Photo of the Royal River taken by Steve Horowitz. This phenomenon of smoke highlighted by the sun's rays can only be seen in the early morning hours of mid-October days when the sun rises down the bend in the river, the water is warm, and the air is cold.

Greetings!

The future health of the Royal River Watershed depends upon the decisions we make today. Each year, residential growth makes new inroads into formerly undeveloped land. The cumulative impact of this growth means fewer wild areas that could otherwise provide recreational access and habitat protection. The permanent loss of these areas has led to a decrease in local farmland while placing additional stress on our wetlands, forests, and waterways.  As the only organization solely dedicated to permanent land protection within the watershed, we rely upon YOU to support our efforts to ensure that more local lands are conserved.

While we have worked tirelessly to help protect over 6,000 acres of permanently preserved land within the Royal River Watershed, this represents only 6.5% of the total land area.

Your tax-deductible gift in support of RRCT will enable us to continue working with local landowners interested in preserving their family land, it will help us continue collaborating with town committees working to ensure priority open spaces are preserved, and your support enables us to continue maintaining the more than 25 miles of trails we maintain each and every year. 

Simply put, your donation is an investment in the future habitat protection and recreational access projects we are working on to ensure the ‘livability’ of our communities.

Existing supporters will soon be receiving our year-end appeal for support in the mail, but you can make a donation anytime online and join the hundreds of local households already supporting our work. 

As an added incentive, all new member gifts will be matched dollar for dollar as part of a $25,000 matching grant opportunity! Our ability to do this critically important work is directly related to the support we receive from our community, so please join us in celebration of protecting our wild open spaces, for you, for your community, and forever. Together we can—and must—continue this critical work. Future generations will thank us.

Happy Holidays!

The Board and Staff of RRCT

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.

Dédəbonsagk Preserve 

There's fresh signage at our newest conserved property, Dédəbonsagk Preserve!

This 20-acre preserve on Milliken Rd in North Yarmouth was graciously donated to RRCT by Rob Wood and Gay Peterson in December 2024. The name Dédəbonsagk, pronounced deda-boon-sock, derives from the Penobscot word tétəponsak, which translates to “they walk side by side” – which Rob and Gay have done on the property for decades.

Once farmed for blueberries, much of the preserve has reverted to forest. A 3.5-acre meadow home to wildflowers and native grasses supports birds and other wildlife.

An existing network of mowed trails weaves through the meadow and woods, connecting with the nearby CMP powerline corridor. Trails extend beyond the preserve into Rob and Gay’s adjacent private land. Please stay on designated trails and respect posted signs on trails leading to their residence.

On the left, RRCT staff and volunteers stand by a signage post they installed. On the right is a view of the Dédəbonsagk Preserve meadow in the spring.

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Trail Crew -

Little Meadow Preserve

Wednesday, December 3rd,

9:00 - 11:00 am

Join Trail Crew at Little Meadow Preserve in New Gloucester to fine-tune a new access trail and build bog bridges! We love having new folks join us!

RRCT Trail Crew Details

Small Business Saturday at Old Crow Ranch

Saturday, November 29th,

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Learn more

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

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.org | RRCT.org