News & Announcements
Western Foothills Land Trust Welcomes Korey Morgan as New Executive Director
​​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2025
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NORWAY, MAINE — The Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Korey Morgan as its new Executive Director, effective June 3, 2025.
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A native of Greenwood, Morgan returns to his roots in western Maine after nearly a decade working in conservation and public communications at the national level. Most recently, he served as a lead communicator for the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C., where he worked to connect Americans to their public lands and shape national conservation messaging. He is also a former Presidential Management Fellow and a Fulbright grantee to South Korea.
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"I’m all in on this work and this community,” said Morgan. “I grew up exploring the woods between Norway and Bethel, fishing in the ponds off Greenwood Road, and developing a deep and lifelong connection to this landscape. Now, I have nine nieces and nephews and a son of my own whose futures are tied to this community. The work we do today isn’t just about land; it’s about future generations. It’s about making sure their lives, and the lives of thousands of kids like them, are filled with vibrant, healthy places to explore, grow, and belong."
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Morgan brings not only a passion for place, but also a strong background in leadership, public affairs, and collaborative engagement. He will lead WFLT’s efforts to conserve and steward the region’s working forests, farmlands, trails, and waters, while deepening the organization’s connection to local communities across Oxford County and beyond.
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“Western Maine is changing, and we’re at a pivotal moment,” Morgan added. “Now more than ever, we need to come together to make thoughtful decisions about the land and legacy we want to leave behind. The Land Trust has been doing that work for decades, and I’m honored to help carry that mission forward.”
WFLT’s Board of Directors expressed confidence in Morgan’s leadership and vision.
“Korey brings a unique blend of deep local roots and broad professional experience,” said Carl Costanzi, Board Chair of WFLT. “He understands what makes this region special—and how to protect it for the long haul. We’re thrilled to welcome him home.”
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The Western Foothills Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization based in Norway, Maine. Founded in 1987, WFLT is dedicated to protecting the most important forests, farms, waters, and trails of western Maine for the benefit of current and future generations. Through land conservation, stewardship, and community engagement, the Trust works to sustain the region’s ecological integrity, rural character, and access to the outdoors. WFLT currently manages over 9,000 acres of conserved land and more than 40 miles of public recreational trails across Oxford County.
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For more information, visit www.wfltmaine.org or contact info@wfltmaine.org
Western Foothills Land Trust Conserves 1,298 Acres of Important Forest Habitat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mach 26, 2025
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NORWAY, MAINE — On March 20th, Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) expanded its conserved lands by an additional 1,298 acres. The large tract is located along Mill Hill Road and Temple Hill Road in Waterford and Appleton Haskell Road in Harrison. The new property is adjacent to WFLT’s Twin Bridges Preserve, which was expanded to 1,077 acres in 2023. The large conserved area now protects over 2,375 contiguous acres of working forestland and wetlands on both sides of the Crooked River. The land lies within the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki, a member tribe of the Wabanaki Confederacy.
The acquisition, purchased from a local family that has cared for the land for decades as working forest, will protect 2 miles of streams containing wild brook trout habitat, 239 acres of deer wintering area, and 67.9 acres of wetlands providing critical habitat for wildlife, while also protecting intact forestlands. Permanent conservation of this land will preserve its ecological functions and scenic features, and provide future opportunities for public access and recreation.
“This project has been in the works for over three years. We are so excited to finally bring this project to completion and begin managing this land along with our other Preserves,” says Carl Costanzi, President of the Board of Directors of Western Foothills Land Trust.
The effort to conserve this land is part of a larger, regional conservation effort called Sebago Clean Waters (SCW). Through the SCW collaborative, eleven organizations, including WFLT, are working together to accelerate the pace of land conservation in the Sebago Lake watershed in order to protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and other community benefits that the forests provide.
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“This large block of conserved forestland around the Crooked River protects critical habitat for brook trout and land-locked salmon as well as water quality in both the river and Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for one in six Mainers,” says Karen Young, Partnership Director for Sebago Clean Waters. Paul Hunt, Environmental Manager of Portland Water District (a partner of SCW) adds: “Forests naturally filter water. Because this property is now conserved, the customers of Portland Water District will enjoy naturally cleaned water from this property forever.”
Funding for the purchase was provided by a grant from the State of Maine’s Land for Maine’s Future Program, a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant in coordination with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Portland Water District, an anonymous donor, the Open Space Institute, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, as well as the IDEXX Foundation and an Anonymous Foundation, through Sebago Clean Waters.
“The acquisition of the 1,298-acre Mill Hill tract continues the Land For Maine’s Future program’s mission of conserving land for its natural, economic, and recreational values. This purchase safeguards critical habitat and water quality, protects working forestland, and secures public access for traditional uses including hunting, fishing, and trapping,” said LMF Board Chair, Judy Camuso. “WFLT’s work with local, regional, and national partners emphasizes the power of a collective approach to land conservation that remains responsive to local values and regional goals,” said LMF Director, Laura Graham.
The Open Space Institute was proud to support this project through our Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund,” said Sarah Wells, OSI’s New England Program Manager. “Protection of this beautiful forested land provides multiple, overlapping benefits for people and wildlife in the northern Appalachian Region, including the capture and sequestration of carbon emissions and protection of a vast, unfragmented ‘green corridor’ that plants and wildlife need to migrate and thrive. We thank the Western Foothills Land Trust and their partners, including the family that cared for the land until now, for their diligence in conserving this ecologically vital property.”
Support from the Open Space Institute comes through the Open Space Institute’s Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, which supports the protection of climate-resilient lands for wildlife and communities. The ALPF is made possible with a lead grant from the Doris Duke Foundation and with significant support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Tucker Foundation, Lookout Foundation, Footprint Foundation, two Anonymous Foundations, as well as other foundations and individuals who understand the critical role that land protection plays in addressing the threats of climate change.
The Land Trust is working on a name for the new preserve and plans to establish non-motorized recreational trails, a parking area, and a trailhead with kiosk over the next two years. The trails will accommodate hiking, snowshoeing, backcountry ski touring, fly fishing, and nature observations. The property is open for hunting and trapping in accordance with the Land for Maine’s Future program and WFLT’s policies.
Western Foothills Land Trust Purchases 83-Acres of Land Creating the Oxford Forest Preserve
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(Oxford, ME)- The benefits of nature-based education are quantifiable by academic and personal growth metrics. Western Foothills Land Trust recognizes this value and has been working to improve access to sites to be used as forest classrooms near many grade schools in the SAD 17 district. On February 15th, the Norway-based land trust purchased an 83-acre tract of land, to be named the Oxford Forest Preserve, located between Allen Hill Road and the Little Androscoggin River, near Oxford Elementary School. This parcel is one of the former Chadbourne Tree Farm properties acquired in 2020 by White Pine Forest, LLC, a partnership of The Conservation Fund and the Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation. This purchase marks the third successful collaboration between Western Foothills Land Trust and The Conservation Fund, emphasizing these organizations’ shared commitment to preserving Maine's natural beauty and biodiversity.
Situated close to the town center, this land stands as a beacon of outdoor engagement for the community, particularly benefiting the students of Oxford—an area recognized for its limited access to such resources.
“The more we collectively strengthen through education and enjoyment our inherent connection to the lands around us, the more we all benefit,” said Tom Duffus, The Conservation Fund’s vice president and northeast representative based in Freeport. “It’s my hope – and the hope of all who helped complete this project – that this land will be a destination of inspiration for generations to come. Thank you to all who helped make permanent this spectacular new addition to the community.”
The property boasts an impressive 1,056 feet of frontage along the Little Androscoggin River, providing river access for serene nature observations and recreation. This feature enhances the value of the parcel, making it an ideal setting for a variety of activities including hiking, snowshoeing, backcountry touring, mountain biking, fishing, equestrian pursuits, and snowmobiling on the ITS 89 trail, which is maintained by local snowmobile clubs.
In line with Western Foothills Land Trust's mission to conserve native ecosystems, farm and forest lands, watersheds, and scenic landscapes, the property encompasses diverse habitats. These include the Northeastern Coastal and Interior Pine-Oak Forest, Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest, and North-Central Appalachian Acidic Swamp, nestled within a larger 1522-acre block of undeveloped forest. Additionally, the land contains 0.31 acres of wetland and a significant 47.28-acre aquifer, underscoring the ecological value and the conservation potential of this acquisition.
The addition of recreational trails on this property will not only enhance public access to nature but also contribute to the physical and mental well-being of the community. By integrating nature-based education and recreational opportunities, Western Foothills Land Trust aims to foster a deeper connection between the residents of western Maine and their natural surroundings. The Trust has plans to build a parking area, install a trailhead kiosk, and further develop the recreational trails with an official opening planned for later this year.
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"We are excited to welcome the Oxford Forest Preserve into our family of conserved lands," said Kacy Bailey, Executive Director of Western Foothills Land Trust. "This acquisition not only protects vital ecosystems and scenic landscapes but also opens up new avenues for community engagement, education, and recreation in western Maine."
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Western Foothills Land Trust extends its gratitude to The Conservation Fund who, through its partnership with an anonymous foundation, provided more than half of the purchase price for the parcel. Other project partners include: the Land For Maine’s Future Trust Fund, Maine Community Foundation, the Northern Forest Center, an anonymous donor, and individual donors.
Archives
​October 2021 | 494 Acres Preserved in Oxford, Maine
Western Foothills Land Trust and The Conservation Fund announce that on October 15th, the Western Foothills Land Trust purchased the first of three former Chadbourne Tree Farm tracts from White Pine Forest LLC (a subsidiary of The Conservation Fund). The tract is comprised of three wooded parcels totaling 494 acres in Oxford near to the Webber school house neighborhood. [...]
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June 2020 | No Filter Needed: Latest $150M Green Bonds Purchase Protects Pristine Water Parcel​ | Forbes Magazine
There are still some places on Earth where the water is so clean, you can drink it unfiltered. Those places should probably be preserved from development, right? The Conservation Fund thinks so and recently acquired more than 15,000 acres of pine forestland in Western Maine. [...]​​​
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June, 2020 | The Conservation Fund Acquires Iconic Pine Forestland In Western Maine
OXFORD COUNTY, Maine–The Conservation Fund announced today its purchase of 15,408 acres from the Chadbourne Tree Farms, LLC in western Maine. The Fund’s acquisition is intended to protect this iconic and historic working forest landscape from fragmentation and development. [...]​
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May, 2019 | The Western Foothills Land Trust announces “The Clothesline Project”​
NORWAY – WFLT announces The Clothesline Project, a series of outdoor art exhibitions and poetry readings, to be hung at Shepard’s Farm Preserve in Norway, Maine. The Preserve is located at 121 Crockett Ridge Road and is part of a larger 272-acre conservation area that wraps around Witt Swamp. [...]
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January 28, 2018 | Healthy learning at Roberts Farm Preserve in Norway | Lewiston Sun Journal​
NORWAY – The sounds Sunday were all too familiar: Skis scraping against icy trails while some skiers uttered “oof” as they fell to the snow. [...]
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November, 2015 | Campaign to Protect Noyes Mountain, Greenwood
Most often the land trust works with landowners to protect the working lands they have loved and managed to assure that the natural assets of the land will be available for future generations. Less frequently the Trust works to purchase land that has been identified as significant for its natural resources, location, or cultural significance [...]
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December, 2014 | Endowment Campaign Successful
The Western Foothills Land Trust was selected in May of 2012 to be a recipient of the Ram Island 25/25 challenge grant administered by the Maine Community Foundation [...]
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November, 2014 | Moon Valley Wetlands Enhancement
In 2013, the Western Foothills Land Trust was awarded funding by the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program to purchase a 14- acre retired sand pit known as Moon Valley with frontage on the Crooked River. Additional funds were provided by the Clean Water Carbon Fund and the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership [...]​
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Apr 25, 2013 | Norway receives grant to fix culverts
NORWAY — Town Manager David Holt told selectmen at their April 18 meeting that the town has received grant funds to help fix road drainage and improve the overall water quality of the Crooked River...
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Mar 28, 2013 | Trust buys Moon Valley
HARRISON — The Moon Valley parcel, located south of 117 in Harrison, includes 390 feet of Crooked River frontage. In addition to purchasing the parcel, the funded project includes creation of 2.7 acres of freshwater wetlands, enhancing 1.4 acres of emergent wetlands and upland buffer, with a buffer of 4.9 preserved acres...
Mar 14, 2013 | Otisfield will fix roads with grant funds
OTISFIELD — A majority of the erosion sites Dassler identified in the Crooked River survey were town roads. The Crooked River watershed, according to Dassler, is the most endangered and highest-quality drinking water reservoir in the northeast...
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Jan 3, 2013 | Ben Tucker receives Sen. King staff appointment
NORWAY — An active member of the community, Tucker has been a vice president of the Western Foothills Land Trust, a Norway Historical Society Director, a vice president of the Weary Club of Norway and a member of the Western Maine Arts Group...
Jan 10, 2013 | Public interest forum slated
NORWAY — With some 1.8 million acres under protection, Maine ranks second in the nation. The Western Foothills group itself manages some 5,500 acres in 10 towns. Through easements, donations or purchase, land trusts hold or control land in collaboration with property owners, past or present...
Nov 08, 2012 | After school ski program shapes up
OXFORD HILLS — Working together for the benefit of area elementary school children, a nonprofit, a local business, a family and numerous volunteers are partnering with SAD17 to provide a six-week after school Nordic ski program for schools in the district...
Oct 18, 2012 Land Trust receives award
BUCKFIELD — Western Foothills Land Trust has been awarded technical planning assistance for The Virgil Parris Forest, Buckfield from the National Park Service’s Recreational Trails Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program. The Virgil Parris Forest is a 1250-acre conservation area encompassing South Pond in Buckfield...
May 31, 2012 WFLT protects 257 acres in Buckfield
NORWAY — The Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) is planning big things in Buckfield. The trust has recently become the steward of 257 acres of protected land donated by Wes and Marilyn Ackley...
April 12, 2012 Maine's land trusts becoming big players
HARRISON — This 690-acre parcel owned by Mary and John Watkins of Harrison is the largest easement that the Western Foothills Land Trust has ever received. It protects 1.2 miles of shoreline along Crooked River, and 32.6 acres of high value wetlands...
March 29, 2012 Crooked River Watershed Survey Complete, results now online
NORWAY — A volunteer watershed survey at Crooked River last summer found that the watershed is the most endangered and highest-quality drinking water reservoir in the Northeast, said Western Foothills Land Trust Coordinator Lee Dassler, during the March 15 meeting of the Norway Board of Selectmen...
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March 1, 2012 Conservation Tax Incentive championed
BRIDGTON — Landowners can retire the development rights on their land by donating a conservation easement to a land trust – keeping farm, and forest lands in productive use, protecting important water resources and wildlife habitat, and conserving scenic and historic heritage. Selectmen...​
In Memory
​​​The Trust and our community lost two dedicated friends of conservation during the final month of 2012.
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Patricia Howe Page of Poland, ME and Lincoln, MA who donated a conservation easement protecting 568 acres of forested land including 130 acres of hydric soil and 7,283 feet of shoreline on Marshall Pond in Oxford, died on December 10, 2012. Patty was 88 years old. Born in Rutland Vermont, Patty graduated from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy after WWII. She worked at numerous hospitals in Massachusetts and then served as director of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. Patty met her physician/anthropologist husband, Lot B. Page on a blind date at Walden Pond. Patty was a member of the Society of Women Geographers and The Harvard Travellers' Club. She co-founded the Bead Designer International and loved crafts, books and was known for her love of bats, beads, mushrooms, bee keeping, and adventure travel. In the sum-mer she loved spending time at her family's secluded wilderness cabin on Marshall Pond. Patty and her niece Sandy page donated conservation easements on adjacent parcels on Marshall Pond in 2006. The 568-acre Page Family Conservation forest is owned by the New England Forestry Foundation and protected by an easement held by WFLT.
Benjamin Franklin Hull, III of Norway, Maine, formerly of Rockport, died on Dec 31, 2012 in Auburn, Maine. Ben was 71 years old. Ben was born on March 26, 1941, in Gloucester, to the late Dorothy Ross Hull and Benjamin F. Hull, Jr.. After graduating from Rock-port High School in 1959, Ben studied mathematics at Boston College, graduating in 1963. He built a log cabin in Norway in 1973 and after 3 decades spent as a computer programmer in the Boston area, became a full time Maine resident in 1990. Ben loved nature, was from his youth an avid and knowledgeable birder, music and poetry lover. He was also an accomplished photographer, composed music, and played piano by ear. He wrote poetry all his life. In 2010 he published a book of poems entitled "Boston to Maine." All proceeds from its sale went to the Western Foothills Land Trust, to help acquire and preserve land in Maine.