Author: Alan Stearns

We are indebted to more than 100 families, business, foundations, and other funders that donated and helped us reach our $200,000 campaign goal.  Thank you!  The Town of Yarmouth took ownership of the parcel on July 15, 2019.

Together we helped save one of Yarmouth’s last remaining pieces of unfragmented habitat and shoreline along the Royal River: In Yarmouth the Royal River’s undeveloped shoreline and habitat is rapidly disappearing as our community grows. The Royal River’s shoreline from East Elm street upriver to North Yarmouth still remains mostly undeveloped and naturally supports beavers, otters, deer, and a variety of bird species and distinct flora. This environment creates a surprisingly remote experience for paddling in the summer and skating, snowshoeing and skiing in the winter.  

Our generation conserved the remaining land: The Royal River Conservation Trust and the Town of Yarmouth worked in close partnership to raise the necessary funds to purchase 24 acres of riverfront land that is owned by Steve and Greg Dugas, Yarmouth residents. The Dugas riverfront property abuts the 22 acre Town-owned Hilda Barker Preserve and the 35 acre Town-owned Sligo Road Preserve directly across the Royal River. The connection of these preserves as a new combined Riverfront Woods Preserve creates a corridor for trails and protects one half mile of shoreline. This new Riverfront Woods Preserve creates a lush sanctuary that is also accessible from growing neighborhoods. These lands are part of a nearly 1,000 acre multi-town unfragmented habitat.

More information online: 

Riverfront Woods Preserve trails and public website

Recent press articles on the campaign

Click here: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and campaign fine print.

For questions or information, please contact:

Alan Stearns, Executive Director, RRCT:  Alan@RRCT.org cell (207) 215-8315

For questions or information on the Town’s role, planned trails, and emerging new rules, please contact: Karyn MacNeill, Director of Community Services, Town of Yarmouth, KMacNeill@yarmouth.me.us  (207) 846-2406

CAMPAIGN BUDGET INFORMATION: 

Steve and Greg Dugas generously agreed to sell this riverfront land for below the appraised value. The Town Council committed $110,000 in available land acquisition reserve funds. The Land for Maine’s Future program awarded $110,000 and the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership contributed $8,000. The remainder – including transactional costs, property management costs, and conservation easement stewardship — was met by donations from more than 100 families, businesses, and foundations through the Royal River Conservation Trust.

Thank you Riverfront Woods Donors:

Pamela B. AdamsCharles and Laurie Ammann AVANGRID Foundation Bafflin Foundation Dan and Julia Bailin Anne Ball and Dennis Welsh Kyo Bannai and Craig Schneider Dave and Cynthia Barnard Sam Barouch Laurie Bean Jeremy Bell and Elizabeth Pratt Julie Benavides Bob and Judith Bishop Donald and Tracy Booth Nan Butterfield Doug and Linda Cardente Marcie and Corvis Catsouphes David Chalmers Erin Cinelli and Ben Slayton Clayton’s Cafe Kerry and MaryEllen Connell cowles studio| landscape architecture Laurel Cox and Adam Sharp David Craig James Crofts Darcy Cunningham David Kitchen Deb and Garreth Debiegun Anthony Debruyn Peter Dickson Mary Dowd Margaret and Tom Downing Bruce Drouin and Janet Hansen and Family John Duffy William Dunn Eric Elwin and Susan Murr Estabrook’s Mark and Pattie Fasold Irving and Donna Felker Mr. & Mrs. David Field Gro Flatebo and Kent Wommack Richard Flewelling Ted Foden Deborah and Crombie Garrett Ed and Celena Gervais John Given Lisa Gorman Linda and Schuyler Grant Maura Halkiotis and Tom Renehan Gardiner Hall Frank and Constance Harrison Kathy and Paul Hassett May Hiebert Vivian Horoshak and Robert Hawkins Richard Hubbell Christopher and Anne Jacobs Karyn MacNeill

Kennebec Savings BankJudy Knaub Robert and Caroline Knott Erik and Catherine Knudsen Michael and Carolyn Lane The Laputz Family Peter Lawlor Alex Lawrence Jean and DIck Leslie Douglass and Rosemarie Lloyd Christine Manderson and Brian Peters Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust Karen Massey and Jeff Thaler Chris and Steve McDuffie Sharon McHold and Tom Settlemire Hillary M. McKinnon Tred and Lizzie McIntire Kathy Mills David and Ruth Morine Morton-kelly Charitable Trust Chistiane Northrup Ann Nye Hannah and Dan Ostrye Isabella Pardales Stacey Pardales David Pearl Christine Phelps Hillary and William Pidden Christopher and Nancy Pierce Virginia Remeika Lisa Fideout and Michael Foley Robert and Betsy Robson Josh Royte and Leigh Baker Karen and John Saucier Curt and Nina Scribner Lynne Seeley and Peter Lee Megan Sevitelli and Michael Dedekian The Kew/Sharpless Family The Shurman Family Elizabeth Small Bertran Smith and Mary Webber James Stevens Jaime and Colles Stowell Paul and Mary Stuart Tania Jo and Beth Sturtevant James and Elizabeth Taylor Jim Glenn Thatcher Ann Thayer The Babbling Brook Fund Carl Troy David Truesdell Tux Turkel and Amy Sinclair Sarah and Jim Van Fleet Village Improvement Society The Waeldner Family William Ruth and Phyllidia Ku-Ruth Mary Williamson Robert Smith and Margaret Creighton The Town of Yarmouth