O’Herin noted that the inspiration for the land trust’s start came from a 19-year old Montville college student concerned about a pristine marsh near her home that was threatened by a poorly planned development project. She implored her parents and neighbors to act to save the marsh.

Eventually, the marsh and surrounding land became the first 47 acres that the land trust purchased. SWLA now owns more than 500 acres of land in the Sheepscot River watershed and protects nearly 300 more acres with conservation easements. SWLA jointly manages a 19-mile trail network in Montville with the Georges River Land Trust.

"Land trusts, like the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance, play a vital role in not only preserving for generations the land and natural resources of their communities, but serving as living laboratories for learning," said Mullin. "Schools and colleges in partnership with land trusts across Maine utilize these ecological havens to engage the scientists and land managers of the next generation."

SWLA, established in 1991, has nearly 100 members, hosts regular educational events and is collaborating with two other land trusts to create a conservation plan that will inventory the entire Sheepscot River watershed — more than 220,000 acres. SWLA’s service area includes land in Freedom, Liberty, Montville and Palermo.

To learn more, contact: SWLA, P.O. Box 155, Freedom, ME 04941 or call 589-4311.