Plum Creek’s plans for the Mooshead Lake region

My family has owned a camp in Misery Gore on the west shore of Moosehead Lake for 31 years and although my work takes me around the world, I have returned each summer or winter, for all but one of those years. The Moosehead region is that unique.

Last weekend’s extensive article about Plum Creek’s application to rezone thousands of acres of woodlands in the Moosehead Lake region sheds some welcome light on the biggest owner of private land in the entire U.S. and its plans for the Moosehead Lake region.

All of Maine’s political leaders, the Land Use Regulation Commission and the public should be under no illusions about the massive size and influence of the Plum Creek corporation. Before it is too late, we must wake up to the fact that we are dealing with a Goliath of corporate America. The mission of the Plum Creek juggernaut is to make money for the Plum Creek investors, not to develop the north woods in a responsible manner with a lasting commitment and role.

In the case of the Moosehead Lake region, Plum Creek purchased hundreds of thousands of acres of land ostensibly to continue traditional forestry uses from previous paper companies in days gone by. Having purchased the land at forest industry prices, Plum Creek now seeks to “rezone” this land for development. The rezoning request pending with LURC would yield a huge windfall profit to Plum Creek, headquartered outside of Maine across the country in Washington state. Our political leaders of all stripes in Augusta and in Congress should be held accountable, if this Plum Creek plan is permitted to go through.

Whatever the differing views among Maine residents on development and environment of the region, it would seem that a large portion of Plum Creek’s rezoning windfall profit should remain in Maine to benefit its citizens, especially the communities in the Moosehead Lake region, and not siphoned off into Plum Creek’s out-of-state corporate coffers.

In addition to preventing Plum Creek from profiting from the people of Maine, there is the danger that the Plum Creek plan will “Sebagoize” the Moosehead Lake region. If the Moosehead Lake region is tipped very far toward the Lake Sebago model, there will be serious adverse economic and environmental consequences. Potential tourists will see little reason to come to the Moosehead Lake region if it begins to look and act like other lakes in Maine and the region. Especially with higher fuel prices, why would tourists want to travel the extra distance to the Moosehead region after Plum Creek festoons the area with hundreds of new lots?

The tourism strategy for the Moosehead Lake region should build on the reputation (brand as they say in advertising) for which it is already known. The region should work more effectively to attract the growing number of visitors interested in getting beyond the Sebagos to the real outdoors – young, affluent and committed to leaving the area as beautiful as when they arrived.

Some positive steps can be taken by Plum Creek or the state, starting with the revitalization of the splendid Moose (or Squaw) Mountain ski resort, rated as having one of the best views of any ski resort in America. Upgrading the ski resort (downhill and cross-country) could bring in millions of dollars to the area – to many facets of the economy including, lodging, restaurants and stores. This is an example of the sustainable, broad based development that the region should get.

Finally, has LURC done a thorough investigation into Plum Creek’s track record elsewhere? For example, Roslyn, Wash., the small town where “Northern Exposure” was filmed, apparently had serious problems with Plum Creek, which bulldozed its plan through against the wishes of many in the local population.

The state of Maine, represented by LURC thus far, should not accept the Plum Creek application to rezone thousands of acres of land, take a huge windfall profit, alter the character of the area economically and environmentally and then skip town.

Lionel Rosenblatt, a former reporter for the Bangor Daily News, spent 22 years as a foreign service officer, mainly in southeast Asia. He is president emeritus of Refugees International.