Ripples: January 2026
- Georges River Land Trust
- Jan 14
- 4 min read
Ripples
News from your watershed
January 2026
Snowy days in the woods have arrived! Here's the Rockland Bog Preserve on a recent wintry morning.
Our newest conservation easement: Old Woods Farm
Our final conservation project of 2025 was finalizing the easement on Old Woods Farm. This 83-acre property is owned and managed by the Town of St. George. The local conservation commission created and maintains the 2.7-mile trail network that takes hikers over beautiful views of nearby Meadow Brook Preserve, through quiet sections of forest and along lichen-covered ledges. It was acquired by the town in 2024 with funding from the local community and the Land for Maine’s Future Program. In 2025, the town and Georges River Land Trust worked together to put the land in conservation to permanently protect it from development.
This brings our total number of easements across the watershed to 57 and our total conserved acres to 5,495 - it is also the fifth property we conserved last year! Old Woods Farm is our fifth conservation easement created in partnership with towns across the watershed and our second with St. George (Meadow Brook). Other town land protected by an easement with Georges River include Plaisted Preserve in Owls Head, the Searsmont Town Forest, and the Thomaston Town Forest.
Evan Spencer: our new Trails & Public Access Manager
Evan is a lifelong Mainer who comes to GRLT with a passion for outdoor recreation and adventure. He has spent time working for Baxter State Park, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Winona Camps in various trail related roles. You can find him out on the trails on his bike or cross country skis, or on the river in his yellow packraft or old town canoe.
Come by the office to meet Evan or join him for a weekly volunteer Stew Crew!
Announcing our collaboration with Lihua Lei Farley
We're excited to share that 2026 Maine Visual Arts Fellow Lihua Lei Farley will be creating a site-specific art installation at the Langlais Art Preserve this coming summer, as well as several related and interactive performances at locations along the St. George River. Based in Cushing, Farley’s work explores themes of healing, transformation, and humanity’s relationship to the natural world. From her studio overlooking Broad Cove, she draws daily inspiration from the river and we're honored to be in collaboration with her this year. Stay tuned for more information about her project in the coming months!
St. George River Watershed Land Use History:
Reporting by Colby College intern Anna Weber
Colby College intern Anna Weber, funded by the Buck Lab, has spent her fall researching the land use history of the St. George River watershed. With resources from Colby College's special collections, Anna has narrativized human and ecological history of this special place. Her research, which explores Wabanaki history, geology, wildlife, agriculture, and river usage focuses on three geographic regions: the northern watershed, the central watershed, and the Cushing peninsula. Read Anna's research and learn more here.
Gibson Preserve Named Best Hike of 2025 by the Midcoast Villager
Gibson Preserve in Searsmont was named Best Hike in the Midcoast Villager's "Bests of 2025" round-up! We loved reading Holly Vanorse Spicer's account of sharing time on the trail with her son. She wrote, "It's not just the water views that make the Gibson Preserve so great. It's the quiet of the trail." We hope you're able to visit Gibson Preserve soon and soak up some of that special quiet along the river. Thank you to the Midcoast Villager for this spotlight on one of our favorite places. Read the full article here.
Upcoming Events in the Watershed
Cars for Conservation
Did you know Eastern Tire will sell your vehicle to benefit local conservation? Selling your car for proceeds to the land trust will support our work and earn you a receipt for tax benefits. Learn more at the Eastern Tire site.
Wish list
Can you help us secure these items?
Baby gate - for our new puppy employee!
Rose gloves and work gloves
Knife (for blazing trails)
The Forest Revealed by Jada Fitch (for our Creative Nature youth programs)
Apple / fruit picker (and baskets)
If you are interested in helping us obtain anything on this list, please contact us or drop them off at our office at 120 Tillson Ave. Suite 102 in Rockland. Thank you!
Thank you so much to those who generously helped us secure past wish list items including a new coffee maker and printer for our office! By supporting our staff, you are making local conservation possible.
About Georges River Land Trust
Georges River Land Trust conserves and cares for land in the St. George River watershed to ensure ecological and community wellbeing. For nearly 40 years, we have worked with our community members throughout the 19 towns in our service area to protect 5,400+ acres of land with extraordinary conservation value across 23 preserves and 56 easements, offering 80+ miles of multi-use trails.
Thank You to Our Business Sponsors