Case Study: Coastal Mountains Land TrusT achieves faster, more accurate conservation monitoring of preserves and easements with Trimble

Monitoring Conservation Easements and Preserve Lands Along Western Penobscot Bay with GPS and GIS Technology

Coastal Mountains Land Trust, which protects more than 8,000 acres across 15 towns in the Western Penobscot Bay region, needed a more accurate, efficient way to monitor 58 preserves, 53 conservation easements and more than 23 miles of trails as its stewardship responsibilities grew. Manual monitoring and boundary work was time-consuming and costly, limiting the organization’s ability to develop consistent management plans and respond to issues like erosion, invasive species and public‑access needs.

With donated Trimble GeoXM handhelds plus TerraSync and GPS Pathfinder Office software, staff and volunteers now collect geolocated photos, map boundaries, trails and habitats, and postprocess data to 1–3 meter accuracy before importing into ArcView GIS. The result is faster, cheaper in‑house fieldwork (about half the time), improved five‑year property plans, better habitat and public‑access management, and more effective long‑term stewardship.

Coastal Mountains Land TrusT

Ian Stewart

Stewardship Director