The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust is organized to promote and advance conservation, education, science and related charitable and benevolent purposes. The SLCT accepts parcels in fee which preserve the natural resources of the Town of Scarborough. These natural resources include land and water with attendant plant and animal life, and special scenic, natural, agricultural and historic sites. Some fee parcels are available for public enjoyment and recreation in accordance with the wishes of the donors. Land conservation trusts are not required to pay real estate taxes; however, SLCT does so in accordance with its by-laws.

The maintenance of open space areas in Scarborough is achieved not only through fee donations, but also by the acceptance by the SLCT of conservation easements in perpetuity from land owners who wish to limit the future use of their property to purposes which meet the conservation purposes of the SLCT. At least once a year the members of the Scarborough Land Conservation Trust are responsible for on site monitoring of parcels held in fee and parcels over which conservation easements are held, to assure that the conservation purposes of the SLCT are being met.

The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust presently holds two parcels in fee, and holds two conservation easements, protecting in total 55 acres. Members of the SLCT have helped to prepare 30 acres of woodland in West Scarborough for an anticipated fee donation. Several other citizens are considering giving the SLCT conservation easements.

Three public forums were conducted in 1994. On January 11, Bill Silliker, author of Maine Moose Watchers Guide, made his second appearance at a SLCT forum, showing wildlife slides and giving tips on wildlife photography. Phil Bozenhard, Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, showed a selection of his slides on wildlife and their habitat. On April 12, following the Annual Meeting at the Public Library, Doug Burdick, Environmental Specialist for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, showed slides of Maine's wetlands and discussed such issues as definitions of wetlands and mitigation of wetlands losses. The summer forum was held at Bob Scammon's Fishing Hole Recreation Area below Scottow Hill. Dick Arsenault, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist, discussed the need to protect the fisheries resource in Scarborough's feeder brooks and streams. He also engaged members in a discussion of possible canoe access sites to the Nonesuch River.

On May 14 of this past year, members of the SLCT conducted the annual monitoring of conservation easements. On June 4, National Trail Day, Tom and Anita Daley, Elaine Warren, Steve Shannon and Wally Fengler conducted a census of users of the Old Eastern abandoned railroad bed, most of which is now owned by the State of Maine. Efforts continue to put all of the Old Eastern under governmental ownership and to designate it as a public trail.

The Scarborough Land Conservation Trust has been in existence for seventeen years. As land held in fee and conservation easements held by the SLCT increase, additional members are welcome and needed. The officers for 1994-95 were Stephen Shannon, President; Steve Ross, Vice-President; Wallace W. Fengler, Secretary and Coordinator; and Elaine Warren, Treasurer. Quarterly meetings are held at the Scarborough Public Library, followed by forums, and monthly directors' meetings, also open to the public, are usually held a member's home.

Respectfully Submitted,
Stephen Shannon, President

Scarborough Land Conservation Trust
P.O. Box 1237
Scarborough, Maine 04070
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