Lands task force proud of state’s progress, takes suggestions

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Back in February, after a contentious battle over the activities that would be allowed on a state land purchase at Katahdin Lake, Gov. John Baldacci formed a task force designed to address similar future concerns.

On Tuesday night, members of that group met with the public in Bangor at what was called a “listening session” designed to provide feedback on the work that has been completed, and suggestions for future discussion.

Patrick McGowan, the commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation and a member of the task force, said the entire process was eye-opening.

“We went through that debate last year with Katahdin Lake [when some said] that the state and this administration in particular was taking away lands from sportsmen and from snowmobilers and from motorized users,” McGowan said before the meeting. “We said … ‘It doesn’t seem that way.'”

But the DOC, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and task force members set out to find out for themselves.

The resulting work may be the most important achievement of the group, which is officially known as “The Task Force Regarding the Management of Public Lands and Publicly-Held Easements in Maine.”

McGowan and Will Harris, the director of the DOC’s Bureau of Public Lands, said the group decided to put together a complete list of the state’s public lands, and what activities were allowed on each.

“One of the things we had to do was the inventory,” Harris said. “We’d never pulled it all together. It’s surprising. It surprised me.”

McGowan said it surprised him, as well.

The list exists on convenient computer CDs as well as on the state’s DOC Web site.

Each parcel of land has its own page, with a description, a photo, and the approved uses.

“What we had found is that we had added almost a million acres [through purchases and easements] and we’ve done it in all different parts of the state,” McGowan said. “And it was 98 percent open for hunting. We’d actually added more hunting [access] in this administration than they had in the history of the state of Maine, with working easements.”

Some criticized the DOC and Baldacci during the Katahdin Lake debate because hunting and motorized recreation was not to be allowed in the parcel of land. Eventually, those activities were allowed on portions of the land.

McGowan said that debate and the task force’s work illustrated at least one shortcoming that the DOC has addressed.

“If there’s one thing we’ve failed to do, it’s to get the word out about what the people of Maine already own,” McGowan said. “These are their lands. These lands belong to the people of Maine, and we want them to use it.”

Not only are many Mainers not aware of land or land easements held by the state, few can likely tell you what activities are allowed on those lands.

Doubt it? Try this quiz:

In which of the following parcels would you be allowed to hunt?

. Lily Bay State Park.

. Camden-Hills State Park.

. Aroostook State Park.

. Lamoine State Park.

The answer: All of the above.

In fact, both hunting and trapping are allowed in all four.

Hunting and trapping aren’t the focus of the task force, of course, and the members were charged with identifying ways to reduce conflicts between different types of recreational users on the lands in question.

At Tuesday’s listening session – another was scheduled for Wednesday in South Portland – many stepped forward to make suggestions.

The backgrounds of the speakers was varied, as were their favored outdoor pursuits. Most seemed to agree that one key to future progress was an appreciation for activities that they personally might not participate in.

Paul Jacques, the deputy commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and a member of the task force, said avoiding divisive debate would help state agencies provide more recreational access in the future.

“When the state dollars are being limited, we can’t afford to be fighting on any issue, because we’re wasting time,” Jacques said. “I don’t care if it’s Maine Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, the Appalachian Mountain [Club], Fish & Wildlife, Public Lands, Parks. Any conflicts take up time and money and they’re such a precious thing.”

Among the concerns of those who addressed task force members:

. Focusing on the potential of making land more accessible and easier to navigate for bicyclists.

. Considering the status of endangered species on state land as it applies to high-impact recreation.

. Realizing that the potential growth of backcountry recreation can serve as an economic force in rural Maine.

. Taking care to provide up-to-date trail maps for those who would like to hike, cycle, snowshoe, camp or ski.

. Having state officials play a more active role in promoting ATV riding and snowmobiling in the Moosehead region.

. Allowing the public to participate in the decision-making process when more land is added to the state’s holdings, with a focus on considering which activities will be allowed on that land.

. Using the Lands for Maine’s Future program as an economic engine for some oft state’s more economically depressed areas.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.