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About Loon Echo Land Trust

Loon Echo Land Trust protects land in the Lake Region of Maine to conserve its natural resources and character for current and future generations. LELT conserves 8,500 acres of land and maintains and protects public access to many iconic outdoor spaces such as Pleasant and Bald Pate Mountains. In addition to providing access for recreation, LELT's conserved open spaces support the region’s water resources, wildlife habitat, and working farms and forests.

Loon Echo Land Trust is a nonprofit organization. It was formed in 1987 by community members who saw the need to preserve the forests, fields, and waters of the region. Throughout the years, LELT has worked with area residents, businesses and organizations to protect land through conservation easements, land purchases and land donations.
financial information
LELT Financial Information
2022 Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
ABOUT our team

Staff and Board of Directors

Our Team

Where We Work

Loon Echo Land Trust protects land in the northern Sebago Lake region of Maine in the towns of Bridgton, Casco, Denmark, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, and Raymond.

Loon Echo Land Trust recognizes that our conservation lands are unceded lands of the Abenaki people, specifically the Pigwacket and Ammoncongan, who are members of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Wabanaki Confederacy - the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Abenaki, and Mi’kmaq peoples - have stewarded these lands for centuries.

We acknowledge and respect the values of the Wabanaki people and affirm their sovereignty in this territory. We intend to support their efforts for natural resource protection and a restoration of their sovereign rights, including the rematriation of land to the Tribes. The Wabanaki are the first peoples of Maine and northern New England, and have lived on this land for over 10,000 years. Wabanaki means People of the First Light, and Maine is the first place in the United States that experiences the sun rising in the east.

It is estimated that prior to European colonization there were between 10,000 and 20,000 Wabanaki people in southern Maine. The nearest known Wabanaki settlement to Loon Echo Land Trust’s service area was in the fertile flood plain of the Saco River Valley in what is now called Fryeburg.  

Since European colonization, Wabanaki people have suffered a 96% population loss due to genocide, disease, land dispossession and forced removal, erasure of traditions through forced conversion to Christianity, warfare between Europeans, and scalp bounties. There are at least 8,000 tribal members alive today who live in communities in Maine and Quebec, the Canadian Maritimes, and in diaspora.

Sources: Abbe Museum, Wabanaki REACH, First Light Learning Journey, native-land.ca


2023 Projects

We’re always working on conservation projects behind the scenes. Join our E-Mail list to be informed of new projects. Here are some projects we're working on this year:
  • Rolfe Hill Conservation Project – Noted for its seasonal views of Sebago Lake, a pristine trout stream, and significant wetlands, this 400-acre property located on Quaker Ridge Road in Casco has long been coveted by developers with recent plans for a golf course and subdivision. Only five minutes from Route 302, the development pressure on undeveloped land in this part of Casco is significant. Now under contract, fundraising has been ongoing since 2021 and LELT is on track to close on the purchase of this property before the end of 2023. The property already hosts significant public access for recreation and our plan is to enhance that existing use with an off-street parking area and new trails for hiking and mountain biking. Short term goals post-purchase also include the restoration of a wetland habitat site and invasive species management.
  • Sebago Cove Conservation Project– With over 2,500’ of frontage on Sebago Lake, this 360-acre property on Sebago Cove in Naples has an approved subdivision plan and development was imminent prior to LELT stepping up with an offer to purchase a conservation easement. LELT is now under contract to purchase a conservation easement for the entire property which will permanently protect it from development and enable limited public access for hunting, hiking, and other low impact recreation activities. Fundraising started last year and we have already raised over $1.6 million to support the permanent protection of the land. We need to raise just $11,000 to reach our fundraising goal and permanently protect this land before our contract expires later this year.
  • Peabody-Fitch Woods Trail – In the summer of 2023, we will be installing new educational signage on the loop trail that was constructed in 2020.
To make a gift insupport of any of these projects, please donate here and include a note as to which project you would like your gift to support. Please contact Matt (matt@lelt.org) for more information.

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