One of the most important landscapes for fish and wildlife in Maine
COURTESY OF THE MAGALLOWAY COLLABORATIVE
At the far western edge of Maine, in the heart of the Northern Appalachian Forest, an expanse of wilderness and shimmering waters seem to stretch on forever — past the horizon, over the rugged shoulders of the Appalachian Mountains, and beyond. A person could get lost here, if they weren’t careful. But what they might find, should they choose to explore, is extraordinary.
These are the Magalloway lands and waters. Seventy-eight thousand acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat and productive timberlands, a vital part of the largest intact mixed temperate forest in North America, and a puzzle piece that connects half a million acres of permanently conserved lands across the Appalachian Corridor. The Magallow lands and waters are a rest-stop for dozens of species of migratory birds, including more than 20 different species of warblers. With 2,400 acres of mapped wetlands, the Magalloway lands and waters provide food and shelter for popular game species like waterfowl and Ruffed grouse. They are home to black bear, moose, white-tailed deer — and even the elusive Canada lynx.
Nearly 170 miles of rivers and streams crisscross the property, cold flowing headwaters that feed Parmachenee and Aziscohos Lakes and create one of Maine’s most resilient watersheds for cold water fisheries. According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Magalloway watershed system supports habitat for all life stages of native brook trout and landlocked salmon. Parmachenee and Aziscohos Lakes also contain self-sustaining smelt populations — an important food source for salmon — and the Magalloway drainage has been identified as one of the few places in the United States that could remain cold enough to sustain a population of native, wild brook trout under severe climate scenarios. Yet, despite these and other values, the Magalloway lands have no special protections against development, fragmentation, or the sale of kingdom lots.
The Magalloway Collaborative aims to change that.
Forest Society of Maine (FSM), Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT), Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), collectively known as the Magalloway Collaborative, have partnered to conserve the Magalloway landscape. After years of discussion and negotiation, an agreement has been reached with the landowner to conserve the Magalloway forever. The project is a careful balance, designed to protect and sustain traditional activities and livelihoods like guiding and forestry alongside natural features and sensitive habitats. It will help to ensure that western Maine remains a world-class destination for fishing, hunting, paddling, wildlife-watching, and other forms of outdoor recreation.
To complete the project, the Magalloway Collaborative must raise $62 million by spring 2026. Several early leadership commitments have been made toward that goal, but there is much more work to be done. To learn more about the Magalloway lands and how you can become a part of the effort to conserve this incredibly special part of Maine, please visit magalloway.org.
