Kennebec Highlands Explained

The Kennebec Highlands is a protected area in central Maine.

The Highlands comprises about 6400acres, mostly in the town of Vienna. It also includes land in Rome, Mount Vernon, and New Sharon. The area is roughly bounded by State Route 27, Watson Pond Rd., Belgrade Rd., and Kimball Pond Rd., plus extensions east of Watson Pond Rd. to Long Pond. It takes its name from its hills, which include McGaffey Mountain, the 1310feet summit of which is the highest point of Kennebec County.^[1]

The Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) began the effort to protect the area from development in 1999, assisted by a grant from the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Program.^{[2] [3]} By 2004, it had bought or acquired conservation easements on 5600acres.^[4]

The Kennebec Highlands includes about 18miles of trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and snowmobiling.^{[5] [6]}

Notes

44.55°N 126°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kennebec Highlands Phase III . Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) . 2009-09-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100324061151/http://www.belgradelakes.org/kennebec_highlands.html . 2010-03-24 . dead .
2. Web site: Kennebec Highlands . 2006 . Maine State Planning Office (SPO) . 2009-09-22 .
3. Web site: Kennebec Highlands . Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), Maine Department of Conservation . 2009-09-22 .
4. Web site: History. BRCA. 2009-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20090926093551/http://www.belgradelakes.org/history.html#. 2009-09-26. dead.
5. Web site: Kennebec Highlands . Carey Kish . 2005 . Maine Outdoor Journal . Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. . 2009-09-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070301085145/http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/hiking/trails/kennebechighlands.shtml . March 1, 2007 .
6. Web site: Kennebec Highlands . mtbr.com . 2009-09-22 .