BRCA News - Spring 2004

In this Issue

• BRCA Protects Summit of Mt. Phillip
• President's Message
• Happy Trails
• Conservation Corps Available for Site Assessments
• Give to BRCA and help protect the lakes and land we love
• Volunteers and Equipment Needed
• Upcoming BRCA and conservation events

BRCA Protects Summit of Mt. Phillip

Dealings on Several Other Important Properties Near Completion

BRCA recently purchased 10 acres on Mt. Phillip, including the summit plateau (above).

In March BRCA closed on the purchase of the 10 acres that encompass the top of Mount Phillip in Rome. This important acquisition was made possible by a generous donation from long-time land trust committee member Jack Schultz. His support and enthusiasm for this acquisition was essential to its success. BRCA also has been negotiating the purchase of a large adjoining parcel, and will soon be involved in final negotiations for this land. Acquisition of these two pieces will preserve one of the favorite hiking destinations in our area.

In other land trust news, an agreement has been reached on the purchase price of the 50-acre parcel between the foot of French Mountain and Whittier Pond. This parcel also includes much of Whittier Pond's shoreline and is significant to preserving water quality and the view from French Mountain.

The "fair market appraisal" for two parcels at the north end of the Kennebec Highlands was completed and accepted by the sellers in February.

Negotiations for the blueberry fields at the heart of the original Kennebec Highlands project plan still have not yielded results. Be patient --it has only been six years.

An easement in Belgrade to protect a spectacular view toward Long Pond is nearing completion. A survey of the land has been completed, and the owner's draft of the easement is being discussed by the attorneys. Donation of this easement by the very generous owners will preserve another grand piece of this region's heritage and will benefit water quality by preventing development of this very desirable location.

Acquisition and protection of all of these lands will require a major fund-raising campaign this summer, once purchase prices have been determined. Without the financial support of people like Jack Schultz, and members like you, we cannot carry out BRCA's conservation mission in the face of increasing development pressures.

President's Message

A Message from Your President (the one in Belgrade, that is)

BRCA has grown to the point where many who knew us as the Watson Pond Conservation Trust would not recognize us. We now have four major programs (watershed, land trust, conservation corps, and milfoil) and nine committees to run them. Like many people, I tend to be skeptical of plans and mission statements, especially when things need to get done. But sometimes it's necessary to take a step back and take a good look at ourselves and identify our challenges and opportunities.

In November our board met for a workshop to consider where we are and where we should be going. We now are creating a "five-year plan" to help set the course for each of our programs.

So, what is our mission? Put simply: "BRCA conserves the lands, water quality, and natural heritage of the Belgrade Lakes watershed."

And what kinds of questions are we contemplating? Here are just a few:

• What is BRCA's future stewardship role in the Kennebec Highlands?
• What conservation lands are top priority?
• How can we ensure we have enough volunteers to help manage our properties, such as French Mountain or The Mountain?
• How can we continue to increase our membership so it matches our potential?
• How can we afford to have an executive director provide support to our projects and still keep the Watershed Program active?
• What is the best way to involve local lake associations with BRCA and support their needs?
• How can we make BRCA a household word so people will automatically recognize us and support our efforts?

Think you have the answer to any of these questions? Then I urge you to contact us about joining a committee. Want to know more about our long-term plans? Contact me (sueandroy@gwi.net) for a copy of workshop notes, or watch for future updates. Answering these questions reminds me that the "devil is in the details." But the good part is that we recognize these are not only challenges, but also opportunities.

Roy Bouchard
President

Happy Trails

Close Encounters of the Moose Kind in the Kennebec Highlands

I hope you had an enjoyable winter snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, or doing whatever cold weather activity you enjoy. The lack of moisture and extreme cold of January and February made for interesting conditions. The trails in the Kennebec Highlands were well packed and didn't require snowshoes unless you decided to bushwhack somewhere. The parking lots were kept plowed this winter and appeared to be full most weekends (if the Round Top Trail parking lot is full please park on Watson Pond Road, not Wildflower Lane). Donations for plowing (or stewardship in general) would be greatly appreciated. Just indicate plowing or stewardship on your check so it will go to the correct account.

The Round Top side trail appealed to moose, as well as hikers, this winter. Laura Flight, a frequent hiker, says it was cold and windy, the wind to her back, as she hiked the Round Top side trail one day this winter. A feeling came over her and she turned around to see two moose about 100 feet away coming up the trail behind her. Laura and the moose spotted each other at the same time. After the initial shock, the moose relinquished the trail to Laura, much to her relief. Hikers with dogs should be aware that there also are lots of porcupines in the highlands.

We're pleased to report that a part-time staffer, funded by a grant from the Department of Conservation (DOC), will work in the Kennebec Highlands this summer. Duties will include working as a liaison to DOC, patrolling, educating the public, and maintaining existing trails and woods roads. Some other projects on the list include rebuilding bridges, installing culverts, and digging waterbars. It will be a busy summer with lots of opportunities for volunteerism. If you would like to be on our volunteer list contact the BRCA office or me directly (207-397-4877 or brian@redoaksports.com). We also have openings for volunteer stewards to monitor and maintain trails and property in the Highlands and other BRCA holdings.

Lastly, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 5 -- National Trails Day. BRCA will celebrate its trails with a day of fun and volunteerism. We're in the preliminary stages of event planning but will keep you posted. Visit www.americanhiking.org and click on National Trails Day for more information on the national event; our event also will be registered once we finalize plans. Or call or e-mail for more information.

- Brian Alexander

Conservation Corps Available for Site Assessments

The BRCA Conservation Corps's 2004 project director is Hilary Walter, a volunteer with the SERVE/Maine Volunteer Leaders Program. Hilary is a graduate student in ecology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a Mount Vernon resident. She started work with the corps April 1 and will oversee two full-time crews of high school students and their crew leaders this summer.

Hilary and the corps are currently seeking candidate sites for their summer work. To find out how your property may be affecting water quality in our lakes contact Hilary or Watershed Program Coordinator Mike Little for an on-site consultation. The corps does hand work, such as planting trees and shrubs, stabilizing eroding shorelines (riprap), stone lining of eroding ditches, and building waterbars and turnouts on roads and drainage ways. Labor is provided free of charge; landowners pay for materials and any permit fees.

If you know of an eroding site that needs stabilizing or want an assessment of your own property, let us know. Just call us at 207-495-6039 or fill out a site assessment form, available on the BRCA Web site at belgradelakes.org/corps.html.

Want to help Hilary and the corps work on erosion control and other non-point source pollution control measures this summer? The corps seeks high school students (16-years-old and older) to work on its crews. To be eligible a student must live in the Belgrade area (or summer in the Belgrades) or attend Messalonskee, Maranacook, or Norridgewock high school. The work is hard, demanding, and physical and involves laying riprap, planting vegetated buffers, and building waterbars. For a full job description and an application contact the BRCA office (207-495-6039). Since its founding in 1996, the corps has completed more than 280 projects, including Peninsula Park in Belgrade Lakes Village.

Give to BRCA and help protect the lakes and land we love

There are many ways you can support BRCA's conservation efforts:

Gifts of Cash are always welcome, and are tax-deductible. Unrestricted gifts help keep our organization running. Or you can designate a special project or program area (milfoil, watershed protection, land acquisition and management, or the conservation corps).

Gifts of Stock A gift of appreciated stock can bring extra benefits to you. You get a charitable deduction, and you pay no capital gains tax. The easiest way to donate stock is to have your broker call our office for instructions.

Gifts of Life Insurance If you have a life insurance policy that you no longer need, consider making BRCA the beneficiary. The value of the paid-up portion of the policy is tax-deductible.

Gift Memberships Give someone special a gift membership to BRCA. You'll not only help expand the number of people we reach, but also will involve your recipient in land and water protection. Gift memberships are not tax-deductible.

Legacies Make a lasting impression on the Belgrade region and remember BRCA in your will. BRCA is committed to building a legacy for future generations, and you can be part of that legacy with a bequest.

If you'd like more information on any of these ways to support BRCA's conservation efforts, please contact the BRCA office at 207-495-6039 or brca@gwi.net.

Volunteers and Equipment Needed

In addition to working on any one of BRCA's nine committees, volunteers can help BRCA in the following ways:

• Be a courtesy boat inspector this summer
• Do data entry work in our office
• Share your GIS mapping experience

Do you have a digital camera or a slide projector you don't need or would consider donating to BRCA? These items would be a great help to our executive director in his work.

Upcoming BRCA and conservation events

Vernal Pools - Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m., The Center for All Seasons, Belgrade
Mike Little will present a slide show on vernal pools and the critters that live in them. Come learn about your neighbors in the outdoors.

Constellations of Spring - Sunday, May 9, 8 p.m. (Rain/cloud date Sunday, May 16)
Ted Elliott will introduce the constellations and discuss their mythology. Bring binoculars if you have them, and dress warmly. Limited to 15 people; register by calling 495-6039. Meet in front of the BRCA office, Belgrade Lakes Village.

National Trails Day - Saturday, June 5
BRCA will celebrate our trails with a day of fun and volunteerism. www.americanhiking.org

BRCA Annual Meeting - Sunday, July 25
BRCA is currently planning this event and will keep members posted.

Mushroom Hike - Saturday, August 21, 8:30 a.m.
Join Ted Elliott and Michaeline Mulvey of the Maine Mushroom Association on a hike to explore the fungi of the Kennebec Highlands. Meet in front of the BRCA office.

All events are free, but please call ahead to save a spot as space may be limited.