LMF board approves three conservation awards and stewardship funding

The Land for Maine's Future board confirmed funding for three conservation projects and approved stewardship awards for a set of recently closed or soon-to-close projects.

For McCain Woodlands in Otisfield (Western Foothills Land Trust), the appraisal oversight committee reported an appraised value of $510,000. The applicant requested LMF fund 50% of the appraised value; Roger Burley moved that the board confirm an LMF allocation of $255,000, and the board approved the allocation.

The board also approved funding for the Suncave Stream Forest working-forest conservation easement (Milford and Greenfield Township). The appraisal oversight committee reported an appraised encumbered value of $463,000; the board voted to confirm an LMF allocation of $175,000 to support the acquisition.

For Moer Hill Falls (a 199-acre fee acquisition by High Peaks Alliance in Farm Bington), the appraisal was reported at $418,000. The board confirmed an LMF allocation of $21,000 for the acquisition and approved $14,360 in stewardship funding subject to standard conditions.

Separately, staff proposed awarding stewardship grants to 11 projects totaling $195,979; those awards will be matched one-to-one by recipients into perpetual property-restricted stewardship endowments. Staff said stewardship awards were authorized by statute in 2021 and explained reporting and ongoing requirements for recipients. The board approved the stewardship grants.

All listed allocations and stewardship awards were approved by the board during the meeting; votes were taken by voice and recorded as unanimous in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: standard closing conditions and due diligence will proceed; staff will finalize agreements and disbursement schedules.