMBERS Special thanks go to Carl Davis for his Three Rivers, MFT, and the 1772 sent in your renewal for the year, I hope boards, select boards, and legislators will & DONORS: amazing volunteer time commitment Foundation. This purchase made the this newsletter will remind you to do so also join us. Ernie & Susi Alvino to this project, and to Lee Burnett and farmland affordable for the farmers. now. Every member counts – whether Sunday, July 22 is Open Farm Day. Jerry Bley, our consultants, for their The successful purchase of the scenic you can contribute $20 or $1000 a year, it Once again we will be serving a locally- David I Anderson most valuable knowledge, advice, and summit parcel of 25 acres, now a town makes a difference. The grants we apply sourced and homemade breakfast to Jennifer Craig negotiation skills. park, was made possible in large part for to help fund our land conservation kick off the Springvale Farm Walk. When the former owners of Romac by the town of Acton (pop. 6,000) projects often require matching grants or We are so thrilled to be a part of this Anna Desmond and Fred McLeod Orchards decided to sell, many of passing its frst-ever bond issue for a demonstration of community support, amazing day and we hope you will join Harland Eastman the local residents worried that the conservation, and contributing $25,000 and membership is how we achieve both us. Breakfast starts at 8 AM at McDougal It was with a great sense of property, with its expansive views, from earnings of the town forest. Many of these things. Orchards and goes until 9:30. Eric Ganeles & Marla Platt accomplishment and gratitude that would be subdivided for residential generous donations from local and I hope you will join us for some events Other events are still in the planning Gail Geisenhainer Three Rivers fnalized protection of development. Goat Hill is one of the seasonal residents supported the land this year. On May 9 we will hold our stages, so please join us on Facebook or Goat Hill and the Romac Orchard in highest elevations in Acton, and offers trust’s contribution. annual meeting. A brief business meeting our e-news list to stay in the loop! Jess Greer 2017. stunning 360-degree views of nearby In addition, Acton received a federal will be followed by a discussion of next Gus Hedden Goat Hill is one of those truly lakes, the Presidential Range and Mt. Land and Water Conservation Fund steps for our regional conservation plan. -Ruth Gutman spectacular places that take your Washington to the west, and to the grant to assist with the purchase and Many of you joined us on that snowy Dale & Karin Johnson breath away. Thank you, town ocean to the east. 3RLT, MFT and Acton construction of a parking area and the Joyce Krahling of Acton, Maine Farmland Trust worked together to ensure that the beginning of a universally accessible (MFT), 1772 Foundation, Maine property would remain in agriculture trail to the hilltop. The Maine HANSEN POND - A NEW CONSERVATION PROJECT Susan Lajoie Community Foundation, Land and and become an important scenic site Conservation Corps and volunteers This 270-acre parcel in Acton sits in birds as well as evidence of white tailed Thomas Ledue Water Conservation Fund, Maine for everyone to enjoy. The protection helped rough out the new trail to the the middle of several thousand acres of deer, moose, bear, musk turtle, raccoon, of the orchard parcel top of Goat Hill in October. A 10-spot unbroken forest – a complex of wetlands, beaver, coyote, wood frog, pickerel frog, Kathleen MacLean was dependent parking lot was also constructed. It’s a eskers and prime white pine timberlands. and green frog. “Overall, wildlife tracks, Patricia and Charles McIntire on the town, in ¼ of a mile up H Road from the old trail The jewel of the property is Hansen Pond, trails, beds, and markings were abundant collaboration with and entrance, which are now owned by a shallow 30-acre pond accessible by across this property. Frogs of several Karen McManus Three Rivers Land the orchard. paddling several miles upstream on the species were particularly numerous,” Barbara Minges Trust, acquiring In order to fnish the trail and make Little . A Maine Natural according to the ecologist’s report. We Alayna Morin and Steven the summit of Goat it ADA-compliant for universal access, Areas Program ecologist spent one day look forward to sharing more about this Hill. we have applied for several grants. on the property and documented abundant property with you soon! Marchessault The eastern part We hope much of the work will be Janice Murray of the orchard, provided “in kind” by the MapleStone purchased by a School in Acton. This non-proft school Laurel Muse father and son who engages at-risk youth in York County Mark & Kathy Parenti have worked at in experiential learning and life skills. Romac and other Through a grant, the students will be Gerri Pattison and Greg Byrer Acton orchards working on a wider network of trails Marcy & Jon Polletta over the years, on Three Rivers properties in Acton, Daniel Puopolo was open again for Shapleigh, and other towns. its frst season of We will need to raise an additional Garet & Glenna Richardson picking last fall, $30,000 to complete the trail. ADA Bill & Marji Kilgus and the western compliance comes at a worthwhile portion will be price! We will keep you informed on Stephen White managed to produce the progress of the Goat Hill trail. Square Pond Improvement apples for an existing hard cider Association operation (www. farfromthetreecider. BUSINESS SPONSOR: com in Salem, MA -Jean Noon, President – check them out!). ReVision Energy Both farm parcels are now protected Maine Conservation Corps Volunteers work on new Goat Hill trail

2 5 WHY DOES THE TURTLE CROSS THE ROAD? LAND TRUSTS AND PROPERTY TAXES ECONOMIC BENEFITS Well to get to the other side of course! So road. But ALWAYS move a turtle to the these ancient and fascinating animals. Both the Maine legislature and the more than $330 million in property taxes. many animal-lovers have gotten frustrated side of the road for which she was heading: Please slow down and watch the roads for Governor have recently shown interest In fact, the $18 billion and $330 million OF LAND asking this question… we move turtles to if you force her to backtrack she’ll turn them, and help them to safely reach their in whether land trusts pay property taxes. fgures he references include all tax exempt CONSERVATION ponds, away from the road, to locations around and cross again! Small, short- time-honored destinations! We want our members to know that Three real estate in Maine (land and buildings) that seem much better to our eyes – why tailed turtles in Maine are most commonly You can help Maine Audubon protect Rivers Land Trust makes payments on all owned by the Federal Government, the • Tourism: Designated areas for do they keep returning and crossing the painted turtles, and can be carried across turtles! If you’d like to volunteer to survey the properties we own, often in the form State of Maine, municipalities, quasi- game, migrating birds and other road again?! Turtles are in fact trying to get the road. Large, pre-historic-looking turtles roads near you for turtle hit by cars, of a PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes. municipal organizations, churches, and wildlife offer marvelous economic somewhere, not just out for a casual stroll. with long tails are snappers... exercise contact Annica McGuirck at amcguirk@ Property conserved with a conservation other nonprofts. The land trust community opportunities because they attract If a turtle is crossing the road, it’s because caution and distract that mouth with a stick maineaudubon.org or (207) 781-2330, ext easement remains in private hands, and estimates the land trust assets are valued at nature lovers of all kinds – hunters, she (and it is most often an egg-laden while you encourage her across, or better 219. the owner pays the assessed value on the less than 1% of that total. trappers and ecotourists, who female) has a destination in mind, one that yet, very gently scoop her up with a shovel parcel just as any landowner would do. Just as we value the land we protect, we spend billions of dollars annually has served her ancestors well, since long to carefully bring her across. -Amy Titcomb to watch, hunt and otherwise enjoy before humans built roads interrupting Cars pose one of the biggest threats to turtle pathways. She’s armed with a strong Land trust contributions to Maine communities wildlife. Hunting is an important homing instinct – not well understood part of the Maine economy and by scientists – that gives her a sense of include providing the public with: tradition, and depends upon open direction superior to that of birds. Some • 1,260 miles of hiking trails space for healthy game populations. turtles will travel many miles to return to More than a dozen recent studies their home habitat if moved. • 570 miles of snowmobile trails of birding ecotourism and birding In May and June, mama turtles move • 200 boat launch sites economics have demonstrated that away from water, seeking dry ground in wildlife refuges, parks, sanctuaries, which to lay her eggs. Many hatchlings • 2.3 million acres of land open to hunters preserves, and other forms of open emerge in September, while others hatch • 2.1 million acres of working forestlands space attract millions of tourists in the fall, hibernate in the nest, and don’t and their dollars each year. emerge until the following spring. Either • 36,000 acres of productive farmlands way, the babies, quarter-sized but armed • 65 access sites for marine fshermen • Farming and forestry are with the genetic data that has kept their proud parts of Maine’s economic species around since the Triassic Period, tradition; protection of working already know where they are going and - Our Governor states that land trusts do value the communities where we live and farms and forests ensures that land like their moms - cannot be deterred. not pay taxes, and he fails to give land want them to thrive. Three Rivers Land will be available for these industries It is illegal to take a turtle for a pet or to trusts credit for their contributions to the Trust is a tax-exempt organization, but to thrive in future generations. relocate them from their habitat, but you are economy and quality of life in Maine. we pay property taxes or make a payment welcome to assist them across a dangerous These public benefts are highlighted in “in lieu of” taxes on all our properties. We • Maintenance of property values: a report for the Agriculture, Conservation have always done this. The National Association of Home and Forestry Legislative Committee – Please get in touch with us if you have Builders estimates that parks and Three Rivers “Land Trusts Work for Maine”. any questions about how your land trust ACKNOWLEDGMENTS recreation areas can increase the TURTLE FAST FACTS Land Trust Governor LePage blames land trusts for benefts our communities! taking more than $18 billion of land off the value of nearby building sites by Special thanks goes to Brian Valle 15-20%. Help us Cross the Road! for all his volunteer electrical work, municipal tax rolls, resulting in a loss of -Madge Baker and to neighbor Ned Daly for lawn • Property tax stability: Open- • Safely pull over and move maintenance at our offce. “Our mission is to build stronger, space conservation helps to control turtles in the direction they are We’d also like to thank everyone healthier communities through the taxes, as open space requires fewer heading conservation of wild and working services than developed land. who helped out at our Open Farm landscapes.” Day breakfast last year. We could • All turtles can bite and have For more information visit the web • Groundwater recharge and not pull this event off without the site www.3rlt.org or call 324-3733. pollution protection: Open space sharp claws, especially contributions of our board members, snapping turtles prevents both infrastructure and our member-volunteers, the farmers Would you be interested in serving service costs associated with water who donated or discounted produce • Do NOT pick them up by the and sewage problems. Natural and meat, and in particular, Ellen as a board member or volunteering? habitats act as giant sponges, tail – carry them by the rear of Tarbox of Night Owl Bakery for all allowing rainwater to percolate the shell or in a container her planning, organizing, cooking, Please get in touch! into the ground without being and alas, dishwashing. Thank you polluted, and to recharge aquifers • Don’t take turtles home or all! with clean water, resulting in move them to another area – it taxpayer savings. is illegal and bad for them!

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