Kirby and Elaine Holcombe of the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (left to right), Nancy Perlson, Shelby Rousseau and Bill Pierce of Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust at the Landowners Recognition Awards banquet where RLHT won the Landowner of the Year award. (Contributed photo) AUGUSTA — The Landowners Recognition Awards banquet was held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust was honored as 2008 Conservation Landowner of the Year after being nominated for the recognition by the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association.

The honor recognized RLHT for its efforts in providing public access to many of the region’s finest natural resources. The nomination also noted RLHT’s dedication to improve fish and wildlife habitat, provide and maintain over 35 miles of recreational trails and for its numerous programs designed to protect a variety of resources and educate both young and old about responsible stewardship.

The event was sponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Snowmobile Association.

“RLHT has consistently provided a wide range of programs and investment to conserve the legendary lands and waters of the Rangeley Region. We are proud to have partnered with them in many important efforts. We look forward to a bright future of working alongside this outstanding organization to enhance the recreational experiences in that amazing region for the people of Maine,” commented IFW Commissioner Danny Martin.

Some of the lands RLHT has conserved that provide outstanding naturebased recreational opportunities include riparian areas along rivers such as the Kennebago, the Rapid, and Rangeley and streams like South Bog and Bemis. Other notable RLHT conservation efforts include Cascade Stream Gorge, the west shore of Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Cupsuptic, Toothaker Island, Height of Land and Bald Mountain

“The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is committed to conservation and the community in which they serve,” shared Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsman’s Association Director, Kirby Holcombe in his nomination application.

The RLHT was founded in 1991 and has conserved over 12,500 acres in 24 separate parcels including 15 islands, 35 miles of trails and over 45 miles of shorefront. These lands are open to the public and provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, angling, hunting, wildlife watching, snowmobiling, kayaking, and canoeing.