History
Coastal Mountains Land Trust was founded in 1986 by a small group of citizens intent upon preservation of Beech Hill in Rockport, a 572-acre property featuring critical scenic and ecological values--rolling blueberry barrens, forests, a historic stone house, and the most scenically unique summit of the Camden Hills. A limited development conservation easement was designed to protect this important landmark of the western Penobscot Bay landscape, a very prominent launch for our land conservation program.
1987: Conservation easement on Beech Hill completed.
1988: Second project completed: Thurlow Conservation Easement on Fernalds Neck.
1990: Board of Directors launch proactive effort to plan, prioritize, and protect the most important conservation areas of the region.
1991: Office rented in Rockport Village and Administrative Director hired, the first Land Trust staff person.
1994: 105 acres on the summit and slopes of Mount Battie conserved by the Land Trust and added to the State Park.
1995: Land Trust helps found and leads the Ducktrap Coalition to conserve the Ducktrap River Watershed.
1996: Completed conservation projects total 1,000 acres.
1998: Land Trust hires first Executive Director.
1999: Completed conservation projects total 2,000 acres.
1999: Conservation Lands Manager hired to lead stewardship of conservation lands.
2000: Service region expands to include Belfast Bay watersheds through merger with former Belfast-Northport-Lincolnville Land Trust.
2001: Land Trust constructs and moves into its new office building in Camden.
2001: Board adopts Conservation Plan for new Focal Areas--Bald and Ragged Mountains, Passagassawakeag Greenway--and hires Conservation Projects Manager to work with landowners on priority conservation projects.
2001: Completed conservation projects total 3,000 acres.
2002: Land Trust co-publishes with Aperture To Save a River, a book of photos and essays telling the conservation story of the Ducktrap Coalition, where 83% of the land along the river has been permanently conserved.
2003: Beech Hill Preserve acquired by collaboration of Land Trust and Maine Coast Heritage Trust and summit opened to the public.
2003: Campaign for Passagassawakeag Greenway launched in Belfast area.
2003: Land Trust receives Land Heritage Award from Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
2003: Campaign for Bald and Ragged Mountains launched.
2003: Completed conservation projects total 4,000 acres.
2004: 45% of the Passagassawakeag Greenway completed.
2005: Completed conservation projects total more than 5,000 acres.
2006: 37% of Bald and Ragged Mountains in conservation.
2007: The restoration of Beech Nut is completed.
2008: Completed conservation projects total more than 6,000 acres.
2008: Land Trust becomes one of the first in the country to receive national accreditation.
2009: Completed conservation projects total more than 7,000 acres.
2009: Completed conservation projects total more than 8,000 acres, making us the third largest local/regional land trust in Maine by acreage conserved.
2010: CMP's donation to us of two preserves totaling 705 acres in Searsport, Stockton Springs, and Prospect is the largest land conservation transaction in our history.
2011: Begin our 25th Anniversary Year by completing a four-season trail on Ragged Mountain; we now offer 25 miles of public trails on our preserves.
2011: Completed conservation projects total more than 9,000 acres.
101 Mt. Battie Street Camden, Maine 04843 | (207) 236-7091 |