Conservation is often measured in acres protected or miles of coastline preserved. MCHT’s work extends beyond simple statistics.

Learn More in our 2025 Impact Report

2025 Impact Report Stories

option 1

Protected Habitat, Clean Water

With the support of the City of Biddeford, Maine Water Company (MWC) and MCHT permanently conserved more than 250 acres of forest and publicly accessible open space in a key watershed area of the Saco River in western Biddeford. This newly protected forestland provides vital habitat to a suite of Maine’s native species. It also protects the high quality drinking water of the Saco River, a critical natural and cultural resource and the sole drinking water source for about 40,000 residents.

option 2

Conservation and Workforce Housing in Rockport

MCHT donated approximately one acre of land, and the site of an existing 1850s farmstead across from our Erickson Fields Preserve, to Midcoast Regional Housing Trust (MCRHT). Responding to the region’s urgent housing crisis, MCRHT will create long-term, multi-family, year-round housing. We also expanded Erickson Fields by an additional five acres, enhancing opportunities to collaborate with the elementary school, strengthen and create new agricultural programming, increase public access to conserved lands, and complement wider planning efforts in Rockport.

third option

MDI Landscape Protected

We worked with Land & Garden Preserve to further the conservation of 168 acres of forests, cliffs, and wetlands at Hunters Cliffs, Hunters Beach, and Day Mountain in Seal Harbor, safeguarding one of Mount Desert Island’s most scenic and ecologically rich landscapes. The property contributes to more than 22,000 acres of connected conservation land and preserves public access to a beloved network of trails leading directly to Acadia National Park.

option 4

Local Park Expanded

Together with the Town of Southwest Harbor, we expanded Chris’s Pond, a treasured local park, by three additional acres, enhancing access and green space in the downtown area. This milestone reflects years of collaboration, community input, and a shared vision to enhance public spaces and preserve natural beauty for generations to come.

option 5

Bold Coast Wilderness Preserve

In partnership with Northeast Wilderness Trust, MCHT conserved one of the last expansive forests on the Eastern Seaboard (over 2,000 acres) to establish the Bold Coast Wilderness Preserve in Downeast Maine. This landscape-scale effort enhances the ecological value of neighboring conserved lands; increases habitat connectivity for plant and animal communities; and enables public access for hunting, fishing, and quiet recreation.

option 6

L.L.Bean Grants

We administered a total of $65,000 to nine land trusts across Maine for priority conservation projects through the L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program. Funds supported Downeast Lakes Land Trust in completing a trail extension on the 2,015-acre Lakeville Forest Tract on Sysladobsis Lake; Loon Echo Land Trust in completing restoration work on heavily used trails at southern Maine’s Pleasant Mountain; and seven other projects.

option 7

Climate Resilience Grants

MCHT awarded $4.1 million in Climate Resilience Conservation Fund (CRCF) funds (part of a $69 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to support land conservation projects across much of Maine. One of the first CRCF grants was awarded to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust to protect Hart Woods, a 551-acre connected block of forest spanning from Bremen to Bristol that provides strong freshwater and land-based climate resilience benefits.