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Protecting the Royal River for current and future generations
Protecting the Royal River for current and future generations
who we are
Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is a Southern Maine land trust focused on conserving land across the communities of the watershed.
Founded in 1988, the Trust protects and stewards land through acquisition, conservation easements and other legal agreements, and collaboration with a wide range of conservation partners. RRCT's work is made possible almost exclusively by charitable gifts.
Learn moreMAKE A GIFTMake a gift
Make a gift to protect our watershed
Your gift to Royal River Conservation Trust protects and stewards fields, forests, farmland, wetlands, and trails throughout the Royal River watershed.
Learn moreEXPLORE
Explore our watershed
All Royal River Conservation Trust preserves possess their own unique characteristics and are open to the public free of charge year-round.
Learn moreVOLUNTEER
Volunteer to protect our watershed
Volunteers established Royal River Conservation Trust in 1988 and continue to be vital to our operations. We are always looking for talented people to help advance our mission.
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Photo Credit Kristel Hayes
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Volunteers established RRCT in 1988 and continue to be vital to its operations. From trail stewards and committee members, to special event supporters and Board Directors, the Trust welcomes community involvement and wants to hear from you.
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 | 4:00-6:00 PM
Location: Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Office, 15 Game Farm Road, Gray, ME
Join us for an update on the Royal River Restoration Action Plan, a collaborative effort to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve fish passage, reduce flood risk, and increase the resilience of road-stream crossings across the watershed. This meeting will include a brief project update sharing the goals, approach, and early results of the crossing prioritization work, followed by a panel discussion with municipal practitioners who have firsthand experience designing and implementing StreamSmart culvert projects in our watershed.
Please Register Here to Reserve Your Spot!
Why attend?
- Learn about the Yarmouth dam removal project, including recent funding progress and next steps.
- Hear a project update on the Royal River Restoration Action Plan, including initial restoration priorities informed by watershed-wide culvert surveys and IFW biological data.
- Participate in a facilitated panel discussion with municipal practitioners who have designed, built, and maintained StreamSmart culverts, focusing on real-world costs, construction, maintenance, safety, and performance.
- Contribute your town’s perspective to shaping a watershed-scale action plan that depends on coordinated municipal participation.
Featured panelists include:
- Clark Baston, Road Commissioner Director, North Yarmouth
- Steve Johnson, PE, Town Engineer, Yarmouth
- Matt Streeter, Restoration Project Manager
- Alex Abbott, StreamSmart Specialist
Register HERE
Thursday, March 12th | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Merrill Memorial Library, Lewis Hall (3rd Floor) 215 Main Street, Yarmouth
Many of Maine's most valued lands are family-owned and deeply cherished. Planning for the long-term future of these beloved properties can be a challenge.
Join us to learn about ways to plan wisely for your family's current and future ownership - preserving your legacy, reducing taxes, and conserving treasured resources.
Our speaker, Jerry Bley of Creative Conservation, LLC, has worked for decades with Maine families as they navigate the complex decisions around what to do with lands owned within the family. Whether you are a child who has (or may) inherit land from a parent, or a landowner wanting to determine what will happen with your land when you are no longer around, this gathering is designed to help you navigate these important decisions.
This free event is offered in coordination with the Town of Yarmouth’s Climate Action Committee. Yarmouth residency is not required.
Registration is appreciated help us plan our evening and enable us to contact you with any updates.
RSVP here!
Saturday, March 14th & Sunday, March 15th | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, both days
Location: Skyline Farm, 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth
Instructors: tish carr & Mike Maines
This FREE, 2-day, beginner-friendly Chainsaw Safety Course. Both days will be hosted at Skyline Farm in North Yarmouth. Registration is limited to 10 spots.
Most participants will have little to no experience with a chainsaw, though this course is also an effective refresher for more experienced individuals who have developed some bad habits.
Participants will have the opportunity to operate a chainsaw in a safe, comfortable, and supervised setting. We will practice starting a saw, making straight up-and-down cuts, and bore cuts, and all will witness a directional felling demonstration, and those who are interested will practice it.
The first day will be mostly classroom-based inside the Visitor Center at Skyline Farm, covering basic information about chainsaws and their safety features, maintenance, personal protective equipment (PPE), and good practices. Depending on timing, we'll practice cutting in the afternoon. The second day will be a full day of practice and application. Participants will leave with the information needed for a lifetime of basic and safe chainsaw use.
If you have any questions about the course, please email tish carr, tish@rrct.org.
REGISTER HERE
If the class fills up, we will begin a waitlist.