Loon Echo Land Trust secures permanent conservation of 26 acres in Naples

The Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) has announced the permanent conservation of 26 acres of undeveloped forestland along the Muddy River and Lake House Road in Naples. Robert “Bob” Hennick Sr. and his family donated the land to LELT to ensure the public can enjoy it for generations to come.

Loon Echo Land Trust has conserved 26 acres of undeveloped
forestland along the Muddy River and Lake House Road in
Naples following a donation of the property from Robert
'Bob' Hennick Sr. and his family. The Hennicks say they
donated the land  to the trust to ensure the public can
enjoy the site permanently for generations to come.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Under LELT’s ownership, the land will be called “Muddy River Forest” and will allow public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other recreational activities. There is currently a small trail on the property along the river, which has traditionally enabled access for anglers. LELT will continue to pay property taxes to the Town of Naples at the Open Space current-use rate.

“The Lake Region has a long and proud tradition of public access to private lands,” said LELT Executive Director Matt Markot. “One of our primary goals as an organization is to work with landowners to permanently protect that access.”

Robert Hennick Jr. said that future public access to the land was very important to his father and was a driving factor in choosing to work with LELT to conserve his family’s land.

“We have had many offers to sell the land and divide up and make a considerable profit, but we feel the conservation of the land for future generations is way more valuable than the money we will receive,” he said. “The residents of Maine and the general public can enjoy the land, which we have had the privilege to do.”

Land Trust officials are excited about this newly conserved site.

“We’re grateful to the vision of Bob Hennick and his family for working with LELT to keep their property forested and open to the public forever,” said LELT Board President Lee Bearse.

Muddy River Forest includes nearly 1,300 feet of frontage on the Muddy River and is an important addition to the region’s network of conserved lands. Located just north of LELT’s Sebago Cove Forest, the land is part of a large network of undeveloped forest acres in the vicinity of the Muddy River, the Northwest River, and Sebago Lake.

In addition to protecting important undeveloped shoreline for the third-largest tributary river to Sebago Lake, the property is home to wildlife habitat, vernal pools, wetlands, and exceptional wild brook trout habitat.

The land is located directly across Lake House Road from the Town of Naples’ Muddy River Bog Preserve, which has a small parking area, trail, interpretive signs, picnic tables, a dock platform, and a hand-carry boat launch on Sebago Cove.

“Preserving Bob Hennick’s property through Loon Echo Land Trust means protecting a place that matters to our community,” shared Kathy Keinath, co-chair of the Naples Parks and Land Use Committee. “By conserving this property across from Muddy River Bog Preserve, LELT is creating a larger protected natural corridor that supports wildlife, protects the river's health, and ensures the special place remains open and thriving for future generations that can experience the same natural beauty we value today.”

The forest is located within the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki, a member tribe of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Abenaki First Nations of Odanak and Wôlinak maintain reservations along the St. Francis and St. Lawrence Rivers in the Canadian province of Quebec, where they sought refuge from colonial warfare in the Saco and Androscoggin River watersheds during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Muddy River Forest plays an important role in safeguarding the water quality of the Muddy River and downstream Sebago Lake, which is the source of drinking water for over 200,000 Mainers and many Cumberland County businesses. The property was identified by Sebago Clean Waters (SCW) as a high priority for protection. SCW is a collaborative of nonprofit partners, including LELT, working to conserve key forestlands and wetlands in the Sebago Lake watershed to sustain clean water and thriving human and ecological communities across the region.

The property was conserved with direct financial assistance from Portland Water District. Sebago Clean Waters also contributed funds toward the long-term management and stewardship of the land through support from the Woodard & Curran Foundation and donations from business partners, including L.L. Bean and Allagash, Bissell Brothers, and Lone Pine breweries.

"We're thrilled to bring our partners and resources together to help protect this beloved community gem,” said SCW Partnership Director Karen Young. “Beyond helping keep Greater Portland's drinking water supply clean, the recreational opportunities and critical wildlife habitat offered by this land make conserving it a high priority."

Further details about Muddy River Forest are available online at lelt.org/muddy-river-forest.

Loon Echo Land Trust, founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization that protects land, ensures public access to the outdoors, and builds and maintains recreational trails in Raymond, Casco, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, Bridgton, and Denmark. The organization currently conserves over 9,300 acres of land and manages a 35-mile trail network across the Lake Region. LELT protects many important local landmarks in the Lakes Region of Maine such as Pleasant Mountain, Bald Pate Mountain, and Hacker’s Hill.

For more information about LELT properties, upcoming events, or how to get involved, visit LELT.org or their Facebook page. <