Committee backs Allagash access bill Critics fear court battles over wilderness waterway in wake of legislation

AUGUSTA – Members of a legislative committee endorsed a bill Thursday that addresses St. John Valley residents’ concerns about access to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Bill critics predicted, however, that the legislation could open the door to court battles rather than settle long-standing disputes over the federally protected Allagash waterway.

Seven members of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry committee voted in favor of a plan that would guarantee access to the river at 11 sites.

Six sites, including at Umsaskis Lake Thoroughfare and Henderson Brook Bridge, would allow recreationists to drive to the river’s edge to put their canoes into the water. The other five sites have roads that lead to short trails to the river.

The legislation, LD 2077, also re-designates the bridge over Henderson Brook as a “permanent” structure and requires the Department of Conservation to submit proposed changes to its Allagash management plan to the committee for review.

Two committee members either voted “ought not to pass” or will submit a separate report to the full Legislature.

Gary Pelletier, a member of the group Friends of the Allagash, said he believes the bill will address many of the concerns of local residents.

Pelletier and others who traveled to Augusta last week for a public hearing accused state officials of working with environmental organizations to restrict access points along the river. He said the state’s current management fails to respect local residents’ deep historic and cultural ties to the river.

“Our heritage has been taken away from us,” he said.

The bill is unlikely to end the bitter struggle over the Allagash, however.

Representatives of the environmental and conservation groups questioned whether making the Henderson Brook Bridge a permanent structure violates the intent of the language creating the wilderness waterway.

They also said that writing into law so many vehicle access points on the river conflicts with the designation of the Allagash as a “wild and scenic river.”

Jym St. Pierre with RESTORE: The North Woods said after the vote that he believes the committee’s actions are counterproductive. He said some of the issues in the bill could end up being settled in court.

St. Pierre, who has been involved with Allagash negotiations for several years, said parties may not be willing to hash out compromises if they know the Legislature could overturn future deals.

“It definitely will make me rethink whether I want to spend any of my time going to Allagash Advisory Council meetings,” he said.