Plum Creek proposal should worry sportsmen

The Maine Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, an organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying our woods, waters, fish and wildlife, opposes Plum Creek Timber Co.’s concept plan. One of the greatest threats to Maine’s traditional outdoor recreational activities within the North Maine Woods is scattered development. Large, expansive tracts of land unbroken by roads and human development are vital to our fish and wildlife.

Testimony submitted to the Land Use Regulation Commission from key state and federal agencies exposes the negative effects of Plum Creek’s proposal on our natural resources. “The anticipated increase in development and its associated demands on regional infrastructure and outdoor opportunities will forever change the characteristics of the region. We are not aware of mitigation or conservation measures that can fully offset the permanent changes that will result from the full build-out of a proposal of this magnitude.” That testimony was from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told LURC that the concept plan falls short of being protective for replacing bald eagle, loon, Canada lynx and migratory bird habitats. The Maine Forest Service writes, “The management plan does not specify that the habitats of rare species will be conserved, nor does it deal with species of state rather than global significance.” And the Maine Department of Environmental Protection believes that “there is real potential that these small watersheds will not be able to handle the amount of development proposed and continue to attain Class A standard, even if very strict stormwater management and conservation measures are taken.”

The Maine Ikes believe these comments justify Plum Creek scaling back its plan to help protect the quality of the Moosehead region’s natural and ecological resources that are so vital to the economy of the region.

The second major concern of the Ikes is the inadequate protection provided by the proposed conservation easements. Numerous activities that are incompatible with other model conservation easements include allowing the disposal of septic waste from the developments, various levels of mining operations, and subdivision of easement lands into parcels that could be bought by private individuals and gated off to the public.

The issue of public access cannot be understated. Access to Plum Creek lands presently open to outdoors sportsmen could be reduced, not protected, as some sportsmen have been led to believe. Federal and state agencies have concluded the Plum Creek easements could limit public access, allow for expanded gated areas, access fees, and ban camping, hunting and guiding.

Of the 338,000-acre conservation package that Plum Creek is willing to sell to the Appalachian Mountain Club, The Nature Conservancy and the Forest Society of Maine for a sum of $35 million from public and private sources, Plum Creek would remain the landowner of 266,000 of those acres and retain the right to control activities in that easement area. As Tom Hennessey stated in his Nov. 23 article in the BDN: “Keep in mind that conservation easements do not necessarily guarantee public access.”

Public access would further be limited on the 20,000 acres proposed for rezoning for residential and resort development. These lands, presently open to public access, will be bought by private individuals for a high price and “locked up” forever.

We believe that the two key issues for outdoor sportsmen and people concerned about the future economy of the Moosehead region are the protection of the high quality of the region’s fish, wildlife and ecological resources and public access. The present Plum Creek plan falls short of guaranteeing these will be protected.

Scattered development throughout the region is not in the best interest of Maine citizens, nor Maine’s natural resources. The Maine Ikes support thoughtfully planned development that is scaled down and focused around existing development in the Greenville and Rockwood areas; and development that ensures the vitality of the Moosehead region by further protections for the fish, wildlife and natural resources that drive the region’s economy.

Sportsmen, in particular, should focus on the “big picture” here and closely scrutinize the merits of the support for Plum Creek from special interests within some outdoor sporting communities and land conservation organizations. At this critical point in carving out the future of the Moosehead region, it is important for sportsmen to give thoughtful input from a broader future perspective and speak out at the scheduled public hearings or write to LURC.

Bob Croce of Dedham is president of the Maine chapter of the Izaak Walton League.