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Bridge Street Dam in Yarmouth | | |
Greetings!
Water over the dam?
If you've passed over Bridge Street in Yarmouth recently, you may notice that the dam is looking rather dry.
In anticipation of the dam's removal, several flashboards have been removed to gradually lower the water level below the dam. While the volume of water flowing downstream hasn't changed, its appearance most certainly has. Typically hidden behind a curtain of water, the dam now stands exposed in one final defiant pose.
Debates over the value of dams have shaped the history of the Royal River since the first mills were built in the 1600s. Yet our community has also long recognized the importance of keeping the river connected for fish and wildlife. At the Town of North Yarmouth's annual meeting in 1834, residents established a fish committee charged with ensuring fish could continue to migrate freely around dams and other obstructions:
“...to cause all the locks, sluices or fish ways which may be built around through or over any dams or other obstructions on Royals River... to be kept open and free for the passage of salmon, shad and alewives ... and ... to remove all obstructions to the free and convenient passage of said fish up and down said river...”
At some point after 1834, our priorities shifted as the river became harnessed for industry to fuel our country's growth. But today, we are once again recognizing the ecological, cultural, and economic value of a healthy, free-flowing river. Nature is remarkably resilient and will, if given the chance, begin to heal.
From mussel beds of the Royal River estuary to the native brook trout that inhabit its headwater ponds and tributaries, the health of the watershed depends on connected, functioning ecosystems. RRCT is committed to protecting the lands and waters that sustain this river. The removal of the two dams on the Royal is simply the most significant investment in the future health of the river that we can make, and that day will be upon us soon - stay tuned!
Warmly,
The Board and Staff of RRCT
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Royal River Conservation Trust welcomes your participation! Please share this email with
family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors and encourage them to subscribe to our
newsletter, visit RRCT.org, e-mail us at Info@RRCT.org, call us at 207-847-9399, or visit
us at 52 North Road in Yarmouth.
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Runaround Pond Sunset Paddle | | Summer Sunset at Runaround Pond, curtesy of Karen Kurkjian | | |
Next up in our summer paddle series will be an evening paddle on the scenic Runaround Pond in Durham! Comprised of several long fingers, Runaround offers easy access and easy paddling on a summer night.
We'll be on the water from 7:00–9:00 pm on Tuesday, July 28th, timed to enjoy the 7:58 p.m. moonrise.
This paddle is designed for all ages and experience levels. Several different outings will be offered, including a youth paddle led by our whitewater rescue-certified summer intern, Lanna!
While this is primarily a Bring Your Own Boat (BYOB) event, we'll have a limited number of kayaks, canoes, and extra personal flotation devices available. Space will be limited, so be sure to sign up soon!
If you’d like to stay in the loop about paddling opportunities throughout the Royal River watershed, sign up for our paddler email group below.
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2026 Photo Contest
Back by popular demand, our annual Celebrate the Royal Photo Contest returns this summer!
From July 10th (today) to September 8th, 2026, RRCT is accepting photo submissions that highlight the scenic vistas, waterways, flora & fauna, and outdoor enthusiasts throughout the watershed. Winners will be announced at our Annual Meeting on September 15th.
We're looking for photographs that capture the unique character of the Royal River and its surrounding watershed. With countless public access preserves throughout the watershed, this is the perfect opportunity to venture into some of our lesser-known properties or to share your ‘magical moment’ that reminds you of how lucky we are to live surrounded by such beautiful open spaces.
Submission Categories:
- Landscape
- Wildlife (Flora & Fauna)
- Recreation
Photographers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate. Contestants may submit up to three original photos for consideration.
There will be some awesome prizes sponsored by Patagonia. More details to come.
Learn more here!
Below are the 2025 Photo Contest winners for inspiration:
| | Wildlife - Geoffrey Vickers, “Duck in the Early Morning” | | Landscape - Bishnu Das, “Autumn Reflection” | | Recreation - Kyle Glover, “Royal River Skate” | | | | |
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Calling All Artists! Design RRCT's Next T-Shirt!
RRCT is looking for a fresh design for our next community T-shirt, and we want YOUR artwork to represent the Royal River Watershed!
The winning artist will receive 10 complimentary T-shirts featuring their design, recognition at our Annual Meeting, and plenty of bragging rights.
Designs should celebrate the Royal River Watershed and include the Royal River along with the watershed's primary municipalities: Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, New Gloucester, Gray, Pownal, Durham, and Auburn. Beyond that, get creative! Wildlife, preserves, trails, farms, recreation, and features unique to our watershed are all welcome.
Submission Deadline: September 8th at 5:00 pm. The winning design will be announced at our Annual Meeting on September 15th.
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Community Picnic
Join RRCT for a Community Picnic at Intervale Preserve in New Gloucester on Sunday, August 2, 2026, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm!
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fun afternoon celebrating community and the outdoors. Enjoy live bluegrass music by Cumberland Crossing while we grill burgers and hot dogs. You're also welcome to bring a side dish or dessert to share!
There will be ice cream, lawn games, and plenty of open space to relax and connect with fellow RRCT supporters. Whether you're catching up with friends, meeting new people, or introducing your kids to one of RRCT's beautiful preserves in the heart of New Gloucester, there's something for everyone.
Registration is encouraged so we can plan for food and activities.
A $5 suggested donation helps support RRCT's programs and events. RRCT volunteers and a guest attend free of charge, and cash donations will also be gladly accepted at the event.
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Get to know our Executive Director, Chris Franklin
We’re excited to launch a new blog series introducing the three full-time staff members who keep RRCT running. Over the next few weeks, you’ll get to know our team and learn more about the people, passions, and experiences that drive our work to conserve the Royal River watershed.
First up: our Executive Director, Chris Franklin!
Since joining RRCT in March 2025, Chris has led our small but mighty team, overseeing day-to-day operations, working with landowners to protect important natural areas, and helping shape the future of conservation in our watershed.
In our interview, Chris shares how his family’s own land conservation story inspired his career, why he traded gluten-free bagels for conservation, and his favorite spots in the watershed.
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Strawberries at Bradbury Mountain Berry Farm, one of RRCT's 63 conservation easements | |
Make a gift today to protect and steward over 6,100 acres of conserved fields, forests, farmland, trails, and wetlands throughout the Royal River watershed! | | | | |
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Mussel Bed Mapping
Friday, July 17th
7:30 - 8:30 am
Littlejohn Island Preserve,
Very end of Pemasong Ln, Yarmouth
Join RRCT for a mussel bed mapping bioblitz to collect data for Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Mussel Bed Mapping Community Science Project!
Help us observe where mussels are (and importantly, where they aren’t) during an extreme low tide. While in the field collecting observations, you’ll also be learning about blue mussel beds, local ecosystems, and ongoing research.
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Trail Crew -
Granite Falls Preserve
Wednesday, July 15th
9:00 - 11:00 am
Join us at Granite Falls Preserve in North Yarmouth to install new signage, trim back the short neighborhood trails, and construct a bog bridge over a wet section. If time allows, we'll yank out invasive plants to our hearts' desire.
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Get Out! Nature Walk: Wildflowers & Monarchs
Wednesday, July 22nd
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Skyline Farm
95 The Lane, North Yarmouth
Master Naturalist: Karen Bruder Howe
Join us in the expansive fields of this beautiful property, home to milkweed and other native wildflowers, to explore the magical life cycle of monarchs and other high summer sensations.
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Open Farm Day at Old Crow Ranch
Sunday, July 26th
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Join us at Old Crow Ranch, a 70-acre, family-owned, pasture-based livestock farm in Durham, Maine. RRCT holds a conservation easement on this beautiful farm and will have a table set up during Maine's Open Farm Day.
Come meet the animals (and the farmers), learn a bit about how Old Crow Ranch raises its beef and pork, peruse the Farm Store, and grab lunch from On A Roll food truck!
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Annual Meeting
Join us for RRCT's 2026 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 15th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Cunningham Farm in New Gloucester.
We will have light refreshments and food available, but we welcome additional food contributions.
Our speaker, Andy Fisk, Northeast Regional Director at American Rivers, will share insights into dam removal efforts and what restoring free-flowing rivers means for communities, wildlife, and the health of the Royal River watershed.
In addition, winners of our Celebrate the Royal Photo Contest AND Royal River Watershed T-Shirt Contest will be announced at the meeting.
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THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS | | |
Atlantic Sportswear | 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 | 52 North Road | Yarmouth, ME 04096 US | | | | |
