WINTHROP — The Kennebec Land Trust has permanently protected the 55-acre Weston Woods Preserve on Little Cobbossee Lake in East Winthrop, a move that came in late December after more than a year of planning.
Conserving this land, which is adjacent to the trust’s 90-acre Little Cobbossee Oatway Preserve, advances the trust’s mission of protecting important ecosystems and providing open space for the region’s communities. The acquisition was made possible with a donation from Bob and Jim Weston, a grant from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program and KLT and community members.
Weston Woods includes 1,315 feet of undeveloped shoreline; forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent wetlands; 1,500 feet of perennial streams; and land designated as Inland Waterfowl and Wading Bird Habitat. Two rare plants have been identified on the property: Columbian water-meal (Wolffia columbiana) and pointed water-meal (Wolffia brasilensis).
The trust will manage the preserve to protect wetlands, water quality and wildlife habitat, as well as for low-impact recreation including hiking, hunting, snowmobiling and nature observation. In 2021, KLT’s stewardship staff and summer interns will create a new trail that will link Weston Woods with the west shore of the Oatway Preserve.
A snowmobile trail that crosses the northern portion of the property will continue to be open and maintained by the Hillandalers Club. An August property and trail dedication is planned.
At the time of their donation, Bob and Jim Weston wrote, “In memory of Hope and Pete Weston, Bob and Mickie Weston and Jim and Judy Weston are pleased to be able to make Weston Woods available to the public to include snowmobiling and hunting and other activities. Weston Woods is a peaceful place for both people and wildlife to enjoy forever. Without KLT this could not have come to reality.”
Kim Vandermeulen, president of the KLT board ofdDirectors, said, “We are grateful to Jim and Bob Weston for their generosity and farsighted conservation vision; and we look forward to adding protection for the Cobbossee watershed and welcoming the community to another publicly accessible conservation property in Kennebec County.”
The trust’s conserved lands encompass more than 6,900 acres in the Kennebec River and lakes region. Most of KLT’s properties are open to the public for hiking, outdoor recreation, hunting and nature observation.
