At the east end of Merrymeeting Lake the 617-acre Mount Jesse boasts sprawling scenic views, is home to critical wildlife habitat important for common and rare species, and provides amazing recreational benefits including trails for hiking and biking, and portions of Corridor 22, an important state snowmobile trail.

Mount Jesse abuts the 2,600-acre Birch Ridge Community Forest and is linked to a 5,400-acre block of conserved forestland centered on the Moose Mountains.

Almost 40% of Mount Jesse qualifies as highest ranked habitat in the NH Wildlife Action Plan. Located in an unfragmented block of more than 7,600 acres of forested land, Mount Jesse provides space for rare and common wildlife species such as moose and bobcat, to thrive.

The property's water protection is critical, as Mount Jesse includes two tributaries to the lake; an intact forest will sustain high water quality of the streams flowing to it.

In 2023, SELT entered into contracts for Mt. Bet and Mt. Jesse knowing full well that the MML community advocates for and supports conserving more and more of the watershed. Completing these purchases and investing in stewardship of these lands will yield instrumental community benefits including sustained water quality, intact scenic vistas, hiking trails and other forms of recreation, and invaluable contiguous habitat corridors for wildlife.

SELT continues to work with the landowner in hopes of closing in 2025.