Additional 421 Acres Conserved in The Headwaters
The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust is pleased to announce the purchase of a 421-acre forest tract in Amity, Maine. The parcel is located along Monument Brook, the international border with New Brunswick, Canada.
The project conserves 0.6 miles along Monument Brook and 0.5 miles along Clark Brook, valuable acreage of moose habitat, high value deer wintering yards, and unique nesting habitat for a variety of rare upland and wading birds. It also provides special logistical value for stream protection and outdoor recreation.
WWLT has been acquiring lands in this area since 2017 to protect the complex brook feeder system to East Grand and North Lakes. This purchase unites three other WWLT holdings into one contiguous woodland tract, totaling 4,393.5 acres. It completes a conservation mission to protect all the remaining American frontage of Monument Brook, traversing over ten miles. Other adjacent wetlands along Monument Brook in Orient were acquired in a partnership with The Conservation Fund in 2011.
The Headwater Properties contain many miles of feeder brooks: Glendenning, Greenleaf, Clark, Williams, and Daggett Brooks. These were once storied trout waters, but the fisheries have declined due to commercial wood harvesting. Now, the forest will heal and the brooks will cool.
The lands are all open to the public for traditional recreational uses—hunting, fishing, bird watching, snowmobiling, etc. Hiking trails and several water access campsites are being contemplated by the Trust, including a walking trail to the historic Monument One. The 10-foot obelisk is buried deep in the woods, a 1843 testament to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty that resolved the Aroostook War.
The funds used to purchase the property came directly from WWLT savings, plus a generous gift from the Sam Shine Foundation. However, the overall project costs will be significantly greater. In addition, a stewardship fund must be created to cover the future costs of ownership. We would greatly appreciate any donations in support of this project.
A name for the property has not yet been decided on, but will be announced in the new year. Donations can be sent to Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, 2 Grove Road, Forest City Twp., ME 0441, or made online by clicking the donate button at the top of the page. Please designate how you would like your gift to be used – project costs or stewardship funds.