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Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat
Location and Description:
Location: Vassalboro, Maine
View of Webber Pond from Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat
Property Description: Six parcels, generously donated or purchased over many years, make up KLT’s largest property on the east side of the Kennebec River, the Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat. This 366-acre conservation property, once part of a productive farm, features 2200 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Webber Pond, excellent birding, a silky dogwood wetland, and rare swamp white oaks. As you hike along the old trolley bed, imagine cars rolling by in the early twentieth century with people bound for Waterville or Augusta.
Directions: From Route 201 in Vassalboro, approximately two miles north of the Augusta-Vassalboro line, turn east on Webber Pond Road and go half a mile past the Webber Pond public boat landing to the KLT sign and parking lot.
Usage and Trails
Allowable Uses: Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat is open to the public for nature observation, hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, and hunting by permission. Hunting is by permission of KLT, 207-377-2848. Hunting is not allowed on the parcel with the hiking trail on the east side of Webber Pond Road. Out of respect for hikers and small children, dogs should be under voice command or on a leash. Please pick up after your pets.
Trails:
Alewive Amble Loop: An easy one-mile loop trail features 2,200 feet of undeveloped frontage along Webber Pond and views of a wooded island to the east. The trail comfortably accommodates several hikers walking together. Water access to the shore of this parcel is available via the public boat landing at the Webber Pond outlet.
Virginia Rail Trail: On the west side of Webber Pond Road, the Virginia Rail Trail leads to a cattail marsh with wood duck boxes; there are also many unmarked trails on old woods roads. There is no developed trail on the 18-acre parcel on the east side of Webber Pond.
History:
As you hike the loop trail, imagine an earlier time, over 300 years ago. Before Vassalboro was settled as a farming community, the Abenaki Indians hunted and fished along the Kennebec River, in forests and wetlands, and in the waters that are now known as Webber Pond.
In the 1800’s, farmers cleared this land for crops and pastures, and mill owners dammed the pond for water power. In 1909 the trolley line opened and connected the rural town of Vassalboro to the cities of Waterville, Augusta, and Lewiston. The KLT loop trail crosses a trolley line that was abandoned in 1932. All of these historical land uses altered drainage patterns and soil conditions and influenced the vegetation patterns at VWH. As you walk in the forest and wetland today, we hope you enjoy seeing the varied plants and birds on the site.
