Woodland Owner Appreciation Day 2025
By Emlyn Emerock, Community Engagement & Land Use Coordinator
When you think of Maine, you might picture a rocky coastline or a serene lake. We don’t always connect the state with forests. However, Maine is the most forested state in the nation with a remarkable 17.8 million acres of woodland. Most of our forests are privately owned, and small woodland owners hold more than 6 million acres of forest land across the state. These forests filter clean water into our lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands. Woodland Owner Appreciation Day, or “WOAD”, is an annual event that highlights the importance of healthy forested watersheds while connecting our local woodland owners with resources to conserve their land for years to come. This year, more than 80 landowners, partners, and resource professionals gathered at Camp Wawenock on Sebago Lake in Raymond for the annual celebration.
After a morning of networking with foresters and resource professionals, participants joined forestry walks for a hands-on opportunity to learn about forest management. Foresters Jesse Duplin, Shane Duigan, and Paul Larrivee led walks covering basic forest management principles as well as emerging concerns such as beech leaf disease and hemlock woolly adelgid. Meanwhile, on the shores of Sebago Lake, Maine Audubon’s Sally Stockwell and Maine IF&W biologist Joe Roy talked to a group about enhancing forests for fish, birds, and other wildlife. Back at camp, another group gathered to learn about Tree Farming with Kayci Willis of Maine Tree Farm. A highlight this year was the opportunity to visit the famous Frye’s Leap, a beautiful rocky ledge overlooking Sebago Lake, located on the camp property. Woodland owners gathered on the smooth granite to enjoy the view and learn about water quality and the work of Sebago Clean Waters from Paul Hunt of Portland Water District.
We were thrilled to honor Davis and Sharon Kimball this year with the Sebago Clean Waters Forest & Water Quality Award in recognition of their longtime commitment to stewarding and conserving forestland in the region.
Thank you to all the woodland owners across the Lake Region who steward our woods and protect our watersheds, and to Portland Water District, Sebago Clean Waters, and all the other partners who joined the celebration this year.
Even if you’re not a woodland owner, you too can help protect our waters. Vegetated buffers along lakes, ponds, and streams provide a last line of defense, filtering runoff before it reaches the water. Whatever size your lot is, consider native trees and shrubs between your developed areas and any waterways on your property.
For more information about next year’s celebration, visit www.mainelakes.org/woad.
2025 Photo Gallery – photos courtesy of Kevin Murphy, My Shot Photography.
