Conservation History
Since the late 1800s, the York and Kittery Water Districts have been acquiring lands to ensure and protect drinking water supplies for the residents of York and Kittery. Over the past century, the Districts have acquired 4,445 acres of land in the area of Mt. Agamenticus.

The residents of southern York County also have a long and impressive history of conservation as well. Since the 1970s, engaged and concerned citizens have helped to protect an additional 5,000 acres of land from Wells to Kittery. York residents will remember, for example, voting to spend $200,000 in 1980 to protect the summit of Mt. Agamenticus, which was slated for the development of 3,000 residential housing units on 3,500 acres.

Between 1999-2001, The Nature Conservancy, Great Works Regional Land Trust and the York Land Trust completed The Mt. A. Challenge, a conservation effort that raised over $3.2 million and protected 2,000 acres of land around Mt. Agamenticus.

The successes of the Mt. Agamenticus Challenge, combined with the increasing threat of development, inspired the formation of the current land protection effort: the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Initiative.