January 30, 2025


Royal River Conservation Trust Appoints Chris Franklin as Executive Director

Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Franklin as executive director. Franklin’s career in Maine and New England encompasses 19 years in non-profit land trust work, including 11 years as the inaugural executive director of Cape Elizabeth Land Trust and 6 years with Maine Farmland Trust. He is also the founder and chief baker for Badger Bagels, a well-known gluten-free baked goods company.

“The RRCT Board of Directors looks forward to working with Chris as our executive director,” said Board President Rob Greenleaf. “He brings deep land trust leadership experience to the Royal River watershed and is well-positioned to lead RRCT as we work to preserve and steward land from the Royal’s headwaters in Sabbathday Lake to Littlejohn Island.”


Prior to his work in Maine, Chris served as a research associate with Alaska Community Action on Toxics, project director with The Brower Fund at Earth Island Institute, and outreach coordinator at Earth Island Institute. He received his degree in geography with a concentration in environmental conservation from the University of Colorado, Boulder.


Chris shared, “The work of land trusts in Maine has never been more important. I have great respect for Royal River Conservation Trust’s work and its engagement with the community. RRCT’s investment in the health and protection of the watershed shows a commitment to excellence. I look forward to collaborating with the RRCT board and the Trust’s many stakeholders to protect land and natural resources in the watershed, especially as we plan for the removal of Yarmouth’s two dams.”


Chris, who lives in North Yarmouth, enjoys exploring the Royal River watershed with his wife and three children. He will begin as RRCT’s executive director on Feb. 24, 2025.

Pisgah Hill Full Moon Trek

Our lucky 13th Annual Pisgah Hill Full Moon Trek is two weeks away!


Join us at the summit of Pisgah Hill Preserve in New Gloucester from 4 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday, February 12th for brief remarks at sunset (5:07 p.m.) followed by a spectacular moonrise over Bradbury Mountain. We’ll light your way with lanterns and have the campfire and s’mores ready for you when you arrive!


Volunteers are needed for the evening! Click here for the volunteer sign-up list!

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Marsh on Ice

RRCT volunteer & staff group photo at Thayer Brook Preserve (minus the folks who left early)

There were smiles all around Saturday morning at Thayer Brook Preserve in Gray. Trail Steward Steve McPike led fellow RRCT volunteers across the frozen beaver marsh and up close to the beaver's lodge and numerous dams. The fresh snow was perfect for identifying wildlife tracks and volunteers came prepared with ID cards, eager to share their findings with one another.


Interested in becoming a volunteer? Learn more about volunteer roles vital to our operations on our Board, Standing Committees, Trail Steward Program, and Trail Crew here.

Make a gift today to protect and steward over 6,000 acres of conserved fields, forests, farmland, trails, and wetlands throughout the Royal River watershed!

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THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS




Atlantic Sportswear | Brickyard Hollow | Flycatcher

Freeport Wild Bird Supply | Law Offices of Thaddeus V. Day

Real Maine | Simmons Investment Advisors

Yarmouth Payroll Plus | Yarmouth Water District

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Royal River Conservation Trust serves as a catalyst for land conservation in the watershed. We engage landowners, government officials, community members, businesses, local, regional, and state non-profits, and others to protect, steward, and restore the diverse and unique natural ecosystems of the Royal River watershed for current and future generations.


Royal River Conservation Trust | 207-847-9399 | Info@RRCT.orgRRCT.org

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