Francis Small Heritage Trust

We acquired several new properties and conservation easements. We completed the purchase of 133.4 additional acres in the Porter (Maine) Hills, the Porter Hills Heath Preserve. This land is open to the public for low-impact recreation including hiking and hunting and is permanently protected by a project agreement with the Maine DEP, the US Army Corps of Engineers, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP). We also received a donation of the 198.8 acre Bald Ledge Summit parcel worth $331,000 and the 166.9 acre Giovanella Family Forest property appraised at $120,000. Both properties are in the Porter Hills and are open to the public. We also received a donation of the 11.7 acre waterfront Outlet Park in Waterboro, Maine appraised at $200,000. This property is also open to the public. We also accepted a conservation easement on the 46-acre Fox Farmstead parcel in Porter Maine and a conservation easement on the 3.2 acre Westover Lot (added to the existing Chadbourne-Hanscom Farm easement in Waterboro Maine). The second easement was appraised at $59,000 but no asset value is retained on the books.

Continued our education outreach to local schools the "Water Literacy" program entitled "Get Wet" including water quality issues. Program was reduced from previous years due to COVID. Approximately 125 students were served by the program. We also worked on a "Forest Carbon Workshop" area on Sawyer Mountain where the public can measure the carbon content of the forest and can investigate ways to manage a forest for maximum carbon sequestration. Approximately twenty volunteers established the program and the forest plots are open to the public.

Provided stewardship, education, and outreach on approximately 1,700 acres of land in and around Limington, Limerick, Baldwin, Porter, and Cornish, Maine. These properties conserve natural resources and provide for public access, enjoyment, and education. Stewardship included land taxes, and trail maintenance. The statewide recognized resource has an estimated 5,000 visitors a year, including school groups. Outreach included distributing 1,000 free hiking maps to the public, all to encourage hiking in the area. Granted $1,100 to the Town of Limington as Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). The organization also paid local property taxes of $4,116 in Limerick, Baldwin, Parsonsfield, Porter, and Cornish even though the organization could be technically exempted from such taxes.