The 2023 field season began early, in the aftermath of a January ice storm that downed hundreds of trees and branches throughout Mount A’s trail network. Volunteers and Staff joined forces to dedicate over 190 frigid hours cutting and clearing to re-open trails.
Conservation Crew installing a new culvert on Hairpin Trail.
2023 is celebrated as a year of long-awaited progress at Mount A. What began as dust and debris from construction gave way to improved parking, storm water controls, and state of the art composting restroom facilities. Conservation staff worked diligently alongside contractors to detect and remove new invasive plants, install finishing details, and provide public outreach.
Record rainfall in early summer tested the durability of Mount A’s trails, and field work centered around installing structures to improve water crossings, mitigate erosion and drain wet sections of trail. Noteworthy projects include two new ATV boardwalks and major gravel on Cedar, Notch, and Ring trails.
The continued success of the Conservation Program would not be possible without the invaluable support of volunteers and passionate staff. Those who dedicate time to care for Mount A have much to be proud of in 2023.
Earth Day volunteers and Mount A staff sort trash collected at the bottom of Hedgehog Cliff.
| Project | Quantity |
| Invasive Species Removal | 88 hours |
| Ring Trailhead Picnic Area | 2 ADA tables; 10 tons of stone dust |
| Two Boardwalks Replaced | 110 linear feet |
| Big A Trail Reconditioning | 15 tons of stone dust |
| Summit Shrubland Habitat Management | 5 acres cut/chipped |
| Trail Gravel Fill | 25 tons |
| Sensitive Habitat Surveyed and Managed for Invasive Plants |
20 acres |
| Visitor Use Surveys | over 450 completed |
| Unsanctioned Trail Closures | 1.2 miles |
| Trail Sign Update | 20 signs |
| Community Work Days | |
| Community Work Days | 8 days |
| Work Day Volunteers | 100 volunteers |
| Work Day Hours | 234 |
| Adopt-a-Trail Program | |
| Total Participants | 19 volunteers |
| Adopter Visits to Trails | 76 visits |
| Trail Adopter Volunteer Hours | 163 |
| Volunteer Totals | |
| 121 Volunteers | 622 hours |
Community Work Days are open to the public, and hosted monthly, each with a specific hands-on focus. Projects include: shrubland habitat management, native plant bed rehabilitation, trash cleanups, trail maintenance workshops, boardwalk construction, invasive plant removal, and assisting with events and trail races. Properly caring for the Region’s 4,400 protected acres and 40 miles of trail is a year-round, ever-expanding effort and community participation is the essence of our success.
A favorite project involved Crew and volunteers constructing an entirely new 55-foot multi-use boardwalk on Cedar Trail.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION: York Water District, York Land Trust, Great Works Regional Land Trust, Kittery Water District, Town of South Berwick, The Friends of Mount Agamenticus, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Crew and volunteers on the summit for October’s shrubland management CWD.
If you have any questions or comments about this report, or are interested in getting involved, please reach out to our Conservation Stewardship Coordinator.
This report can also be downloaded as a printable PDF file (link opens in new tab).
For outreach and environmental education highlights, please see the 2023 Outreach and Education Report.
Last modified: January 4, 2024
