TURNER — The Land For Maine’s Future board will vote Tuesday whether to fund four Western Maine projects, including two here that would add access to Androscoggin Riverlands State Park and keep a 624-acre farm in farming.
The projects, according to Program Director Tim Glidden:
— 87 acres in Turner known as the Dupuis parcel would add a middle entrance to Riverlands; Glidden said it’s currently only accessible by road from the north and south. The Department of Conservation now owns the parcel. It’s asked for $95,000 from LMF for help with the purchase.
— 624 acres in Turner known as River Rise Farm, owned by Adrian Wadsworth.
The complex arrangement would involve LMF, Maine Farmland Trust, Androscoggin Land Trust, and the state departments of conservation and agriculture. The farm would be sold, Glidden said, and split into two active farms with woodlands in the back held under a separate easement by the Androscoggin Land Trust.
“The whole idea is to protect it as a working farm,” he said.
Maine Farmland Trust would connect the land with new farmers, who’d later purchase it. An easement would be attached to keep the property in farming.
LMF is considering $568,000 toward the project.
— 50 acres in Leeds, privately held, that would connect to 330 acres of Riverlands owned by the state.
“They don’t publicize it that much because the public can’t legally get access to it other than from the water,” Glidden said.
This purchase would change that. LMF is considering $78,800 for that project.
— Nearly 2 acres in Norway on the Roberts Farm Preserve. Most of the preserve is already owned by the Western Foothills Land Trust, Glidden said. This purchase, in its preliminary approval phase, would add land that the farm surrounds. LMF is considering $19,000 toward that project.
Glidden said funds being decided upon next week are leftover 2007 bond money. Projects have been in the works with LMF at least six months.
kskelton@sunjournal.com
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