Most of the Appalachian Trail corridor in Maine has been acquired for protection by the National Park Service, according to Maine Appalachian Trail Club official.

The past year has been a very successful period for the acquisition of additional land to complete the trail corridor, and David Field, MATC overseer of lands and a University of Maine professor of forest resources.

Several significant acquisitions were made during the period, including the federal purchase of 1,820 acres along the shore of Nahmakanta Lake and along both sides of the trail, which crosses the property.

“As of today, 98 percent of the (trail) has been acquired, and 93 percent of the acres,” said Field, adding that “the biggest thing that’s left (to acquire) is Saddleback.”

Negotiations with the Saddleback ski area for 2.6 miles of trail and about 2,000 acres “are on hold,” said Field. “We’re just waiting for something to happen.”

As MATC overseer of lands, Field has responsibility for the management of all land acquired by the National Park Service and for the MATC corridor monitoring program. He reported the progress of the acquisition program earlier this month at the MATC annual meeting at Bates College.

Extending from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Baxter State Park, the 2,143-mile-long trail traverses Maine for 275 miles, with 30 miles of side trails. One-third of the trail is on state land, such as Baxter and the Bigelow Preserve.

In 1984, the National Park Service began its corridor-acquisition project with the goal of acquiring 176 miles of trail and about 31,000 acres. To date, the federal agency has acquired 173 miles and 28,900 acres, said Field. He estimated that the park service has spent about $9 million in Maine for land acquisition.

Primarily, “we’re dealing with major landowners who have been cooperative in getting the trail established,” said Field.

More than 3,200 acres and 23 miles of trail were acquired during the past year through some “key deals,” including the Nahmakanta Lake purchase from Diamond Occidental, he said.

One of the last big sections of trail – more than 10 miles – was acquired between Cooper Brook and the east branch of teh Pleasant River, said Field.

Another small but important parcel along the Kennebec River will allow the relocation of the trail away from U.S. Route 202 and back along the river. That segment should open in the next few months, he said.