To the Town Manager, Town Council and Citizens of Scarborough
The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust (SLCT) dedicated two parcels of land, held two public forums, coordinated a trail clean-up, acquired a two-and-a-half mile long trail management agreement, and monitored land already held in fee and land on which it holds conservation easements in 1995.
Land Acquired and Opened to the Public
The Windward Wildlife Sanctuary, nine acres of land in the center of the Windward development, was dedicated in September. The SLCT hopes this donation will become part of a wildlife corridor lying between the spruce swamp and the Nonesuch River.
Thirty five acres of prime woodland known as the Albert G. Sewell Woods on the Ashswamp Road was dedicated and October. The donor, Albert G. Sewell, was present at the dedication. The SLCT is obligated to continue the careful management of the woodland in the manner of Mr. Sewell's stewardship. Two miles of maintained trails for passive recreation and educational opportunities are available to the public year round.
The entrance is located just beyond the intersection of Ashswamp and Hearn Roads. At the end of 1995, SLCT held three parcels in fee, two conservation easements and one cooperative agreement protecting 114 acres of land, of which 59 acres are open to public passive recreational and educational use.
SLCT pay taxes on land it holds in fee.
Stewardship of Conservation Lands
The maintenance of open space area is a specific goal of SLCT. This goal is met both by acceptance of land in fee, and by the acceptance of conservation easements from land owners who wish to limit the future use of their property to purposes which meet the conservation purposes of SLCT.
At least once a year, the trustees of SLCT are responsible for on-site monitoring of parcels held in fee, and parcels over which conservation easement are being held, to assure that the conservation purposes of SLCT are being met. As the obligations of SLCT increase, the need for additional monitors also increases.
Public Forums Held During Year
SLCT fulfilled its educational responsibility in 1995 through two public forums at the Scarborough Public Library. In January, Wallace W. Fengler, SLCT Clerk and former Maine Outstanding Tree Farmer and Rene Noel, Jr., consulting forester, presented a program on forestry and woodlot management.
In April, following the annual meeting, Andrews Tolman, consulting hydrogeologist, Denis Netto of the Scarborough Coastal Pollution Committee and Richard Haehnel, Scarborough shellfish warden and harbor master, examined Scarborough's water quality from the headwaters to the ocean.
There is no charge to attend the forums, and they are followed by refreshments, courtesy of SLCT. SLCT continued its practice of "hands-on" conservation by coordinating a cleanup of the "Old Eastern" on June 3, National Trails Day.
The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust completed its 18th year of existence in 1995. The 1995-96 officers were Stephen Shannon, President; Steve Ross, Vice President; Wallace W. Fengler, Secretary and Clerk; and Elaine Warren, Treasurer. Quarterly meetings are held preceding the forums, and monthly directors' meetings also open to the public, are usually held a member's home.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Shannon, President
Scarborough Land Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 1237
Scarborough, Maine 04070-1237