Maine State Library Digital Maine Conservation Newsletters Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Summer 7-1-1989 A Report on Maine Forests Parks & Lands, Summer 1989 Maine Department of Conservation Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalmaine.com/conservation_newsletters Recommended Citation Maine Department of Conservation, "A Report on Maine Forests Parks & Lands, Summer 1989" (1989). Conservation Newsletters. 71. https://digitalmaine.com/conservation_newsletters/71 This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry at Digital Maine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Conservation Newsletters by an authorized administrator of Digital Maine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. a report on Forests Parks & Lands News from the Maine Department of Conservation Summer 1989 Farsighted Management Plan Created for Maine's Wildland Lakes "... some of the largest, most pristine waterbodies in the Northeast ... " The lakes of Maine's wildlands lie like jewels on the landscape and in­ clude some of the largest, most pristine waterbodies in the Northeast. A growing interest in recreational property and other factors have turned people's attention to Maine's wildland lakes in recent years, evidenced in part by a significant in­ crease in lake related permit applica­ tions to the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). To address changing demands on wildland lakes, in 1986 LURC initiated a special Deboullie Lake (foreground} and Gardner Lake in the Public Reserved Land in T15 R9, Aroostook County. planning effort, seeking creative ap­ Photo by Hank Tyler. proaches to management of this highly valued resource. men's organizations, the University of greater latitude in planning future Working cooperatively with Maine, and Commission members. development in exchange for conser­ other Department of ConseiVation The Committee produced the vation of resources important to the Bureaus and other state agencies, Lakes Action Program, a comprehen­ public. The fexibility allowed by lake LURC compiled detailed natural sive program for managing develop­ concept plans has been received as resource and land use information on ment around lakes while protecting an alternative to traditional shore­ the approximately 1500 great ponds important natural values. The pro­ land zoning, one which ultimately within its jurisdiction. The product of gram includes a classification system promotes better resource mange­ this effort, the Wildlands Lake As­ that allocates future development to ment. sessment, represents probably the lakes based on their natural resource LURC's special planning effort most comprehensive collection of in­ values and land use characteristics. has spawned a farsighted manage­ formation on lake resources in the Under this system, about 60 high­ ment plan that allows the Commis­ northeast and has provided a system­ value lakes have been targeted to sion to guide, rather than follow, future lake development. Together, atic basis for identifying especially remain essentially undeveloped, while the Wildlands Lake Assessment and valuable lake resources. the others are available for varying To forge a comprehensive lake levels of development depending on Action Program dramatically strengthen the Commission's ability management program using informa­ sensitivity and suitability. tion from the Wildlands Lake Assess­ The plan also introduces "lake to make informed decisions regard­ ing the use and protection of Maine's ment, the Commission appointed a concept plans," an innovative plan­ most precious lake resources. Lakes Policy Committee comprised of ning tool that has drawn positive representatives of major landowners, response from many landowners. Caroline Eliot statewide environmental and sports- Lake concept plans give landowners Land Use Regulation Commission 1 Commissioner 's Column simply a public recreation matter? Since Maine does not have a Where does one program end and large amount of public land, the C. Edwin Meadows, Jr another begin? agencies working on these efforts Commissioner We see this complexity increas­ necessarily involve private landown­ ing daily. The Bureau of Public ers. We will be pursuing efforts to New laws enacted this year mean a Lands, for instance, manages several promote proper user ethics and major increase in work and responsi­ different types of public lands. They explore additional ways of developing bility for the Department. Some of are different from lands managed by responsible public access to private these new laws are briefly described the Bureau of Parks & Recreation, land. in this newsletter. lands acquired by the Land for All of these efforts go toward New legislation with the biggest Maine's Future Program and lands increasing the state's capability as impact is the Forest Practices Act. owned by different federal agencies. good stewards of the resource and This law (if enacted, as it was in June But to most people, public land is doing what we can to foster the when this was written) requires the public land. The need for different stewardship ethic in the private Department to develop rules over the rules at different locations, based on sector. To sort all this out takes next 18 months to regulate clearcut­ different site conditions, use patterns effort. The Department of Conserva­ ting and regeneration, insure protec­ and other considerations is easily tion is proud to be taking a leader­ tion of water quality and prevent understood by resource managers. ship role in public policy issues adverse impacts on wildlife habitat. Baxter State Park is managed differ­ affecting natural resources. The discussions on this act were long ently than the Bigelow Preserve. The In this newsletter you will see and complex, but due to commitment public does not see these distinctions, but a few more examples of the of those who worked on it, the issue however. Both public and private diversity of projects in which we are did not become divisive. sectors need to do a better job of involved. Send us your comments Several forestcy laws were education. And in many cases there and questions. initally proposed. Rather than sub­ may be better ways of doing things. mitting separate legislation our­ The lines of distinction between selves, the Department chose to departments and jurisdictions are not DOC Cash, facilitate the debate between interest always clear. For instance, six groups, agencies and the Legislature. separate agencies regulate public In this way we were able to insure a campsites. The Department will Equipment balance of all interests, which is a study this situation and make recom­ proper role of government. The mendations for better coordination. Shared with Department also was steadfast in our Over the next several months we position that any law enacted must will explore other ways to better include the finances and foresters manage Maine's precious natural Towns necessaty for implementation. resources. Some of these include: Towns and plantations in alll6 Without that capability, the program • More effective management of Maine counties have shared cannot succeed. the submerged lands along $231,253 of 1988 State Park and One of the themes emerging the heavily developing coast Public Reserved Land income. from the legislative session was the and freshwater lakes. The money, which is distrib­ changing nature and increasing • Development of a strategy for uted annually in lieu of property complexity of outdoor and natural effective protection of ground­ taxes to jurisdictions where state - resource management. Opinion polls water resources. owned property is located, is a affrrm strong public support for • Identification of the most portion of State Park user fees and increased and direct government practical means for protecting Public Reserved Land income from action. The solutions, however, are freshwater and saltwater timber, fuelwood and gravel sales not simple. As public use and wetlands. and camplot leases. demands on the resources increase, • Growing interest and pres­ Beaver Cove Plantation, home competing and conflicting interests sures on marine geologic of Lily Bay State Park on Moosehead develop. The issues and the solu­ issues, including beach, dune Lake, received $15,524, the largest tions become more complex and and shoreline erosion, amount distributed to a single confusion results. offshore dredging and the jurisdiction. This was seen in the discussion significant public policy Maine towns also share forest of boating safety and jet ski regula­ impacts of sea level rise. fire control equipment provided by tion. Despite two separate study • Still additional efforts to the Maine Forest Service through commissions and additional legisla­ develop management strategy the Federal Excess Property Pro­ tion, the issues still were not clear. for the growing use of gram. Vehicles, pumps, tools and Is it a law enforcement matter or a recreational vehicles of all hose valued in excess of $500,000 resource management issue, or types. are on loan to municipalities. 2 MCC Goes to Yellowstone A Maine Consetvation Corps (MCC) The Student Consetvation the crew will help clear fallen trees, team now working on the Applachian Association, Charlestown, NH, and restore backcountry campsites and Trail (A11 will leave in late July for the National Association of Student rehabilitate fireline, helicopter pads four weeks in Yellowstone National Consetvation Corps, Washington, DC, and camps established during the frre