FY 2013 ANNUAL REPORT to the JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY MAINE PUBLIC RESERVED, NONRESERVED, AND SUBMERGED LANDS Crocker Mountain Unit MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY Bureau of Parks and Lands March 1, 2014 FY 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Bureau of Parks and Lands TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….. 1 II. FY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS………………………………………………………….. 1 III. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES………………………………………………….. 4 IV. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING……………………………………………….. 8 V. NATURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES……………………………………………...9 VI. WILDLIFE RESOURCES……………………………………………………………11 VII. RECREATION RESOURCES………………………………………………………12 VIII. TIMBER RESOURCES……………………………………………………………...18 IX. TRANSPORTATION………………………………………………………………… 22 X. PUBLIC ACCESS…………………………………………………………………… 23 XI. LAND TRANSACTIONS……………………………………………………………. 24 XII. SUBMERGED LANDS……………………………………………………………… 24 XIII. SHORE AND HARBOR MANAGEMENT FUND………………………………… 25 XIV. COASTAL ISLAND PROGRAM…………………………………………………… 25 XV. ADMINISTRATION………………………………………………………………….. 25 XVI. INCOME AND EXPENDITURES ACCOUNTING – FY 2013………………….. 27 XVII. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 2015……………………………………………… 30 XVIII. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………….. 36 Appendix A: Map of BPL Properties & Acquisitions in FY 2013…………………. 37 Appendix B: Table of FY 2013 BPL Acquisitions and Dispositions…………… 39 Appendix C: Federal Forest Legacy Projects Approved and Pending……………... 40 Cover Photo Andy Cutko, MNAP I. INTRODUCTION multiple land use to produce a sustained yield of products and services in accordance with both prudent and fair business practices and the The Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the principle of sound planning (Title 12 MRSA 1833 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and and 1847). Forestry (DACF) is responsible for the Fifteen-year, multiple-use plans for the management and administration of Maine’s Public major properties guide the Bureau’s Public Lands Reserved and Nonreserved Lands, Submerged management activities. Benefits from the wise Lands, Coastal Islands, conservation easement management of these lands include: lands, and other lands as provided by law. • Production of forest products This report constitutes required annual • Public Access to recreational opportunities reporting pursuant to: • Enhancement of wildlife habitat • 12 MRSA §1853, 1839 and elsewhere. • Protection of unique natural and cultural • 12 MRSA §1850(1) and 1836(1) and resources elsewhere related to vehicular access to The Bureau also has responsibility for Bureau lands managing public trust rights to Submerged Lands, • 12 MRSA §1805 and 1853 related to and, when granting leases for the use of ecological reserves on Bureau lands. Submerged Lands, includes conditions to maintain The report is submitted by March 1st of customary and traditional public access, navigation, each year to the Joint Standing Committee on and commercial marine uses. Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF). It Finally, the Bureau protects public rights provides an overview of the scope of the Bureau’s and values acquired through conservation and responsibilities and information on the Bureau’s public access easements; and oversees project management activities during the 2013 fiscal year. agreements with local entities the Bureau sponsors Note that this report departs from past reports in to enable them to purchase lands and easements that it is based on the fiscal year, pursuant to using Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) funds. amendments to 12 MRSA § 1839 and 1853 and elsewhere enacted in 2013. As required, the report includes information on gates and barriers II. FY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS that prevent public vehicle access to Public Reserved and Nonreserved Lands (Public Lands), Forest Certification – Since 2002, the Bureau’s recreation facility fees charged for the use of these forest management activities have been certified as lands, and a status report on Ecological Reserves. sustainable under two independent certification Also included in the report is information on timber, systems: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) recreation and wildlife management carried out on and Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI®). Each year Public Lands during the fiscal year. Income and the Bureau’s forestry operations and overall forest expenditure information is provided for fiscal year management system are “audited” by these two FY2013 and a report is also included for the certification systems, with all criteria addressed upcoming FY15 budget. The ACF Committee has over a period of three years for SFI certification and the obligation to report by March 15th to the a “full” audit for FSC conducted once every five Appropriations Committee on the Bureau’s Public years. Lands upcoming FY 2015 budget. In FY 2013, the Bureau had annual The “Lands” division of the Bureau is a surveillance audits under both the FSC and SFI dedicated revenue component of the agency, programs. The auditors working with our funding almost all of its administrative, planning, certification agency, Bureau Veritas, visited thirteen management and operational activities from separate sites on eight different townships in the revenue generated from the land base, with some Bureau’s North Region, viewing exemplary timber additional sources of funds provided through harvests, innovative and efficient water crossings, various grant programs. diverse wildlife management practices, and well- The Bureau is statutorily mandated to planned recreation management. They were manage the Public Reserved and Nonreserved particularly impressed with the quality of road Lands, 616,952 acres as of June 30, 2013, in a construction, commenting on the roadwork at manner consistent with the principles of numerous sites. 1 The Bureau intends to conduct forest firewood was supplied from Bureau–managed management in compliance with the 2010-2014 lands in FY2013. certification standards, principles, and criteria of both SFI and FSC programs for all upcoming Sugar Bush Leases –The Lands Western Region audits. The Bureau also intends to conduct several currently has two sugar maple lease agreements, forest management operations under the outcome- one at Bald Mountain Unit and one in Sandy Bay based forestry model described below. Township.. The Bald Mountain operation consists of 1,555 taps with plans to expand to 2,500 taps Outcome Based Forestry (OBF) – “Outcome over the next year. The operation includes a tap Based Forestry” refers to a section of Maine’s system and a collection tank. The sap is processed Forest Practices Act that offers land managers off site. The Sandy Bay Township operation was added flexibility for timber management in bid out in the fall of 2011 for 14,000 taps to be exchange for up-front planning and expert developed by 2016. The lessee had 5,000 taps review. The Bureau has conducted harvests under online in 2012 and was scheduled per contract to OBF in each of its three regions. In the North, the have 10,000 in the 2013 season. The area is objective is the establishment of high value scheduled to be fully utilized with 14,000 taps in hardwoods, yellow birch and sugar maple, while 2014. When complete, the lessee will produce creating hardwood browse for wildlife, along with a finished maple syrup onsite. companion project to accelerate the development Western Region staff is exploring of core winter cover for deer. additional sugar maple opportunities in Sandy Bay Rapid growth of prime white pine Township and at other locations in the region. The sawtimber is the OBF objective in the Eastern and Bureau will be seeking bids in FY 14 to establish a Western regions, accomplished by thinning to second sugar bush lease on 300 acres in Sandy relatively low stocking to allow this windfirm species Bay Twp., with approximately 2,000 taps. to grow with minimal competition. Operations are In the Eastern Region, a timber harvest in ongoing in the Western Region and have been Codyville on approximately 100 acres of selected completed in the East and North, though the work hardwood stands was designed to enhance sugar to accelerate deer winter cover is ongoing. bush potential. Healthy sugar maples were Permanent growth plots were established at the retained at the desired spacing where present, with East’s OBF site, to track how the pines are the top quality sawlog and veneer sugar maples responding to the treatment. Additional harvested prior to any maple sugar operation. opportunities for working within OBF will be evaluated as they become apparent. Land Acquisitions – Public Lands Acquisitions in FY 2013 totaled 33,916 acres, with 12,046 acres in Timber Management Program - In fiscal year fee lands (Crocker Mountain acquisition in 2013, timber harvests on Bureau-managed lands Carrabassett Valley) and 21,870 acres in totaled 145,400 cords, a 35% increase over conservation easements (West Grand Lake) as FY2012, when heavy rains from hurricane Irene shown in Appendix B. These acquisitions conserve resulted in little harvesting being done during the forests, wetlands, stream shores and lake shores; period September-December 2011. Several rain secure important recreational trail and water access and thaw events made for a challenging winter opportunities; and add to existing Public Reserved though it was far better for harvesting than the and Nonreserved lands. Sustainable forest previous year, and summer weather was about management is expected to continue on over 80% average