Soren Stark-Chessa is a rising first-year student at Bates College.
Growing up, many of my most treasured memories are from time spent outside, whether it was the school playground, my backyard treehouse or hikes with my family. But there is one place that feels most significant, both in childhood and today: the Presumpscot River Preserve.
The Presumpscot may be on the short side as far as rivers go, flowing roughly 25 miles through some of Maine’s most populated towns, but it has played an enormous role in my life. The river, which is just a two-minute walk from my family’s home in Falmouth, instilled in me from an early age an appreciation for time in nature and an understanding of why Maine’s lands and waters are worth protecting.
My family moved to this area before I can remember, so the Presumpscot has always been entangled with my idea of home. Some of my earliest memories are of playing on the banks of the river, watching the water and wondering where it came from and where it went. It wasn’t until years later that I learned the river flows from Sebago Lake, meandering through woods and towns before emptying into Casco Bay as its largest freshwater input. Its name originates from the Abenaki language of the region’s first people and means “many falls” or “many rough places.”
Before European settlers arrived, the Presumpscot River sustained the Abenaki people, who depended on its vast resources, including Atlantic salmon, shad and alewives. But beginning in the 1730s, dams were constructed that blocked fish passage and submerged the river’s many natural falls. The river was polluted with industrial waste.
But decades of conservation efforts, from the Clean Water Act in the 1970s to more recent dam removals and the construction of fish passageways, have helped to restore the river. It’s hard to believe the Presumpscot River I grew up swimming in was once something so different, but that history is still visible today. The remnants of the old Smelt Hill Dam sit right next to my favorite swimming spot.
The time spent by the Presumpscot when I was young shaped my sense of play and curiosity about the natural world. Today, running is one of my favorite ways to spend time at the preserve. I’ve run up and down that path countless times, and even when motivation runs low, the sound of the water and the promise of pretty scenery always get me out the door. Running alongside the Presumpscot never fails to lift my spirits and leaves me feeling restored.
But the best part has always been sharing the river with others. I remember my brother’s birthday when we rafted downstream on air mattresses, and the many walks I’ve taken with my partner, chatting as we watch the river herring run upstream, and the great blue herons and osprey flying overhead. Whatever form it takes, time with people I love at the river is what I treasure most.
Land and water deserve protection for reasons that go beyond human benefits. The river and every creature depending on it have value in themselves. But the human case is also compelling. Places like the Presumpscot River Preserve are where we find curiosity and restoration, where we can run and paddle and fish, and where we can spend time in nature with people who matter to us. I’m so grateful that this place exists.
I don’t take my access to this preserve for granted, and I’m deeply grateful to the organizations and individuals who protect and steward it so that it remains open to all of us.
I would bet that many people have a place like this, somewhere that shaped them and still calls them back. When we recognize our own connection to a particular stretch of water or woods, it becomes easier to understand why all such places deserve care. For me, that place is two minutes from my front door. I know how lucky that makes me.
“Nature Connects” is a monthly column showcasing conservation stories from people and organizations across Maine. To learn more or suggest story ideas, email [email protected].