WARREN — Thirty eight acres of undeveloped forestland bordering the prominent gooseneck bend in the St. George River in Warren is now conserved by the Georges River Land Trust as a permanent asset to the Warren community and surrounding area.  Working with Dragon Products Company, this conservation easement prevents subdivision and development and conserves the primarily deciduous forest, open fields and floodplain wetlands as open space and wildlife habitat.

“We are pleased Georges River Land Trust will hold this property in permanent conservation, knowing it is in one of their priority areas,” said Ray DeGrass, Plant Manager of Dragon Products Company, in an news release.

With this 38-acre parcel, the Land Trust will ensure the valuable wildlife habitats and historic features found on the property will remain intact in perpetuity. 

Along the shoreline the remains of the old railroad bed are partially buried but indicate where a train once crossed the river and extended north along this shoreline. Just west of  the easement property, the Land Trust owns the 65-acre Eagles Way Preserve and nearby to the east of the parcel is a 40-acre easement with frontage on the St. George River, totaling a mile and a quarter of conserved river frontage along this bend in the river. 

Conservation of this property will help maintain water quality while providing an undeveloped forested buffer and maintaining the visual character of the river. 

This stretch of the St. George River is home to inland wading birds and waterfowl, and the yellow lamp mussel, significant because of its requirement  of high water quality. Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has listed the mollusk as a threatened species.  The importance of the habitat provided by this portion of the river has caused the State of Maine as well as the Georges River Land Trust to identify the region as a conservation priority. 

Conservation Program Manager Annette Nagel said, “The Georges River Land Trust is very pleased to have this property under conservation along a critical stretch of the river and to be working alongside Dragon Products Company to steward it in perpetuity. “

Organized in 1987, the Georges River Land Trust works to conserve and steward the natural resources and traditional character of the Georges River watershed region for the public benefit.  This region includes diverse woodlands, streams, lakes and ponds, hills, blueberry barrens and farm fields as well as rich tidal estuaries of salt marsh, clamflats and productive fishing grounds. For more information about the conservation work and programs of the Georges River Land Trust, call (207) 594-5166 or visit georgesriver.org.