Wilderness heritage at stake in Maine

In its magnitude and irrevocable impact on the state of Maine, the Plum Creek development proposal for the Moosehead Lake region is without precedent. As the Bangor Daily News has reported, “Never before has a company asked the state to approve three decades worth of development in one fell swoop.” What is at stake is the very essence of Maine, its traditional wilderness heritage.

Plum Creek is not the first large, out-of-state corporation in recent times to propose a massive development project that entices some with the promise of economic growth, but concerns many with the certainty that the unique character of cherished places in Maine could be lost forever. The powerful private interests promoting liquefied natural gas terminals along Maine’s treasured coast are experiencing strong push back from local communities, with fishing families joining seasonal and permanent seaside residents to challenge an industrial infrastructure that would despoil the marine environment and impact the values of traditional coastal life forever.

There are similarities in the most recent threats to the Maine woods and the Maine coast – both irreplaceable natural treasures. In the interest of maximizing profits, developers promote their own vision for Maine’s future, expecting low resistance from an economically challenged state like Maine. In each case, these controversial development schemes cause strong divisions in affected communities and, if history is any judge, they ultimately face the formidable resistance of a tough, independent population that knows what it’s got.

Plum Creek may feel it has the edge because before going public with their ambitious plan for resort and second- home development in the Moosehead Lake region, they managed to secure support from some key town leaders and local business interests. So in step are local leaders with the Plum Creek public relations message that recent statements by local officials are virtually interchangeable with the statements of corporate spokespersons.

The question is, how much of the publicized political support is actually representative of the residents of the area to be impacted? When questioned about the lack of public input when the Plum Creek Plan went before the board of selectmen, Greenville Town Manager John Simko remarked: “I urged the board to support it. It’s not uncommon for selectmen to adopt resolutions without going to townspeople.” (Piscataquis Observer, April 6)

The true test of Maine’s commitment to the wilderness values of the north woods is now at hand. Since the details of the proposed Plum Creek plan were finally made public with an initial submission to the Land Use Regulation Commission, a rising tide of concern has emerged. A growing number of local residents are meeting in living rooms and on decks and porches to discuss the potential impact of the plan on the place they love. Passionate letters of concern for one of our most cherished places are flowing to newspapers statewide, and turnout was substantial to the first of many LURC meetings being held to address the plan.

The LURC commissioners, the body responsible for approving or denying the proposal, have announced their intention to implement a public “visioning process” for the Moosehead Lake region in conjunction with their review of the massive Plum Creek Lake Concept Plan. This visioning process is meant to serve as a stand-in for a comprehensive plan for the area the state has failed to produce.

If past experiences hold true non-traditional alliances will form, perhaps between campers from down-state, seasonal and permanent Moosehead area residents, historic wilderness sporting camp owners, hunters and fishermen who wait all year for one week to “get away from it all” and wilderness lovers from all corners.

And the rest, as they say, will be history.

Karen Woodsum is director of the Sierra Club Maine Woods Campaign.