RANGELEY — The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has announced the purchase of 175 acres on the west shore of Hunter Cove on Rangeley Lake. The acquisition of the parcel, to be known as Hunter Cove Uplands, was finalized on Sept. 2 and enhances the ecological, scenic and recreational values of the existing RLHT Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary on the opposite shore of the cove.

The property also secures a snowmobile trail for public use and features 3,700 feet of frontage on Hunter Cove as well as 1,200 feet of frontage on Route 4 and the Mingo Loop Road. A new trail system, picnic areas and a shallow water/paddle to dock system are all planned for the property.

Hunter Cove Uplands includes a scenic wetland area which protects water quality and provides amphibians and waterfowl with important habitat. The forests on the property are primarily old farmland that has reverted back to upland habitat important for a wide array of birds and small mammals. The property also contains important deer wintering habitat.

The property is also on the route of the multi-state Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the nationally designated Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway.

The acquisition of the parcel is part of a regional effort to preserve a portion of the undeveloped land on the Rangeley Lakes region’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

The Land For Maine’s Future Program provided $607,000 in grant funding and the trust borrowed additional funds to be able to close on the acquisition.

The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is now embarking on a campaign to raise the balance of funds necessary to pay off the debt associated with the acquisition. To learn more about Hunter Cove Uplands or any of RLHT’s other conservation properties, trails or programs, visit the website www.rlht.org or contact Bill Pierce at 864-7311, ext. 3 or by e-mail at [email protected].