Journalism has changed markedly in my 73 years. In the past you could read many newspapers and be reasonably comfortable that the editors presented the facts without a strong bias in their reporting. Most of us relied upon the newspaper, along with trusted news anchors, to learn what was going on around the world. Sadly, that seems like ancient history, except for this newspaper.
With the bombardment of “news” from dozens of sources, including social media and our “smart” phones, the noise level causes everyone to ramp up their messaging to the point where it seems like everyone is screaming in your ear. Our reaction, of course, is to tune out the messaging. But occasionally a story jumps out at you and compels you to read from start to finish.
Such was the case with the quarterly report from the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, a fine land trust that preserves critical lands in the region around the small town of Rangeley, Maine. Fresh on the heels of major projects to protect thousands of acres in the beautiful watershed around Kennebago Lake, the trust announced a bigger project to conserve 78,000 acres along the Magalloway River corridor running north toward the Canadian border. The area includes 170 miles of rivers, working forestland, and 2,400 acres of wetlands and lakes.
I have loved the Magalloway region since I first ventured there soon after arriving from the United Kingdom in 2007. After many years of living in a small country with nearly 70 million people, I was hungry for the quiet pulse of wilderness and the chance to hike or fish where I pleased.
It was hard to believe that in our adopted state, there are millions of acres of private land with a tradition of public access if you respect the land and the landowners. Many Mainers take this access for granted, but I can assure you that it is a rare privilege to be treasured.
The $62 million Magalloway project involves multiple conservation groups and a private landowner, Wagner Forest Management. The Northeast Wilderness Trust, the Forest Society of Maine, and the wonderful Nature Conservancy will partner in decision-making and funding to bring it all together. The project will include a permanent conservation easement on 62,000 acres of forest that will allow ongoing forest management to make use of the resource and protect local employment.
More than 11,000 acres will be owned by the Northeast Wilderness Trust as a wilderness preserve. That group and the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust will work to ensure continued public access in support of traditional activities such as hunting, fishing and boating on Aziscohos and Cupsuptic lakes.
Fishing in the Magalloway watershed is some of the best in Maine, and it is comforting to know that professional management will improve the waters and wildlife over time. Equally exciting is that this project will connect a total of 500,000 acres of conserved lands, enough ground to satisfy the most fervent backcountry advocates.
Mankind has not always been a good steward of the vast, wild lands that confronted European settlers in 1607, when they arrived in what is now called Phippsburg to establish the Popham Colony. While the Indigenous tribes in the region had lived in harmony with the land and waters for thousands of years, the new settlers set about “taming” the land, and all too often exploiting it with no regard for the future. It is only within the last few decades that public attitudes have changed as we began to recognize the value of clean air and water within healthy ecosystems.
Maine has been at the forefront of the recent wave of land conservation, with more than 80 land trusts among the total of 1,700 across the U.S. To date, Maine’s land trusts have protected nearly 2.4 million acres, about 12% of our beautiful state, according to maine.gov. Since we have the lowest percentage of public land among New England states, just 6%, land trusts play a critical role in preserving the best parts of Maine for future generations and ensuring public access.
Fortunately, we have a fine conservation organization in town: the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Thanks to 40 years of strong community support and generous donors, the trust has assembled 20 preserves and trails for public access. If you value our environment and want to pass it along in better shape to future generations, support our land trust and other like-minded organizations.
Correction: An earlier version of this column online and on Page 35 of the August 2025 print edition incorrectly identified the organization that will own 11,000 acres of the Magalloway project as a wilderness preserve. The Northeast Wilderness Trust will own the 11,000 acres.
