North Maine Woods Experience the Tradition

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2012 $3 North Maine Woods experience the tradition

On behalfwelcome of the many families, private corporations, conservation organizations and managers of state owned land, we welcome you to this special region of Maine. We’re proud of the history of this remote region and our ability to keep this area open for public enjoyment. In addition to providing remote recreational opportunities, this region is also the “wood basket” that supports our natural resource based economy of Maine. This booklet is designed to help you have a safe and enjoyable trip to the area, plus provide you with important information about forest resource management and recreational use.

inside Katahdin Ironworks Jo-Mary Multiple Use Forest Regulations...... p6 Information...... p10 Campsite Listing...... p11 Map...... p12-13 photo by Langley Mike Checkpoint Hours of Operation Visitors traveling by vehicle will pass through one of the following checkpoints. Please refer to the map in the center of this publication for locations.

NMW Checkpoints Allagash 5am-9pm daily Caribou 6am-9pm daily 2012 Visitor Fees Dickey 5am-9pm daily RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT Fish River 6am-9pm daily Under 15 ...... Free Day Use & Camping Little Black 5am-9pm daily Age 70 and Over ...... Free Day Use Oxbow 6am-9pm daily Per Person Per Day ...... $6 ...... $10 Six-Mile 5:30am-9:30pm daily Camping Per Night ...... $8 ...... $10 St. Francis 5am-9pm daily Telos 6am-9pm daily Annual Day Use Registration...... $75 ...... N/A Twenty-Mile 5am-9pm daily Annual Unlimited Camping ...... $175 ...... N/A Canadian Border Checkpoints Camping Only Annual Pass ...... $100 ...... $100 Estcourt (register at gas station/gaz bar) 7am-5pm Mon-Fri Special Reduced Seasonal Rates US Customs 1-418-859-2501 Summer season is from May 1 to September 30. Fall season is from Canadian Customs 1-418-859-2201 August 20 to November 30. Either summer or fall passes are valid St. Pamphile 1-418-356-2411 7am-5pm Mon-Fri between August 20 and September 30. US Customs 1-418-356-3222 Canadian Customs 1-418-356-3151 Seasonal Day Use Pass ...... $50 ...... $90 St. Juste 1-418-244-3646 7am-5pm Mon-Fri Seasonal Unlimited Camping ...... $110 ...... $150 US Customs 1-418-244-3026 Seasonal Unlimited Family Camping ...... $220 ...... N/A Canadian Customs 1-418-244-3653 Family camping allows 2 adults St. Aurelie 1-418-593-3426 6am-5pm Mon-Thu and their children between 15 and 21 US Customs 1-418-593-3582 6am-4pm Friday to camp for the season price of 2 adults. Canadian Customs 1-418-593-3971 Camping Only Seasonal Pass ...... $60 ...... $60 Commercial Sporting Camp Visitors...... $20 ...... $30 The schedule of operation for Canadian border checkpoints and both Per trip, for any trip over 3 days U. S. and Canadian Customs offices are subject to change at any time, so it is advised that you call the number listed for the crossing you Leaseholders and Internal Landowners of Record .....$40 ...... $40 intend to use for current information. U.S. Customs offices are closed May purchase 2 annual passes through the NMW office during New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Guest Passes for Leaseholders ...... $60 ...... $60 Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. May purchase up to 8 annual passes through the NMW office U.S. citizens are required to have a U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card Visiting Paticipating Businesses ...... $1 ...... $1 to enter the U.S. Other travelers will need NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI for meals and supplies, up to four hours limit identification. By Federal Law PL 99-570, there is a $5,000 fine for a first time offense of entering Maine without proper permission, plus For Allagash Wilderness Waterway fees, see page 17 in this brochure. an additional fine of $1,000 per person involved. This includes entry For Penobscot River Corridor fees, see page 22. by foot or by water.

page two | www.northmainewoods.org Use of New Technology Assists NMW Mission while Reducing Costs and Helping to Keep Visitor Fees Stable

Al Cowperthwaite, Executive Director If you arrived at one of our staffed checkpoints after daily operating hours Automated gates or entered through one of the unstaffed electronic gates last season, you As a non- profit organization, North Maine Woods operates on a break are aware that we have been making some significant adjustments in even basis. The amount charged for overnight camping is directly re- the way we operate. These changes have been implemented so we can lated to costs NMW incurs for maintaining campsites. The same is true continue our mission of keeping the area open to public use by protect- for the amount charged for day use. Day use fees offset costs for operating property through managing access. We are doing this with the use ing checkpoints which allow access into the NMW region. In an effort to of motion sensitive cameras, satellite internet service and telecommu- continue to allow access while keeping user fees low, we have installed nications at some entry photo by NMW staff a number of automated, unstaffed gates in recent years which is a more points. Supplementing cost effective way to manage access. people with technol- Visitors entering the North Maine Woods on some low traffic access ogy has been occurring roads may encounter automated, electronic gates. These gates are not at many businesses in staffed, but have instructional signs, motion sensitive video cameras order to improve oper- and a telephone located in a small building next to the road. Signs in- ations and to maintain struct visitors to call the number provided which will connect them to or reduce operating one of our employees who will help them self register and pay appro- costs. NMW has been priate fees. Once this process is complete, permission will be granted going through a similar Dickey Checkpoint to enter. If someone wants to enter or leave NMW via one of the auto- transition. mated gates, it will simplify the process if they pre-register at a staffed Night Time Entry and Motion Detection Cameras checkpoint or have season passes, L Passes or Guest Passes with them. Up until 2009, we staffed some checkpoints 24 hours a day seven days a NMW staff monitors traffic at these locations 24 hours a day, seven days week- 6 Mile Checkpoint on the American Realty Road, Telos Checkpoint a week and the cameras record all video for the year at each location. and Caribou Checkpoint on the Golden Road. In 2009 we did not fill the Dickey Checkpoint was the first to be automated in 2005 and, following night shift employee positions, but instead installed motion sensitive several years of successful operation, more have been added at other lights, live time recording cameras and satellite internet service. This al- locations. In 2009, Seboomook Dam and Northeast Carry automated lowed us to monitor traffic between 9 PM and 6 AM for the above check- gates were installed on roads leading into North Maine Woods from points, plus Fish River and Dickey, from our Ashland office. Seboomook Township north of Rockwood. Camera images are sent via satellite internet to a central control room in In 2011, another automated checkpoint was installed on the so-called our Ashland office where one person watches all nighttime traffic. Tele- Kelly Dam Road which enters the North Maine Woods from Route 201 phone communication is available at all locations which allows visitors a few miles north of Jackman. We encourage visitors to pre-register at to call our office at night to register and enter or leave NMW or get as- Bishop’s Store in Jackman prior to heading into the Kelly Dam Road as sistance in case of an emergency. Although this system may not be as pre-registering will streamline the process and reduce time required to convenient as having someone at the checkpoints, it is less expensive go through this process over the telephone at the automated gate site. and so reduces the need to increase fees paid by visitors. With cameras recording traffic 24 hours a day seven days a week, it also helps us keep Visitors can expect to encounter additional conversions in the future as track of who is traveling in and out of the area should we have theft or we improve the operational aspects of the equipment and as road sys- vandalism problems. tems change along the NMW boundary.

photo by Peter Freeman

www.northmainewoods.org | page three NMW History and User Fees

North Maine Woods is a non-profit corporation. There are no stockholders, no profit sharing and no dividends. None of the fees collected at checkpoints are distributed to the landowners in this program. photo courtesy Ross Lake Camps

History In the early 1970s, user fees were initiated to help landowners recover part of the management costs related to accommodating public visitors to their lands. Before the North Maine Woods (NMW) organization was created, separate landowners had their own regulations and fee schedules for use of their lands. Travelers might have passed through two or three checkpoints to get to their destinations and paid separate fees on each stop. St. John River muskie fishing In 1971, with the agreement between landowners to form NMW, a day use sea- Purpose son registration for Maine residents was set at $2. Landowners also imposed a Fees for each activity pay for the management of that activity. self assessment to fund the start up the North Maine Woods program. In general, all day use fee collections offset costs for operating the The self assessment share was based on the owner’s percentage of acres with- checkpoint facilities. Receptionists are available at convenient times in the designated North Maine Woods area. During the period between 1971 for visitors to enter the area. Guidance, brochures and information are and 1986, these assessments amounted to nearly three quarters of a million provided. Trash bags are provided to help control litter in the area. dollars. Since then, increased usage, prudent management and modest fee Receptionists also assist parties with emergencies and provide infor- increases have allowed the program to become self sufficient. mation to game wardens looking for sportsmen to relay emergency Although annual assessments have ceased, landowners still absorb many messages from home. costs. They provide staff time on the various operating committees; donate Camping fees collected are dedicated to maintaining and developing professional services of draftsmen, soil evaluators, and others; donate use of facilities used by campers. Our travel costs are similar to those of visi- construction equipment; and maintain thousands of miles of roads which re- tors. If all 300+ campsites were located on 20 acres as with most camp- ceive wear and tear from public travel. grounds, NMW camping fees would be lower. Staff frequently travel For more than 40 years, steps have been made to increase visitor comfort and 30 to 40 miles between campsites. satisfaction with the facilities. Improvements made in the campsite program Fees from the bear bait site management program are dedicated in include better maintenance of campsites along with the creation of new ones. part to managing this program. NMW staff works with wildlife bi- Public communications, identified as a shortcoming, has been addressed with ologists, game wardens, landowner foresters, guides and hunters to NMW’s own publications as well as articles in other publications, to enable manage the locations of bait sites to minimize conflicts in our working our visitors to better understand our goals and objectives. forest. Visitor use has always occurred without any advertising by NMW, and this Management contracts established over the years with the Allagash is thought to be due, in part, to the favorable experiences of our recreational Wilderness Waterway, the Bureau of Parks and Lands, Jo-Mary Camp- users spreading the word after returning home from their visits. ground, and members of the KI Jo-Mary Multiple Use Forest provide Additional use is not promoted because the area is not like a park, commercial just enough income to offset costs for managment. campground or other area designated specifically for recreational use. This Under Maine law, NMW is established as a non-profit corporation. benefits users by keeping the NMW from getting overcrowded. There are no stockholders, no profit sharing and no dividends. None All visitors help defray operating costs. Even the landowners and their staff of the fees collected at checkpoints are distributed to the landowners members pay the regular user fees when visiting the area for recreation. in this program. Income is budgeted to meet expenses and fees reflect NMW staff also pay their own camping fees. this arrangement. page four | www.northmainewoods.org Find valuable, up-to-date information on the Web Whether you are planning another trip or visiting North Maine Woods (NMW) for the first time, you will find an abundance of helpful information about the NMW region on our website. Information on land use, regional history, rules and regulations, checkpoint hours of operation, user fees, camping locations and safety can all be found at the click of your mouse. www.northmainewoods.org

Under the “Business Links” heading you can search a listing of many businesses that cater to a variety of outdoor activities including: cabin rentals, charter services, guide services, outdoor products, vehicle shuttle services, sporting lodges, camps, or whitewater rafting. Our site provides information on the St. John River canoe trip and two options for printing maps of the 3.5 million acre NMW region. North Maine Woods also manages the one hundred eighty thousand acre KI-Jo Mary Multiple Use Forest located between Millinocket, Greenville and Brownville. Our website contains all the information you will need for planning a trip to this unique area. Camping information is available as well as information on these popular attractions: Gulf Hagas gorge, Katahdin Iron Works, the Hermitage, and the Appalachian Trail. Within the KI Jo-Mary Forest is Jo-Mary Campground, also managed by NMW. It is a 70 site commercial campground with running water, flush toilets, laundromat and other amenities not available at our remote campsites. We also have a “Links” page that can direct you to a variety of Maine State websites where you can find information and regulations on canoeing, hunting and fishing and purchase hunting and fishing licenses. There are links to over two dozen other websites were you can find oeablecan river water flow rates, regional weather forecasts and other useful information. New to our website are the North Maine Woods and KI Jo-Mary Campsite Guides. Each guide uses Google Earth to depict Authorized and Fire Permit campsites thoughout each respective region; and once downloaded users can click on a campsite icon to pull up photos and a list of amenities for each location. These guides were designed to assist you in planning your next camping trip while at the same time offering you a virtual tour of the region. Another feature is the homepage “Bulletin Board” which allows us to post up-to-date information on what is happening in NMW. For example, during the spring flooding in 2008, road damage information was updated weekly which provided an accurate list of road openings/closures as well as a map depicting the location and types of road damage. The Bulletin Board contains important news, information, and describes current conditions within NMW.

Our website is one of the most frequently visited websites for people photo by Steve Day considering a trip to northern Maine. Remember to check www.northmainewoods.org as we continue to expand on the quality and quantity of information on our website. MISSION To provide the visiting public with high quality, traditional outdoor recreational experiences that are compatible with providing renewable forest resources which sustain approximately 20% of Maine’s economy. Forest recreation, when managed properly, is compatible with harvesting forest products.

www.northmainewoods.org | page five Information for North Maine Woods and KI Jo-Mary Forest

Cutting live trees is not permitted. You are welcome to use dead and down Water supplies in the NMW and KI Jo-Mary Forest area are not test- wood for your fire at an authorized location. To prevent the spread of injuri- ed for safety. It is recommended that you bring in water from a known ous insects, long distance movement of firewood is discouraged. Extreme safe source. You should not drink water directly from any stream or pond caution is always the rule. Remember a small fire is best for cooking. By without treating it to kill bacteria and other organisms. The safest way to Maine law, there is a $50 fine for leaving any fire unattended. The steel fire treat the water is to boil it for at least one minute at a rolling boil. While ring provided is the only place a fire may be built at authorized campsites. other methods of treatment are available, they may not be totally effective Limits on camper trailer and vehicle sizes. Only single vehicles less than against all harmful organisms and are not recommended. 28 feet in length, or vehicle and trailer with a combined length of less than Biting insects are common most of the summer. Visitors should be 44 feet, and with a maximum width of 8 feet, will be allowed entrance. Large equipped with insect repellent at all times. The peak time for mosquitoes vehicles within these limits may be required to travel at certain low traffic and blackflies is from the end of May through July. Daily periods of in- periods through any checkpoint if requested by the checkpoint receptionist creased insect activities are during early morning and evening hours. on duty. The weather varies greatly in northern Maine. May temperatures range Bicycles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles and horses are not allowed in from 20 to 70 degrees on any given day, and snow may even fall. During the NMW or KI Jo-Mary Forest at any time of year. This is necessary for log- the summer, temperatures average 50 to 90 degrees. It is suggested that ging road safety and avoidance of fire hazards in hard to reach locations. visitors pack clothing for both extremes. Rain is unpredictable with the av- Through-traffic between Canada and Maine is discouraged via the pri- erage seasonal amount between 35 and 45 inches. The temperatures begin vate road system in the NMW. These roads are privately built for the purpose to drop below freezing in mid-September with daytime highs in the 50s. In of managing the woodland area. Recreationists are encouraged to travel to November it is common for temperatures to approach 0 with highs in the their desired destinations within the area and then return to the country 40s, and snow can begin to build up. November hunters are cautioned to from which they entered. Parties entering at a Canadian border checkpoint camp near main roads and listen to weather forecasts. must leave via the same checkpoint. Through passage between the US and There are very few stores or gas stations in the NMW or KI Jo-Mary For- Canada is allowed for camp owners and other visitors only when at least one est. All supplies must be carried in with you. night’s lodging is spent within NMW. A majority of visitors come to the NMW and KI Jo-Mary to enjoy peace and tranquility. Although there are no rules regarding the use of genera- Fireworks are prohibited in NMW. Although the State of tors, chainsaws, other types of motors and radios, we do ask that visitors Maine legalized the use of fireworks in 2011, the new law use common sense and be considerate of others. also requires that users of fireworks have landowner per- All parties flying into the area must abide by the area’s rules and reg- mission. None of the private landowners and managers of ulations. NMW Land Use and Camping permits are available from many public land within North Maine Woods have agreed to give commercial bush pilots or you may obtain permits by writing to North permission or allow the use of fireworks. Fire hazard is the Maine Woods, PO Box 425, Ashland, ME 04732. major concern, but public safety and disturbance to other recreationists and wildlife are also factors cited in their deci- sion to prohibit fireworks in NMW. photo by Mary Gerowphoto by Mary

page six | www.northmainewoods.org Camping in

North Maine Woods NMW staff by photo

Camping permits are issued at the checkpoints upon entrance to the North Maine Woods area. Camping is allowed at the more than 300 designated, marked camping areas for a two-week maximum time limit per campsite. The North Maine Woods map in this publication shows campsite locations. There are two types of campsites available for use: Authorized Campsites: These campsites are marked on the NMW Rules map and are listed here for reference. While all campsites are rustic, of the there are steel fire rings, cedar picnic tables and toilets at the autho- Road rized campsites. Fires may be carefully built in the steel fire rings, and for Industrial Logging Roads many of the campsites have picnic shelters. A Maine Forest Service fire permit is not required. These rules apply to all road users Your safety is important t Give all logging trucks the right of way! The roads in this area were built to move wood products. For safety, please give logging trucks the same respect provided to fire trucks and ambulances. Logging trucks typically photo by NMW staff by photo travel on the crown of the road for stability. When you see a truck coming from either direction, please pull over to let it pass safely.

t Obey posted speed limit signs. Maximum speed is 45 mph.

t Lights on for safety. t Always travel on the right hand side. Designated Fire Permit Campsites: These are locations where overnight camping is allowed but where building campfires requires a t Be prepared to stop at all times. Maine Forest Service fire permit. The locations of designated fire permit t Never stop on a corner. Always give yourself at least 500 campsites are shown on the NMW map. These campsites have fewer feet of visibility front and back. facilities than authorized campsites. Although some fire permit camp- Reduce speeds on freshly graded roads. You are more sites are not as attractive as authorized campsites, fall hunters prefer t likely to blow a tire or lose control because of loose sheltered locations rather than windswept lake shore campsites. gravel. Outhouse Update: North Maine Woods is currently using an active en- t Never block side roads. Even roads that seem zyme (Bio Quest SST-850) for the treatment of outhouse solids. We ask unused may be needed in emergencies. that visitors do not dump lime, deodorizers, trash, or liquid materials into outhouse openings. These foreign substances will either kill or greatly re- tDo not linger on roads or stop on bridges. Most bridges duce the effectiveness of the enzyme. in NMW are one lane.

Campsites on Google Earth: Campsite locations within the North Maine t Park vehicles well off the road. Woods and KI Jo-Mary regions are shown on Google Earth. Visit our web- tDo not park in front of checkpoints. Use parking area site (www.northmainewoods.org) to download this new feature found provided on the homepage. In addition to showing campsite locations, there photos and a written description of each campsite to help you decide which t All drivers must have a valid state or provincial campsite to visit. driver’s license.

Please carry your trash out. Do not leave trash at your campsite or t All vehicles yield right of way to loaded trucks. All traffic alongside roads and waters. yield to equipment working in roads. Pass only after operator’s acknowledgement.

www.northmainewoods.org | page seven Township Sites Shelters Access Water Access Vehicle Access Canoe Access Camper Township Sites Shelters Access Water Access Vehicle Access Canoe Access Camper ASHLAND REGION TELOS REGION Little Munsungan Lake T8R9 2 y y Umbazooksus West T6R13 4 1 y y y Chase Brook Road T10R9 2 y y y Umbazooksus East T6R13 2 1 y y Munsungan Falls T8R9 3 y y y Kellog Brook T6R12 3 y y y Malcolm Branch T9R8 2 2 y y y Indian Stream T7R12 2 y y Mooseleuk Dam T10R9 3 2 y y Indian Pond T7R12 6 2 y y y N. Br. Machias River T11R7 6 2 y y y Haymock Lake T8R11 8 y y y Machias Bridge T11R7 2 y y y Cliff Lake T8R12 5 1 y y y Machias River T11R7 1 y y y Pillsbury Deadwater T8R11 2 y y y Chase Lake T9R10 3 1 y y y Spider Lake T9R11 3 1 y y y Ragged Mountain Pond T9R10 1 y y Little Pillsbury Pond T8R11 4 2 y y y Jack Mountain T11R8 3 y y Coffeelos South T6R11 3 y y S. Br. Machias River T10R7 2 y y y Coffeelos North T6R11 2 y y y Pratt Lake T11R9 1 1 y y y TOTAL 44 Island Pond T10R10 2 1 y y Machias Lake Dam T12R8 3 1 y y 20-Mile Bridge T12R8 3 1 y y y CAUCOMGOMOC REGION Little Clayton Lake T12R8 1 y y Caucomgomoc Landing T7R15 5 1 y y y Moosehorn Crossing T12R7 2 1 y y y Caucomgomoc Dam T6R14 2 y y y Upper Elbow Pond T10R10 2 y y Henrys Island T7R15 1 y y Peaked Mountain Pond T10R10 3 y y Rowe Thoroughfare T7R15 1 y y y y Russell Crossing T11R8 3 1 y y y Round Pond North T7R14 3 y y Musquacook Stream T12R11 2 y y y Round Pond Inlet T7R14 1 y y McNally Pond T11R10 2 y y y Lost Pond T5R16 2 y y 2nd Musquacook Lake T11R11 6 1 y y y Russell Stream T4R16 1 y y y Squirrel Pond T11R10 1 1 y y y Big Bog T5R18 4 y y y Beaver Sprague T11R7 3 3 y y 5th St. John Bridge T6R17 1 y y y y NMW Campsite Information NMW Campsite Weeks Brook T11R8 1 y y y 5th St. John Dam T6R17 1 y y Smith Brook T9R9 1 y y Wadleigh Pond Beach T8R15 1 y y Big Hudson Brook T10R9 3 y y y Wadleigh Pond T8R15 3 1 y y y Munsungan Thoroughfare T8R10 2 y Wadleigh Pond South T8R15 2 y y y Little Moosehorn T8R10 2 y y St. Francis Lake T8R16 2 y y y Kelly Brook T11R14 5 y y y Baker Lake North T7R17 4 1 y y y Squirrel Mountain T11R13 2 y y Baker Lake South T7R17 1 y y y Ross Lake T10R15 3 1 y y y Boulet Campyard T7R17 2 y y Red Pine T11R16 3 y y y y Turner Pond T7R16 2 y y y TOTAL 86 Crescent Pond T9R15 2 y y y Johnson Pond Island T8R14 2 y y y ALLAGASH REGION TOTAL 43 Little Falls Pond T17R11 1 y y Fall Brook Lake T18R10 3 1 y y y Little Black River Plt T19R12 2 1 y y y FISH RIVER REGION Upper Little Black T19R12 1 y y Gleason Brook T13R7 1 y y y Little Black River T19R12 2 1 y y y Carr Pond T13R8 4 y y y Chimenticook Stream T17R13 2 y y y Fish River Falls T14R8 8 2 y y y West Twin Brook #1 Allagash 1 y y Fish Lake T14R8 5 1 y y y West Twin Brook #2 Allagash 1 y y Big Brook T14R10 3 1 y y y West Twin Gravel Pit Allagash 1 y y y Fox Brook T13R9 3 1 y y y Blue Pond T13R13 2 y y y TOTAL 24 Deadeye Bridge T18R13 3 y y 3rd Pelletier Pond T16R9 3 y y y Ben Glazier T14R12 1 y y AROOSTOOK RIVER REGION Big Black River Road T15R13 2 y y y Munsungan Branch T8R8 1 y y Old Camp 106 T16R13 1 y y Mooseleuk Branch T8R8 1 y y Big Black Fall Site T15R13 1 y y y Lapomkeag Stream T9R7 1 y y Connors Cove T18R10 7 y y y Houlton Brook T9R5 2 y y TOTAL 34 TOTAL 5 pagepage eighteight | www.northmainewoods.org Township Sites Shelters Access Water Access Vehicle Access Canoe Access Camper Township Sites Shelters Access Water Access Vehicle Access Canoe Access Camper RAGMUFF/SEBOOMOOK REGION ST. JOHN RIVER Lane Brook T2R4 4 1 y y y Turner Bogan T8R17 2 y y Leadbetter Falls T2R18 4 y y y Flaws Bogan T8R17 2 1 y y Leadbetter Pit T2R18 3 1 y y y Flaws Bogan Camp T8R17 1 y y Gilberts Crossing T2R4 3 1 y y y Morrison Depot T9R17 2 y y Lane Brook (Boundary Rd) T3R4 1 y y y Southwest Branch T9R17 1 y y Cheney Pond T3R4 3 y y Doucie Brook T10R17 3 y y Penobscot Dam T4R4 4 1 y y y Knowles Brook T10R16 4 y y Penobscot Pd (Ice Box Pit) T4R4 1 y y Northwest Branch T10R17 2 y y Long Pond T3R5 4 1 y y y Ledge Rapids T11R16 3 1 y y Dole Pond T3R5 3 1 y y y Moody Campsite T11R16 3 2 y y Dole Brook T3R5 1 y y Red Pine T11R16 3 y y y y Hurricane Pond T5R20 1 y y Burntland Brook T11R16 2 1 y y Hurricane Stream T5R19 2 1 y y Nine-Mile Campsite T12R16 2 y y Snake Campsite T4R18 6 1 y y y y East Nine-Mile T12R15 1 y y y Frost Pond Outlet T4R5 1 y y Connor Farm T13R15 1 y y Nulhedus Pit T1R4 1 y y Seven Islands T13R15 4 2 y y Little Lobster Lake T3R14 2 1 y y y Priestley Campsite T13R14 2 1 y y y y 35-Mile Campsite Dole Twp 1 y y Simmons Farm T14R14 2 1 y y TOTAL 45 Basford Rips T14R13 1 y y Big Black Rapids T15R13 3 1 y y Ferry Crossing T15R13 2 1 y y y y OXBOW REGION Boom Chain T15R13 2 y y Lapomkeag Field T8R8 2 1 y y y Seminary Brook T15R13 2 1 y y y y Millinocket Stream T8R8 2 y y y Longs Rapids T16R13 2 1 y y y Munsungan Stream T8R9 2 1 y y y Castonia Farm T16R12 2 y y y y TOTAL 6 Ouellette Brook T16R12 2 y y y Ouellette Farm T16R12 3 1 y y y y Fox Brook T16R12 3 2 y y y y Poplar Island Allagash 1 1 y y y y TOTAL 63

Maine Forest Service The Maine Forest Service protects hundreds of thousands of acres in the North Maine Ashland Regional Headquarters Woods from wildland fire every year. It is everyone’s responsibility to be safe with 207-435-7963 campfires, as well as report wildland fires that you encounter. Remember, when you Old Town Regional Headquarters have a campfire, you must attend it at all times. It is important to put your fire dead 207-827-1800 out before you leave your site for the day. A heavy wind and dry conditions can create Portage District Headquarters a large wildland fire from what once was an innocent campfire, and the person who 207-435-6644 lights the fire is responsible for damages. Campers are reminded that it is unlawful to burn prohibited items such as plastic, metal cans, bottles, and any type of trash. Allagash Unit Headquarters Please carry your trash out. 207-398-3196 Aroostook Waters District Headquarters Your actions will help ensure that the resource we all enjoy is preserved for this and 207-435-6975 future generations. If you encounter a wildland fire, report it immediately. Informa- East Branch District Headquarters tion that is helpful when reporting a fire includes: where the fire is (township, GPS coordinates, nearest road), what fuel the fire is burning in, what type of fire behavior 207-463-2331 is being exhibited, is there a water source nearby, and are there any camps or tree Moosehead District Headquarters plantations threatened. This information helps Maine Forest Service provide a quick- 207-695-3721 er, more efficient response. To report a wildland fire, obtain fire permits, or to receive Fire Emergency Number - to report fires after 6pm additional information you may call: 1-888-900-3473 www.northmainewoods.org | page nine photo by NMW staff

Katahdin Ironworks Jo-Mary General Information The KI Jo-Mary Multiple Use Forest is a 175,000 acre tract of forest land Land Use and Camping Fees located between Millinocket, Brownville and Greenville. At the request of the forest landowners in this area, NMW contracted with them in Maine Non Residents Residents 1986 to establish checkpoints and campsites to manage increasing public use of their lands. Due to differences in operating costs and Under 15 and over 70 years of age Free Day Use Free Day Use Per Day $6.00 $10.00 landowner management objectives, the KI Jo-Mary user fees are slightly Day Use Season Registration $60.00 $75.00 different from fees assessed for use of NMW. Season registrations are not interchangeable between NMW and KI Jo-Mary. In both cases, land Camping use fees help offset recreational management costs. Per Night $10.00 $10.00

Passage At Any Checkpoint After Hours Checkpoints and Hours of Operation $20.00 per vehicle Recreationists traveling by vehicle will pass through one of these checkpoints. Please refer to the map located on page twelve of this publication. The following listing will inform you of operating hours. photo by NMW staff All four checkpoints open the first of May and close mid October. Jo-Mary Checkpoint : Open from 6:00am to 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday, and 6:00pm to 10:00pm Friday and Saturday. KI Checkpoint : Open from 6:00am to 9:00pm seven days a week. Hedgehog Checkpoint : Open from 6:00am to 9:00pm seven days a week. Henderson Checkpoint : Open from 6:00am to 9:00pm seven days a week. Henderson is an electronic, unmanned checkpoint managed by Jo-Mary checkpoint staff. page ten | www.northmainewoods.org Camping in the KI Jo-Mary Forest

The KI Jo-Mary Forest is not your everyday camping KI AREA area. The sites are primitive and well spread out. You will Number of Facilities be able to find solitude, fishing, hunting, hiking, fresh Name Location Sites Privies Tables Shelters air, clean water, good times and many other outdoor Silver Lake Field T6R9 8 3 8 0 activities if this is what appeals to you. The KI Jo-Mary Silver Lake #1 T6R9 1 1 1 0 Multiple Use Forest landowners are trying to encourage Silver Lake #2 and #3 T6R9 2 1 2 0 and preserve this type of experience. Silver Lake #4 and #5 T6R9 2 2 2 0 Pleasant River #1 T6R9 1 1 1 0 No party will be allowed to camp more than two weeks Pleasant River #2 T6R9 1 1 1 0 in one location. No trailer, tent or other equipment is to Pleasant River #3 T6R9 1 1 1 0 be stored on any campsite. Items left unattended for Pleasant River #4 T6R9 1 1 1 0 more than three consecutive days may be removed at Pleasant River #5 T6R9 1 1 1 0 the expense of the owner. Pleasant River #6 T6R9 1 1 1 0 High Bridge #1 T7R10 1 1 1 0 Camping is allowed only in the authorized campsites High Bridge #2 T7R10 1 1 1 0 shown on the map on page twelve. The checkpoint re- High Bridge #3 T7R10 1 1 1 0 ceptionists will gladly assist you in choosing a location Big White Bk. #1, 2, 3, 4 T7R10 4 2 4 0 when you register. Fees will vary according to the num- Pleasant River #7, 8, 9, 10 T7R10 4 1 4 0 ber in your party and the length of your stay. A fireplace, Hay Brook Campsites T7R10 3 2 3 0 picnic table and privy are located at each campsite. Pine Camp T8R11 1 2 1 1 There is no running water or electricity. Campsites are Totals 34 23 34 1 maintained weekly.

Campsite reservations are not required, but recom- HEDGEHOG AREA mended for Friday and Saturday nights. For the areas Number of Facilities Name Location Sites Privies Tables Shelters served by the KI and Hedgehog checkpoints, call KI checkpoint at 207-965-8135. For the area served by the Long Pond - Vehicle Access T7R9 3 3 2 0 Jo-Mary checkpoint, call 207-723-8944. Long Pond - Water Access T7R9 1 1 1 0 Horseshoe Pond W. Bowdoin If you are not able to honor your reservation, please call College Grant 4 2 4 0 the checkpoint early enough in the day so others might Trout Pond Lean-To W. Bowdoin enjoy the campsite. College Grant 1 1 0 1 Totals 9 7 7 1 You will find solitude, fishing, hunting, hiking, fresh air, clean water, good times and many JO-MARY AREA Number of Facilities other outdoor activities if this is what appeals Name Location Sites Privies Tables Shelters Gauntlet Falls #1 T8R10 1 1 1 0 to you. The KI Jo-Mary Multiple Use Forest Gauntlet Falls #2 T8R10 1 1 1 0 landowners are trying to encourage and Crawford Pond TAR 11 2 1 2 0 Long Pond TAR 11 4 1 4 0 preserve this type of experience. Big Pleasant Pond TAR 11 2 2 2 0 Johnston Pond TAR 10 5 1 5 0 Little Jo-Mary Pond TBR 10 4 1 4 0 You are welcome to use dead and down wood for your East Branch Pleasant #1 TBR 11 1 1 1 0 fire at an authorized location. Extreme caution is always East Branch Pleasant #2 TBR 11 1 1 1 0 the rule. Remember a small fire is best for cooking and a East Branch Pleasant #3 TBR 11 1 1 1 0 DEAD fire is the best when unattended. All outside fires East Branch Pleasant #4 TBR 11 1 1 1 0 must be within the steel fire rings provided at the au- East Branch Pleasant #5 TBR 11 2 1 2 0 thorized campsites. Building your own rock fireplaces is Pratt Brook TAR 10 1 1 1 0 not permitted. By Maine law, it is illegal and punishable Johnston Brook T1R11 1 1 1 0 by a fine to have an unauthorized cooking or warming Totals 27 15 27 0 fire, or to leave any fire unattended.

Please carry your trash out. Do not leave trash at your campsite or alongside roads and waters.

www.northmainewoods.org | page eleven page twelve | www.northmainewoods.org Katahdin Iron Works Jo-Mary MULTIPLE USE MANAGEMENT AREA

T 2 R 13 T 2 R 12 T 2 R 11 T 2 R 10 T 2 R 9

DISTANCES This list shows the miles between various points in the KI Jo-Mary Forest. These are not high speed roads. If you try to average more than 20 miles per hour you will be endangering your life and the lives of others. Jo-Mary Checkpoint to Jo-Mary Lake Campground...... 6 KI Checkpoint to Hay Brook ...... 6 Brownville to KI Checkpoint ...... 14Jo-Mary Checkpoint to B Pond ...... 10 Brownville to Jo-Mary Checkpoint ...... 18Hedgehog Checkpoint to Hay Brook ...... 12 Millinocket to Jo-Mary Checkpoint ...... 15Jo-Mary Checkpoint to Henderson Checkpoint ...... 13 Millinocket to KI Checkpoint ...... 32 WADLEIGH POND Hedgehog Checkpoint to Jo-Mary Checkpoint ...... 31 NORTH CAMPSITE Greenville to Hedgehog Checkpoint ...... 11

Route 11 to KI Checkpoint ...... 7 WADLEIGH POND CAMPSITES 1-3 NESUNTABUNT MTN

LEGEND T 1 R 11 T 1 R 10 T 1 R 9 KI Jo-Mary Boundary FORT KENT Appalachian Trail MASQUASH BROOK PORTAGE CAMPSITES 1 & 2

Paved Public Highway MASQUASH FIELD CAMPSITES 1 & 2 HOULTON AREA OF Primary Road UNMANNED POTAYWADJO ENLARGEMENT GATE MTN Minor Road or Spur MILLINOCKET

GREENVILLE BRIDGE OUT Winter or Discontinued Roads LEAVITT POND CAMPSITE

Township Boundary Line BOAT LAUNCH BANGOR HENDERSON CHECKPOINT LONG POND PRATT BROOK Ponds, Rivers and Streams CAMPSITE CAMPSITE AUGUSTA

Minor Streams and Brooks BRIDGE BAR HARBOR OUT INDIAN N

BIG PLEASANT Manned Checkpoint POND CAMPSITES PORTLAND COOPER

UNMANNED MTN Unmanned Gate GATE

CRAWFORD Campsite POND CAMPSITE UNMANNED GATE Commercial Campground

Boat Launch T A R 11 T A R 10 T A R 12 JO-MARY UNMANNED Parking Area MTN GATE Bridge Out BOAT LAUNCH JOHNSTON BROOK CAMPSITE EAST BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITE #3 JOHNSTON POND CAMPSITES 1-5 SMITH’S BRIDGE OUT JO-MARY LAKE CAMPGROUND (COMMERCIAL) E BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITE #4 VEAZIE CORE LITTLE JO-MARY BOAT LAUNCH POND CAMPSITES 1-4

OVERFLOW BRIDGE CAMPSITE OUT UNMANNED E BRANCH GATE PLEASANT UNMANNED RIVER GATE B POND CAMPSITE #5 CAMPSITE

E BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITE #1 Millinocket 14 Miles Landowners and JO-MARY CHECKPOINT Managers LAKEVIEW

T 4 R 9 N.W.P. within the 175,000 acres of KI Jo-Mary

Maine Route 11 Route Maine AMC Maine Woods, Inc.** T B R 10 GAUNTLET FALLS GAUNTLET CAMPSITES 1 & 2 Pine State Timberlands, LLC E BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITE #2 Brownville Jct. Brownville 14 Miles

EBEEMEE MTN Cassidy Timberlands, LLC*

T 5 R 9 N.W.P. North Woods Maine Timberlands, LLC** Greentrees, Inc.* Katahdin Forest Management, LLC

BRIDGE OUT McCrillis Timberland, LLC* Prentiss & Carlisle Company, Inc.* SADDLEBACK MTN BARRIER

T B R 11 The National Park Service KATAHDIN KATAHDIN WORKS IRON CHECKPOINT KATAHDIN WORKS IRON BIG WHITE BROOK CAMPSITES Silver Ridge Land Company* BRIDGE OUT PINE CAMP CAMPSITES SILVER LAKE FIELD *Lands managed by Prentiss & Carlisle Management Co.

SILVER LAKE SITES **Lands managed by Huber Resources Corp. B POND SITE ROAD Gulf Hagas WEST BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITES photo by Bill Leach HIGH BRIDGE CAMPSITES CHAIRBACK MTN UNMANNED GATE HAY BROOK HAY CAMPSITES PARKING AREA PARKING PARKING AREA PARKING UPPER WEST BRANCH PLEASANT RIVER CAMPSITES T 7 R 9 N.W.P. Gulf Hagas Reserve GULF HAGAS MTN EAST BOWDOIN COLLEGE GRANT WATER ACCESS WATER CAMPSITE BOAT LAUNCH BOAT WEST BOWDOIN COLLEGE GRANT LONG POND LONG CAMPSITES HEDGEHOG CHECKPOINT PLEASE REMEMBER ... CAMPING AND OUTSIDE FIRES ARE ALLOWED ONLY AT THE AUTHORIZED CAMPSITES AVAILABLE THE AUTHORIZED AT ONLY PLEASE REMEMBER ... CAMPING FIRES ARE ALLOWED AND OUTSIDE UNMANNED GATE HORSESHOE SITES reenville ELEPHANT MTN Miles G 5

www.northmainewoods.org | page thirteen Allagash Tramway Restoration Gaining Steam

By Matthew LaRoche, Superintendent Allagash Wilderness Waterway Nestled deep in the Maine woods near the northwest end of Chamberlain Lake sit the rusting hulks of two large boilers. These boilers provided the power that operated an engineering marvel from more than a century ago. Engineer Fred Dow oversaw construction of this steam-powered, mechanical, log-moving apparatus. The problem: How to get the vast quantity of pine and spruce logs from the shores of Eagle and Churchill lakes, which flow north down the Allagash River, to Chamberlain Lake where they could be driven down through Telos Cut, Webster Stream, the East Branch of the Penobscot, and eventually to the lucrative Bangor lumber market. Hence, the idea of a tramway was conceived. The tramway is essentially a miniature railroad pulled by a 6,000-foot-long cable loop. The steel “trucks” attached to the cable carried logs across the 3,000-foot-long isthmus separating Eagle and Chamberlain lakes. As the logs dropped off at the Chamberlain end, each empty truck looped underneath to a lower track and returned to Eagle Lake for another oad.l

page fourteen | www.northmainewoods.org The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is in the process of restoring a 25-foot-long section of a turn-of- the-century engineering marvel: the tramway. The steam-powered tramway system for moving logs is a testimony to the ingenuity of those who came before us.

Most of the parts for the construction of the tramway were boated up the 22-gauge upper and lower tracks. Roger told me, “I never thought Moosehead Lake to North East Carry during the summer and fall of 1901. that this would happen in my lifetime.” That winter, H.N. Bartley hauled what remained of the parts at Greenville, Once restoration of the 25-foot-long section of the tramway is completed, particularly the 6,000 feet of continuous cable. It was an exhausting job the vision is to level the drive mechanism, connect the steam pipe, and in- using horse teams and skids, and by the time the teams reached Smith’s stall a belt between the engine and drive wheel. The parts are all lying on Halfway House on the West Branch of the Penobscot, they cut the cable the ground right where they were when the tramway was in operation. into two separate sections for easier hauling. A static display of the tramway as it looked in 1903 is possible. All that is When construction was complete, the tramway posed two problems. needed is continued volunteer support and a few thousand dollars. When the system was fired up and put in gear, workers discovered that There has been tremendous support for the tramway restoration effort. none of the 7/8 inch bolts that held the 600 trucks and 600 clamps to The timbers were donated by Viking Lumber: 100 miniature railroad the cable were tight enough and the whole system slipped. This occurred spikes were forged at the Windsor Fair by a group headed by Bob Brann: because the threads on each bolt did not reach far enough down the bolt Cianbro Corp. cut and donated the steel for the spikes: the late Tom shaft to tighten the nuts as much as necessary. The only way to overcome Thornton donated $2000: and Rick Denico, a local camp owner and AWW the problem was to remove all 4,800 bolts and lengthen the threads with Advisory Council member, has been working behind the scenes helping a hand die. to line up donors. When this was finally accomplished and the system was again put into The steam-powered tramway system for moving logs is a testimony to operation, workers watched nervously as the logs crawled onto the trucks those who came before us, their ingenuity and willingness to take on any but did not move at nearly the speed they had expected. problem. Continuing to watch in dismay, they were relieved to find that as the first If you would like to help with future restoration efforts at the tramway, of the logs passed slowly over the height of ground along the route of please give Matt Laroche a call at 695-3721 x4 or send an email to: the tramway their weight helped pull the cable along and increased the [email protected]. overall speed. Tramway, Chamberlain Lake End, 1908 When loaded and under a full head of steam the tramway moved at a rate of about 3 miles per hour. The system could move a half million board feet of logs per day, running from 4:00 a.m. until 8:00 p. m. It worked remarkably well for more than six seasons, hauling 100 million board feet before its use was discontinued. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW), with the help of many volunteers, is in the process of restoring a 25-foot-long section of the tramway. The section to be restored is located at the Cham- berlain end, right next to the boilers, engine, and drive wheel. Everything is lined up for the restoration of a section of the tramway this summer and fall. Materials were brought in last winter. Two volunteer groups have committed to the restoration effort. Roger Morneault will be heading up a crew that will clear and grub the 25-foot-long rail bed, getting it ready for another group headed by Steve Barns who will do the actual reconstruction of www.northmainewoods.org | page fifteen page sixteen |www.northmainewoods.orgpage sixteen Allagash Wilderness Waterway

The Rules The rules governing the Allagash Wilderness Waterway have been established to protect the Waterway and its users. These rules contain important information on several subjects, such as the limitations placed on the use of boats, motors, canoes and authorized access points. Please refer to the rules when planning your trip. For a copy of the rules, please contact: Northern Region Bureau of Parks and Lands 106 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401 Phone (207) 941-4014

The Trip Ability, desire and time are among the most important factors to consider when planning the type of trip you wish to under- take. Some visitors will want to engage a guide, outfitter or experienced canoeist. Others may wish to arrange for float plane transportation into or out of the Waterway. Information on outfitters, guides and float plane services is available from North Maine Woods.

The longest trip through the Waterway starts at Telos Lake and ends at West Twin Brook, a distance of about 92 miles. This takes 7 to 10 days. It is wise to allow extra time, since some days strong Along the Way winds make canoeing on the large lakes very difficult. With extra time built into your schedule, you will not be tempted to ven- Lock Dam: The earthen dam was ture onto the lakes during dangerous conditions. built in 1841 to divert the flow of Shorter trips may be taken from Telos north to Churchill Dam, Chamberlain Lake water into the East which is mostly lake, or from Umsaskis Lake to West Twin Brook, which is mostly river. Branch of the Penobscot River.

For a side trip, consider that three miles west of Lock Dam lies the mouth of Allagash The Tramway: The original cable Stream. An experienced canoeist can make the 6-mile trip with pole and paddle up tramway was built in 1902-1903 this stream to the unforgettable solitude of Allagash Lake. This lake and stream are to transport logs from Eagle Lake closed to airplanes, motors and mechanized equipment of any type. Only canoes are to Chamberlain Lake, a distance of permitted here. three-quarters of a mile. At peak production, a half-million board feet of logs were handled in a single day. The Eagle Lake The Under 10 years of Under 10 years

The most taxing The age is free. $4.00 per night per per- $4.00 per night age is free. $8.00 per night residents. son for Plus non-residents. per person for a 7% lodging tax. stretch of water on the Allagash of water stretch Dam and extends Churchill between 9-mile course The Umsaskis Lake. the rips can be a high point through canoe enthusiasts. whitewater for this servicePortage for is available water. of white stretch and Umbazooksus Railroad was built and Umbazooksus in 1925-1926 and hauled 125,000 from each year of pulpwood cords Lake. Umbazooksus Eagle to Abandoned Railroad: Chase Rapids: Fees: Camping The water level in the side streams, including Allagash Stream, is highly variable. There There is highly variable. including Allagash Stream, in the side streams, level water The in the season. especially late for canoeing, of water flow be a lack of adequate may canoe. to too heavy be may early in the season, flows Very with a 12-mile A short along the traditional route portage Dam will take you Lock from miles of and 5 more the thoroughfare, a 2-mile run through Eagle Lake, paddle across Chase Rapids, dropping the dam is a 9-mile trip through Dam. Below Churchill lake to It canoeing. takes an “whitewater” Umsaskis its Chase Rapidsinto Lake. is famed for when water the rocks guide a canoe through able to person in the stern, experienced considerable after 2:00 pm, canoeists will experience is running high. On bright days Sunglasses help. the sun as they run rips. from glare Here Lake is 5 miles long. at Long Umsaskis trip across the thoroughfare The Lake to Waterway. the American Realtythe private Road crosses Lake will carry the 10- Long into Another 5 miles through you which is 3 miles wide. Round Pond, to mile run downriver of a mile portage, a third Allagash Falls, An 18-mile paddle to Brook. Twin West to and a run of 8 miles will bring you Water- Wilderness is the end of Allagash Brook Twin West Allagash another 5 miles to continue to prefer but many way, of the St. John and Allagash It Rivers. at the confluence Village and another 15 miles St. Francis to is about 15 miles downriver Kent. Fort to vary is usually levels the season, but there throughout Water May all types of canoeists from for water good recreational October. through Access designat- are the AWW points to access Both summer and winter the locations rules for the AWW to Please refer ed and managed. points. hiking access launch sites, trails and winter of authorized Party Size are including trip leaders and/or guides, age, than 12 persons of any of more Groups or camping at AWW Waterway Wilderness the Allagash traveling from prohibited campsites. visit http://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/current/?type=flow levels, water current For CFS starting are 500 means that the rocks below feet per second) to show. CFS (cubic a lot. for the channel and dragging searching 250 means that people are below www.northmainewoods.org | page seventeen Maine Forest Service Fire Tower Project

Throughout the North Maine Woods and beyond, the distinct shape of a taper- ing metal tower with a square wooden cab on top has long been a landmark setting certain mountain tops apart from others. Over the course of the next several years, many of the old sentinels will be removed, making way for new communication towers and cleaning the mountain tops of a long unused system.

The threat of a forest fire devastating the vast forest resource stretching across the State of Maine has always been a concern to both the industrial land owners and the people of the state of Maine. In 1891, Maine was the first state to pass legislation regarding forest fire protection. In 1905, M.G. Shaw Lumber in Greenville built a fire tower on top of Moose Mountain establishing the first fire tower lookout system in the nation. The idea of a fire lookout tower made such good sense that other industrial owners continued building fire towers. After devastating wildfires that burned over 98,000 acres in 1908, the state created the Maine Forestry District and charged it with establishing a fire protection system. As part of the system, the state took over the privately built and manned fire tower system and began to add to it. For the most part, the fire towers that North Maine Woods visitors picture are steel structures that look relatively similar to one another. Some of the fire towers in the area, like the one on Depot Mountain in T14 R16 WELS in far western Aroostook County, began as large logs arranged like tee-pee poles with a lookout platform at the top. To say the least, they wouldn’t meet today’s safety regulations! There were other towers around the state that utilized rock foundations, had wooden staircases or were even fully enclosed.

The Forestry District began installing steel structures in 1913. Initially, most towers had an open observation platform at the top that was eventually replaced with a cab structure. Inside the tower cab, the watchman had a hand cranked phone, maps, a map table and a brass sighting aid called an alidade. Maine was again a leader in fire technology when the Forestry District developed a “panoramic alidade.” Watchmen drew a circular map at the tower that was then sent to draftsmen in Augusta. The draftsmen refined the

Some of the fire towers began as large logs arranged like tee-pee poles with a lookout platform at the top. Others utilized rock foundations, had wooden staircases or were even fully enclosed. The Forestry District began installing steel structures in 1913. page eighteen | www.northmainewoods.org map to show a horizon profile around the edge of the map as well as absolutely had to come down and take refuge in a lightning shack. Some regular scaled map features like lakes, ponds, streams and town lines on of them developed a number system to play checkers in the evening using the main body of the map. their radios. Others had to order a month’s worth of groceries at a time over the radio. If the watchman’s camp was on a lake, Forestry pilots like the leg- All told, the Maine Forestry District put up 143 towers across the state. endary Charlie Robinson would buzz the tower and drop off their groceries While not all of the towers would have been operational at one time, in at the camp. If the camp wasn’t on a lake, like at Deboullie, the groceries 1959 102 towers were staffed for the summer season. In addition to the would be bundled together, attached to a parachute and dumped out of towers, watchman’s cabins and lightning shacks were constructed nearby a canister hooked to the side of his pontoon. And yes, occasionally, after and at least 1,700 miles of telephone wire was run to connect each tower the days ran together, a watchman would need to come out of the woods to a dispatcher of some sort – be it a sporting camp, logging depot or op- because the squirrels were starting to make sense to him. erator – who had phone connections further into civilization. The phone system was eventually replaced by a radio repeater system in the 1950s The demise of the tower system began in the 1950s when aircraft and pi- and 60s. The role of the watchman evolved to include relaying messages lots became more available to perform fire detection through regular air from patrolmen on the ground to supervisors and dispatchers in town. patrols. The state first began using aircraft in 1927, again, leading the na- Many of the Maine Forest Service radio repeater antennas are still at- tion in fire fighting technology. The Maine Forestry District became the tached to fire towers. Maine Forest Service, a bureau within the Department of Conservation, in 1973. By that time, only 13 towers were functioning. In 1991, the last of the The watchmen and women who manned the towers were a sturdy, in- towers, including Norway Bluff, Allagash Mountain and Burnt Mountain in dividualistic group with some truly amazing stories. These folks would the northern region, closed. Aircraft was doing a majority of the fire detec- spend many long, often lonely, days, weeks and months by themselves tion while the watchman’s role was more as a radio relay point for Forest in what were very remote locations. They were known to stay in a tower Rangers on the ground. The towers were retained by the Maine Forest Ser- during lightning storms plotting fire-starting lightning strikes until they continued on page twenty X

Alidade system was used to pin point location of forest fires The alidade system consisted of a round map with a hill profile along the edge that matched what the watchperson would see out the tower windows as well as compass degree marks. The map would be orientated on a map table to coincide with the view and cardinal directions. The map table would be the height of the bottom of the tower windows. Between the profile and the center of the map would be a regular flat map showing lakes, streams, roads, etc. The map was covered with a round piece of glass the same diameter as the map table. The alidade is in two parts that slip together to make one unit in a cross (+) shape. One of the pieces (say the - of the +) would have a vertical piece on each end. On one end, the piece re- sembles a peep site with a small hole in the upright to site through. The other end has a vertical brass wire. When someone spotted a smoke, they would spin the alidade so that the brass wire end was toward the fire. The watchman would then fine tune exactly where the wire end was aligned to by using the peep site to line up the origin location of the smoke with the brass wire. When they were done lining things up, the horizontal piece of the brass wire end would act like a compass needle and would be pointing to (or between) a degree mark. The watchman would call the degree reading in and a dispatcher would draw a line, or run a string, from the tower location along the azimuth on a wall map. The watchman could also figure out, based on the flat map below, if the bearing was intersecting a campsite or logging operation. As soon as smoke was spotted, neighboring towers would also try to plot the smoke, figure an azimuth and allow the dispatcher to triangulate the fire location.

www.northmainewoods.org | page nineteen Fire Tower Project W continued from page nineteen

vice as a back up system with alidades, maps and a radio plug in. To this day, the fire tower network has been a system the state and it’s citizens have been proud of. The system, with it’s sharp eyed watchmen and women, worked in detecting widfires early and helping to reduce fire size and save lives.

Following a tradition of utilizing the best new technology, the Maine Forest Service now detects lightning strikes through a satellite based monitoring The Forest Society of Maine works to system that plots individual strikes on a map. The map is used to help direct conserve the recreational, cultural, and concentrate air patrols. At the same time, every year the general state of ecological, and economic values of the fire towers has continued to decline. The fire towers are subject to harsh forestlands throughout Maine— helping to keep recreational opportunities weather and without ongoing maintenance, they have become dangerous available for people like you. for the pubic and a liability to the landowner. At most, there are approximately 30 towers with cabs and 19 steel frames left standing. Most areas of To learn more about Maine’s land trust for the North Woods, please contact FSM today! the state have reliable road networks and almost instantaneous communications through radio and cell phone. The old towers are ready to come down. 'SBOLMJO4USFFU SE'MPPSt#BOHPS .& In 2011, the tower at Moose Mountain by Greenville was removed ending tJOGP!GTNBJOFPSHtXXXGTNBJOFPSH a 106 year history of a tower being on the mountain top. Occasionally, the towers will be replaced with regional, multiagency communication towers Two Rivers that will help firefighters and emergency responders get to those in need in CANOE& TACKLE less time. Other towers will simply be removed, returning the mountain top to the wind and the elements and the squirrels who occasionally make sense BIG CANOES if you listen to them long enough. Four Season Sport Shop GUNS Barry and Nancy Davis 207-746-8181 2323 Medway Road, PO Box 305 Medway, ME 04460 [email protected] www.tworiverscanoe.com M. Rafford Trucking and Construction Inc. PO Box 526 Ashland, ME 04732 Shop 435-2024 Home 435-6530

General Trucking & Construction For more on Maine’s Fire Tower heritage, visit Maine Memory Network at www.mainememory.net and search Looking Out: Maine’s Fire Towers or visit Maine Fire Lookouts at http://www.firelookout.org/towers/me/me.htm

EAST MILLINOCKET PARTS To purchase a replica panoramic map from a variety of towers around 119 Main Street the state, including Norway visit the Maine State Archives at East Millinocket, ME 04430 http://www.maine.gov/sos/arc/ and look for Fire Tower Maps in the maps section of the online store. 207-746-5204 | 207-746-3901 page twenty | www.northmainewoods.org Norway Bluff Tower and the Weeks Family By Amanda Barker, Maine Forest Ranger, Ashland District Norway Bluff tower in T9 R9 WELS near Munsungan Lake 35 miles west of Ashland is scheduled to be removed in the spring or summer of 2012 ending a 98 year stand on the Bluff. The Maine Forest Service will be using one of its UH1B Huey helicopters to lift firstthe cab and then the steel tower off the Bluff. The cab and tower will be landed in the old Pell & Pell camp yard on the Pell & Pell road and then transported by lowbed to the Ashland Logging Museum. The Museum has plans to restore the cab and a short section of the steel tower. To donate time or money to the project, please contact Bob Sawyer, Museum president at [email protected] or 435-4100.

Over the life span of the tower system, hundreds of people were employed to man the towers and many people hold fond memories of walking up to a tower to visit an aunt or uncle, brother, sister or crazy cousin. In the North Maine Woods, Norway Bluff was one of the last manned stations and many people remember walking up and visiting with Bob Alexander, its last watchman. In addition to being one of the last manned stations, the Norway Bluff tower and the Weeks family of Masardis have a unique tie as well. The Chief Warden in the 1910s was a year-round employee of the Maine Forestry District. He hired seasonal patrolmen to be stationed at camps throughout the woods and watchmen to man the towers. Norway Bluff Tower was built in 1914 under Chief Warden J.B. Bartlett. Chief Warden J.B. Bartlett, Ashland: During the past summer there has been built on Norway Bluff, Township 9 Range 9, a 24 foot steel lookout tower; a camp built on the side of the mountain for the watchman; four miles of telephone wire hung to connect with the Maine Forestry District wire at Munsungan Lake, giving the man on Norway Bluff lookout telephone connection with Oxbow Plantation. There has also been hung on the lower end of the Aroostook River telephone line three miles of wire ; connecting with Libby Hotel, at Oxbow Plantation giving the lookout man on Norway Bluff connection at two places. (Report of Forest Commis- sioner Maine 1914) Two years later in 1916, Charles L. Weeks became the Chief Warden covering the Aroostook and Big Ma- chias Rivers and continued to work for Maine Forestry District for a full career. Link worked seasonally for his father at the MFD while also farming in Masardis. Born in 1891, Link was fatally shot by a hunter he was guiding in 1941 at his brother Harold’s sporting camp located on Spectacle Pond in T9 R8 WELS, just east of Norway Bluff. Also pictured is John Hall, another farmer from Masardis who was often contracted to haul the steel tower pieces up local mountains for the MFD. We know he hauled both Norway and Scopan towers using his horses and bob sleds. Charles L. Weeks, Chief Warden, Aroostook and Big Machias Rivers: We changed the floor on steel tower on Norway Bluff and put a good substantial railing on it. We have ordered the material needed, and made arrangements for hauling of the same in early winter, that the house may be erected on tower next summer. We also painted the tower. (Report of Forest Commissioner Maine 1917) According to the 1919 Forest Commissioner’s Report, “The Maine Forestry District, in the past year, experienced one of the most dangerously dry seasons since its establishment in 1909. The territory between Millinocket and Ashland, supervised by John E. Mitchell of Patten, Thomas Griffin of Millinocket and

Charles L. Weeks of Ashland, three Chief Forest Fire wardens, proved to be the most dangerous section for Clockwise from top: Todd Weeks forest fires in the Maine Forestry District. The particular reason for this we believe is that there were more visits a fire tower; Watchman Bob lumbermen and sportsmen in the woods in that particular section than in any other part of the State.” The Alexander; Link Weeks and John watchman at Norway Bluff Tower spotted 13 fires that year. Hall atop the Norway Bluff fire tower circa 1918 or 1919; Bob Today, almost 100 years later, Charles’ great-great-grandson is involved in the removal of the tower. Todd Alexander waves from the cab of Weeks, from Masardis, has been a Forest Ranger since 1985 and has long been stationed at Brown Brook a fire tower. camp at Mile 35 on the Pinkham Road west of Ashland. Todd has walked up to the tower many a time and is instrumental in its removal. Known for his quiet voice, cleverness with equipment and fire, and constant grin, Todd has been a cornerstone for the Maine Forest Service’s Aroostook Waters District. And why not – he and his family have been with the Service almost as long as its been around! www.northmainewoods.org | page twenty one Penobscot River Leisurely Flat Water, Exciting Rapids and Comfortable Campsites

Upper West Branch The Upper West Branch and Lobster Lake area offer pleasant canoeing a whitewater craft. It is recommended that groups wishing to run the Lower West and camping. Canoeing groups usually put in at Roll Dam Campsite, Branch make arrangements with a whitewater rafting company. Penobscot Farm or Lobster Lake. It is a leisurely three day trip to Umba- Big Eddy to Ambejejus is mixed flat water and rapids with several falls and stretches zooksus Stream or five to seven day trip to the take out at the former of heavy rapids. Canoe groups who wish to run the Lower West Branch should be site of Chesuncook Dam. Paddlers encounter quick water only from Big experienced and use extreme caution due to the many rapids and falls. Several por- Island to Little Ragmuff and (at very low water) Rocky Rips. Lobster Lake tages are also required. Refer to the AMC Canoe Guide. is a popular camping spot for canoeing and fishing groups. Groups using Lobster Lake should be aware that high winds can cause dangerous waves. Caution is recommended in the use of small watercraft. Campsites Camping is allowed only at sites designated by the Bureau of Parks and Lands. All Chesuncook Lake sites are primitive, many accessible only by watercraft. All sites have a fire ring, table and outhouse. Fire permits are not required; however, fires must be contained in Chesuncook Lake is the third largest lake in the state, with a flowage fireplaces provided, fire pans or portable stoves. Visitors are limited to no more than length of 29 miles. High winds can cause dangerous waves. Be care- 7 consecutive nights. The Bureau of Parks and Lands may authorize an extension ful. Chesuncook Village is a popular stopping spot for canoe groups. In on a day to day basis. Tents or other equipment cannot be left unoccupied on any bygone days, the village had over 100 year-round residents, a school, site more than one night and sites must be vacated by noon on the last day of the post office, stores, church, hotel, boarding house and an organized permit. If you are not interested in primitive camping there are commercial camp- town government. Today the village boasts two sporting camps, a grounds or camps in the West Branch area. modest store, several seasonal camps and a church that has Sunday Camping Fees: Under 10 years of age is free. $4.00 per night per person for res- services during June, July and August. idents. $8.00 per night per person for non-residents. Plus a 7% lodging tax. Lower West Branch Organized Groups The Lower West Branch offers easy access for camping and fishing Groups of more than 30 people are prohibited. Groups of more than 12 people are groups. The “Golden Road” is a primary land management road used restricted to using designated group campsites. Group campsites are marked by a for the transportation of forest products and runs parallel to the river on the map. Trip leaders of boys and girls camps licensed by the Department for 10 miles from Abol to Ripogenus Dam. Ripogenus Dam to Big Eddy of Human Services are required by law to obtain a permit from the Department of contains very severe rapids runable only by an experienced team in Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in advance of the trip. photo by Peter Freeman

page twenty two | www.northmainewoods.org photo by Peter Freeman photo by PRC staff photo by Andrew McPartland

DISTANCES Seboomook Dam to Roll Dam 2.5 miles Roll Dam to Penobscot Farm 5.5 miles Penobscot Farm to Lobster Trip 2.5 miles Lobster Trip to Ogden Point 3 miles Ogden Point to end of Big Claw 4.5 miles Lobster Trip to Halfway House 8 miles Halfway House to Big Island 2.5 miles Big Island to Pine Stream 6 miles Pine Stream to Chesuncook Village 3 miles Chesuncook Village to Chesuncook B 16 miles Chesuncook B to Ripogenus Dam 3 miles Ripogenus Dam to Big Eddy 2.5 miles Big Eddy to Horserace Brook 4 miles Horserace Brook to Abol Bridge 5 miles Abol Bridge to Nevers Corner 2 miles Nevers Corner to Debsconeag Falls 3 miles Debsconeag Falls to Passamagamet Falls 4 miles Passamagamet Falls to Ambajejus Lake 2 miles

Conservation Easements In 1981 the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands accepted a perpetual Conservation Easement from Great Northern Paper Company. The easement encompasses 8,090 acres along the shores of the East and West Branch of the Penobscot River and Lobster Lake (approx. 12 miles of the lake frontage and 67 miles of river). The easement transfers to the State of Maine substantial development rights and gives the State the right to regulate and manage recreation activities within 500 feet of the high water mark. The recreation management plan calls on the Bureau of Parks and Lands to maintain and enhance present recreational opportunities and maintain the natural character of the corridor. In 2002 the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands accepted a renewable Conservation Easement of limited duration on portions of Chesuncook and Ripogenus Lakes and Brandy and Black Ponds from Brookfield Power. The easement protects 2,365 acres and 80 miles of lake frontage from development and gives the State the right to manage recreational activities within 250 feet of the high water mark.

www.northmainewoods.org | page twenty three Perseverance Pays Off NMW employee’s granddaughter catches first muskie photo courtesy Breannaphoto courtesy Thibodeau

By Breanna Thibodeau The day started with some lawn mowing up at Simmon’s Farm with my Grandparents, who work for North Maine Woods and help out with the upkeep of the campsites. I occasionally give a hand when I can, and this day the plan was to head up in the woods, cut some grass, and then head down to Glacier Lake and test my luck with some muskie fishing. I wasn’t expecting much, taking into consideration all of the other failures I’ve had with muskie in the past. It ranged from rod snapping to trying to wrangle one with bare hands with zero luck, and this time I was bound and determined to reel one in. On arrival, my friend and I hopped in a canoe and motored up the lake. Hours went by with no luck and we decided to send out one last cast. Being so frustrated with my bad fortune and the fish, I started to reel the line in as fast as I could so that we could get out of there and head home. As the lure got closer, I felt the line completely stop on a dime and thought to myself, “Oh great, stuck on bottom”. This was the last thing I needed and I decided to give it a jerk anyway just to see what would happen. Within seconds, the tip of the pole began jerking and snapping, as well as myself in excitement. Neither of us had thought to bring a net or pliers, so all we knew was that we were going to have to haul that thing over the side of the boat with our bare hands. After almost flipping the canoe over from our clown show out in the middle of the lake, my friend volunteered to stick a hand in the water and take hold of the fish. We finally got it into the boat and immediately took off back to the camp, threw the fish into the vehicle and brought our trophy back to show everyone. The muskie was fairly small for its kind, but 38 inches is good enough for me, until next time. Miller’s Metal Sales Metal Roofing and Siding

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My name is Benjamin Fullerton. I am 14 years old. I live in Greene, Maine. I would like to share my moose hunting story. My exciting moose hunting adventure began on June 18, 2011 when my name was drawn in the Maine Moose Lottery. After spending the summer planning the moose It was hard to leave the parking lot, because every- hunt, with my cousins Randy Brooks, Ronnie Brooks, Robbie Brooks, body wanted to see my moose. I can honestly say Hunter Brooks, my grandfather Gilbert Field, and my sub-permittee Alvin Brandt, we set off for Priestly Campsite on the St. John River, which is lo- that that was probably the most incredible moment cated in Zone 1. of my life, to see myself with my big game. I had a September permit so I was able to hunt September 26th through October 1st. We chose to scout the area the weekend before the hunt. On that Saturday, we were eating lunch when a huge bull walked into a bog quite far. After a while, we found him lying down, so I fired my last shot, next to the campsite. He came back again that night around 6 o’clock so to put him out of his misery. He was so big. After we were done taking we decided we would search for him the first two days, once the season pictures and such, Randy and I gutted him. There was a large amount of opened. blood due to the internal bleeding. After he was gutted, we realized we We did not see much the first couple of days we were there. It was almost were in the middle of the woods, at the bottom of an 800 yard hill. He was 80 degrees both days. On Wednesday it was really cold so we decided too big to carry so we had to quarter him into pieces to get him out. It to drive. We were pulling onto a side road and about a mile up we saw a took 6 hours with the help of everybody there. cow so we quickly jumped out of the truck. We heard a grunt and before After that was all said and done, my moose came to the weight of 1100 I knew it a monster bull walked out into an opening. I pulled up and fired pounds. The rack had a 50 ½ inch spread. The burrs were so big that the at him with the .270 I was using. He did not go down. He ran! After he was tagging station had to tag my bull in the ear. It was hard to leave the park- gone we started to follow his trail. ing lot, because everybody wanted to see my moose. I can honestly say The bull was bleeding internally so he was only bleeding drop by drop on that that was probably the most incredible moment of my life, to see my- the trail. We followed the trail from about 7am to 10:30 am. He had run self with my big game. It was an adventure I will never forget.

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By Randy Cross, Bear Biologist In order to maintain a stable bear population, we Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife must have a good understanding of the number of The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is charged with managing Maine’s abundant wildlife resources. One of our most celebrat- bears entering the population to replace losses. ed and treasured animals is the black bear. Although many people enjoy an abundant bear population, too many bears can create problems for the is known, the number dying from other causes and the numbers entering bears and the people who live with them. Black bear management is a bal- the population must be determined by our research. ancing act between maintaining a healthy and abundant population for The Maine black bear monitoring program is a long-term project designed all to enjoy, and limiting the growth of the bear population so that bear to continually gather data regarding the status of our bear population. The nuisance problems do not cross the line of public tolerance. A big part program began as a study in 1975 when Roy Hugie in cooperation with of managing bear nuisance problems involves modifying human behav- the Department established 2 study areas consisting of 4 townships each - ior to lessen the number of negative bear/human interactions. This may Spectacle Pond (20 miles West of Ashland) and Stacyville (near Patten). Roy include advice on taking in bird feeders, handling outside trash, and how compared population characteristics of the bears living in these 2 study to prevent damage to agricultural crops. Each fall, bear hunters enter the areas for his PhD. At that time, the Spectacle Pond area was lightly hunted; Maine woods in hopes of harvesting a black bear. These hunters, and the whereas, bears in the Stacyville area experienced heavy hunting pressure. rules that control their methods, are the tools that managers use to ensure Today, hunting pressure is more evenly distributed across the bears’ range the bear population is not overharvested and to keep the bear population in Maine. from “crossing the line”. In 1981, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife took over Roy’s How do biologists determine the proper number of animals that needs to project and established a new study area near Bradford (north of Old Town) be harvested? The first part of any management program is to have clear in 1982. The Department also changed the focus of the project by using ra- goals and objectives. Our management goals and objectives are set by dio collared females in each study area to represent bears across the state interested members of the public that have reviewed and discussed the that are living in similar habitat conditions to each study area. For example, latest MDIFW bear assessment (Public Working Group). These goals are if we found that our radiocollared females in our study area in the north- set about every 15 years. Our current management goal for bears is to ern commercial forest were particularly successful in raising their cubs in a provide hunting, trapping, and viewing opportunity for bears. Our popula- given year, then we would assume that other females living in the northern tion objective is to stabilize the bear population (no significant increase or commercial forest were also very successful. decrease in numbers) through traditional hunting and trapping activities. In order to maintain a stable bear population, we must have a good under- Currently, we have three active study areas in northern, central and east- standing of the number of bears entering the population (recruitment) to ern Maine. In 2004, the Stacyville study area was discontinued and a new replace losses. While the number of bears harvested by hunters each year study area was created in Downeast Maine (northeast of Beddington). This page twenty six | www.northmainewoods.org study area was established to address a longstanding need to better represent a portion own trapping efforts. of Maine’s bear population in eastern Maine living under habitat conditions not well repre- We have learned a lot about bears in Maine over the last 37 sented by the other 2 existing study areas. years, but we are still discovering new things. Each field sea- A total of between 85 and 100 radio collared female bears are monitored each year in all son of data collection still reveals unexpected surprises. The three study areas combined. Radio collars are helpful for monitoring black bears because Department’s bear monitoring program is an ongoing source their secretive nature makes them difficult to observe or count. Radio collars send out a of information providing biologists with the knowledge nec- signal revealing each bear’s location in her den as she hibernates under the winter snow. essary to properly manage this valuable wildlife resource. It is All of our collared female bears are visited each winter in their dens, which allows us to “our finger on the pulse of the bear population”. determine the number of cubs born. Because these cubs stay with their mother for 16 This work is possible thanks to revenue from a federal tax on months and den with her the following winter, we can also determine how many cubs firearms, ammunition and other hunting related items. The survive to one year of age (known as yearlings). We tag the ears of all cubs and yearlings to funds from this federal tax (Pittman-Robertson tax) pay for identify them. Female yearlings are equipped with radio collars, which allow us to follow about 75% of the cost of the program. The remaining 25% them throughout their lives after leaving their mothers the following summer. comes primarily from hunting and fishing license sales. We have found marked differences in reproduction, survival, and recruitment between So, what’s new? We recently began collecting a small tooth study areas as well as within study areas over time while habitat and weather conditions from each harvested bear to determine the age of these har- change. The variables that cause these differences are many and complicated and are not vested bears. The age structure of the harvest will help us de- easy to predict, measure, or even identify. Nutrition plays a major role in determining the termine whether the bear population is increasing or decreas- number of cubs that are produced, and cub survival through their first year. ing in different areas of the state. Bears in Maine utilize a wide assortment of natural foods, and the foods that are avail- The Wildlife Research Foundation, a private non-profit orga- able in each study area are quite different. Historically, beechnut production has been nization, was recently established to promote education and linked to cub production in northern Maine, but these nuts have been less reliable in re- wildlife research. Early in the winter of 2012, we helped the cent years and are less important in south- foundation install a webcam in the den of a pregnant female ern areas. The abundance of many types of in northern Maine. She has since given birth to 2 cubs and can bear foods are affected by weather, which be seen on the web at www.WLRF.org. makes predicting the food supply and cub production and survival difficult from year- to-year. Closely tracking food production might help us explain year-to-year varia- tions in cub production and survival. With limited funding, we can more efficiently measure cub production and survival directly during our winter den visits.

Forestry practices are continually evolving, which changes the world the bears live in and the food they depend on. Forestland ownership and market conditions are constantly changing as well, which also impacts forest resource management. Unforeseen disease or insect outbreaks may influence forest composition and harvest strategies in the future. Thus, the general nature of the forests of northern Maine and the bear foods they provide are very different now than they were years ago, and most likely will be different in years to come. The combined effects of all these complex variables on bears are most easily measured by continually monitoring the bears’ successes and failures directly in their dens.

A large part of our bear monitoring program involves trapping and radio collaring bears in late spring and early summer. Trapping bears with foot-snares allows us to collar new bears to replace collared bears that have died or that have been lost due to malfunction- ing collars. Periodic trapping efforts are necessary to maintain a representative sample of bears in each study area. We ear-tag many males while trapping and in the dens as well. Because males often damage their ears while fighting, we also tattoo their inner lip for a permanent mark. These marked males offer additional information regarding their move- ments and mortality when they are re-encountered through hunter harvest, roadkill or our

www.northmainewoods.org | page twenty seven Comstock Woodlands A Major Operation in the Maine Woods and 2011 Outstanding Maine Logger

In 2011 members of the Maine Forest Products Council recognized Comstock Woodlands as Outstanding Log- ger of the Year. The award was given “in recognition of exemplary performance on the ground and a commitment to meeting management objectives of multiple landowners through innovation, sound business management and the ability to adapt to and embrace change in one of the most challenging regions in Maine.”

H.O. Bouchard Inc. was created by Harold Bouchard in 1958 and is now operated by his son Brian Bouchard. In the 1970s and early 1980’s, H.O. Bouchard trucked wood for Great Northern Paper Company out of the Scott Brook Operation, north of Chesuncook Lake.

Comstock Woodlands was established in 1991 to operate independently from H.O. Bouchard’s trucking business. While H.O. Bouchard’s main office is located in Hampden, Comstock Woodlands is based 120 miles northwest and north of Moosehead Lake. Comstock Woodlands employs approximately 32 employees, most are certified by Maine’s Certified Logging Professional program and they obtain re-certification every two years.

Ralph Ouellette is the Operations Manager for Comstock Woodlands, a position he has held since 1994. Ralph grew up in Fort Kent, studied welding and mechanics and first started employment with H.O. Bouchard at age 20 driving trucks. After driving for a few years he went to work in Bouchard’s truck maintenance facility in Millinocket and in 1994 was hired as operations manager of Comstock Woodlands. page twenty eight | www.northmainewoods.org Comstock Woodlands is a service contractor that harvests and delivers wood to mills in the region at the direction of the forester for the landowner where operations are occurring. Ralph works with foresters from several landowning companies located in the region surrounding Comstock Woodlands’ logging camps. He negotiates the terms of harvest contracts and makes sure those contract terms are properly carried out.

In 2011 there were seven different harvest operations on three different landowners: t &MN4USFBN5PXOTIJQNorth Woods Management t 53BU$BSJCPV-BLFPrentiss & Carlisle t 53$PNTUPDLWagner Forest Management t 53UI4U+PIO1POENorth Woods Management t 53#JH#PHWagner Forest Management

t 53#BLFS-BLFPrentiss & Carlisle Caribou Point operation crew members, from left to right: Ralph Ouellette, Operations t 8FTU'PSLTJO#JOHIBNWagner Forest Management Manager; Audrey Allen, forester; Roland Boucher, Shawn McCue, Chris Johnson, Aron Madore, Travis Brownly, Terry Theriault, Corey Charette As Operations Manager Ralph is responsible for hiring and managing 32 employees and approximately 12 subcontractors. Although the camps over public highways can carry up to 18 cords and off road trucks that are are within a remote area of North Maine Woods and crews must live in the only traveling on private woods roads can haul up to 35 cords. woods during their workweek, Ralph says there is very little employee turn- There is also a road and bridge construction crew which is necessary to over. He said one employee has been with the company over 40 years. create new roads to access wood harvest operations. Equipment for this The work week starts on Sunday afternoon for many employees who live crew includes excavators, road graders, backhoes and dump trucks. several hours of travel time away from the In order to keep all the equipment job site. Many arrive at the logging camp and trucks operating Comstock Sunday afternoon in order to catch a few Woodlands averages about 9,500 hours of sleep before starting at the job The award is given in recognition of exemplary gallons of diesel fuel every week. site at 3 am. The average work week is performance on the ground and a commitment about 55 hours. The average work day to meeting management objectives of multiple Harvest operations usually run be- for harvest crews starts about 3 am and landowners through innovation, sound tween June, when the ground is harvesting ends about 4 pm with an- dry enough to operate on without business management and the ability to other hour spent on equipment main- causing environmental damage, tenance in preparation for the next day. adapt and embrace change in one of the to March when “mud season” be- The work week generally ends Thursday most challenging regions in Maine. gins. Average wood production in afternoon allowing workers to be home 2011 was approximately 180 loads Thursday night. or 4000 cords per week.

Comstock Woodlands owns and main- Comstock Woodlands is just one of tains 2 cut-to-length harvesting systems, dozens of logging contractors that 5 feller-bunchers, 6 grapple skidders, 6 operate within the North Maine de-limbers, and 4 cranes. Woods region. By multiplying all of the numbers in this story relat- In addition to overseeing harvest op- ed to number of employees, num- erations, Ralph also coordinates daily ber of different types of harvesting schedules for 18 logging trucks which equipment, number of logging deliver different wood products to ap- trucks, amount of fuel used and proximately 30 wood processing mills volume of wood supplied to all of located in Maine and Quebec. Truck the wood processing facilities as drivers sometimes have to visit several listed separately, it is obvious that different harvest sites to make up a load our working forest is a major eco- of similar wood species which is coordi- nomic engine for Maine. nated by a Comstock forester at each job site. Trucks that need to transport wood

www.northmainewoods.org | page twenty nine Trees Harvested in Comstock’s Operation go to Mills in Maine and Canada

At roadside, where the skidder operator brings the harvested trees, the de-limber operator and crane operator both sort out different tree species by quality and diameter. The logs are then placed on trucks which deliver to different mills within a hundred mile radius or more from the harvest site. In some cases, the first log off the stump goes to a lumber mill and the narrower top section of the tree goes to a pulp or paper mill in another location.

It is the job of the company forester working with the contractor’s operations manager to determine where logs are sent depending on contracts with various mills and current prices paid. The primary goal is to maxi- mize the value received from each tree.

Mill Location Tree Species End Product Appalachian Green Energy Daaquam hardwood hardwood pulp Arbotec Daaquam hardwood logs lumber Bardobeck Daaquam cedar shingles, lumber, mulch Columbia Forest Products Presque Isle high grade birch veneer plywood Daaquam Lumber Daaquam spruce and fir lumber D & G Lumber St. Aurelie spruce and fir lumber D & G Lumber St. Come pine pine boards Domtar (St. Aurelie) St. Aurelie low grade hardwood pulp Gardner Dolby all chips, lumber, pulp wood Glidden Lumber Parkman spruce and fir lumber Hancock Lumber Bethel white pine pine boards, custom sawn pine Hardwood Products Guilford birch birch bolts, hardwood items Huber Easton poplar premium oriented strand board Katahdin Paper East Millinocket spruce and fir paper Kennebec Lumber Bingham hardwood logs boards, lumber Maibec St. Theophile cedar shingles, mulch Maibec St. Pamphile cedar, spruce, fir shingles, lumber Madison Paper Madison spruce, fir, hardwood paper Michigan Veneer Michigan hardwood logs high grade veneer Moose River Lumber Jackman spruce and fir lumber Pleasant River Lumber Dover-Foxcroft spruce and fir lumber Pride Manufacturing Milo hardwood hardwood bolts, handles Red Shield Old Town hardwood pulp Rene Bernard Mill St. Zacharie pine lumber SAPPI Skowhegan hardwood pulp paper SBC St. Prosper cedar shingles, mulch Verso Bucksport and Jay hardwood pulp paper Ward Clapboard Patten spruce clapboards page thirty | www.northmainewoods.org 2000s In today’s forest, machines like processors and forwarders help increase production and reduce environmental impacts.

Comstock Woodlands Operations Manager Ralph Ouellette has been in the logging business for several decades. When we interviewed him he recalled when he was young, he and his brother would load their truck with hay on weekends and make a delivery to logging camps in the area around their home near Fort Kent.

The hay was to feed the horses used for logging and he said they usually also de- livered a couple of live pigs which were used to feed the logging camp crew. Ralph 1960s explained many of the changes that have taken place in the Maine woods since Skidders, introduced in the 1960s, are still in use today. the 1950s and he provided a collection of photos that show those changes.

1950s A cherry picker loads Chainsaws were in use A tractor pulls sleds of wood in 1956. wood in 1951. in the 1950s.

1940s Trucks started hauling wood Workers load wood by hand onto a horse- Workers buck wood by hand. in the 1940s. drawn sleigh in the 1940s.

1930s Wood was moved by river A worker drives a one-horse Workers used bucksaws to cut until the 1970s. sledge of pulp in the 1930s. trees in the 1930s and 40s.

www.northmainewoods.orgwww.northmainewoods.org | page | page twenty thirty three one Before the First Tree is Cut Before the first tree is cut the forester responsible for the specific tract of forest pre- pares a harvest management plan. The harvest plan takes into consideration any sensitive areas containing vernal pools, eagle nests, and special old or dead trees called “legacy trees” which provide homes for birds or wildlife. Also considered are any Land Use Regulation Commission zones and riparian zones around water bod- ies or along brooks and streams. The plan includes instructions for the harvesting contractor on what tree species and sizes to harvest. After this step is taken, the forester submits a harvest notification to the Maine For- est Service and receives a forest harvest confirmation sign which is posted at the harvest site. This posting states the landowner or land manager’s name and notification number which can serve as a tracking tool for an inquiring public or regulatory agency. This notification also serves to trigger an end of year reporting obligation by the landowner or agent which, when the data is rolled up with all other harvests in Maine, serves to provide an annual statewide harvest estimate. Ninety five percent of the private forest lands within the North Maine Woods are independently certified for sustainable practices by a third party. All long term forest management plans of certified landowners are reviewed by a team of independent, professional inspectors who review past harvest practices, long term plans and con- duct on the ground inspections of the properties. Interviews are conducted with In Stock Now. forestry staff and harvesting contractors as well. There are two certification programs utilized by landowners in North Maine Woods: the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Both have rigorous performance standards to measure land management practices. Some landowners are certified to both standards. SFI is unique in having a state by state implementation committee responsible for several programs that help landowners achieve certification. These programs include a substantial training infrastructure for loggers and foresters as well as a process for the public to inquire on site specific practices they question. At each North Maine’s Wood gate there is an SFI poster prominently displayed with the number (888) 734-4625 which gives you access to an SFI representative and allows you to report concerns you may have, confidentially. (Copies of Maine’s SFI Implementation BF40_EFI Committees progress report are available in the offices as well.) • Honda 40HP EFI These three steps, planning, notification and third party certification assure that har- • Multi-port Programmed Fuel vesting crews follow specific directions on how each forest tract is to be harvested in Injection • Best in Class Fuel Efficiency a sustainable manner. And don’t forget your ability to weigh in as well! • Lightest Weight in Class! photo by Peter Freeman • 5year, Non-Declining Warranty • Lean Burn(TM) means Up to 20% Less Fuel! (compared to similarly sized 4-stroke at cruising speed)

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*Compared to similarly sized 2-stroke trolling speed. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. 2009 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ® page thirty two | www.northmainewoods.org New Videos Demonstrate How to Release Fish

The Maine Professional Guides Association and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have teamed up to put together a series of videos of catch and release techniques. This project is in response to the fact that, over the past few years, the practice of catch and release has increased significantly in the angling com- munity but the knowledge needed to successfully release a fish alive has not grown at the same rate. These five videos, featuring t i1MBZJOHBOE-BOEJOHB'JTIwUFBDIFTIPXUPTVDDFTTGVMMZCSJOHUIFöTIPO Environmental Educator Emily Maccabe and ten year old fishing a line out of the lake and into a boat or onto the shore. enthusiast Emily Douglas, are intended to teach anglers of all ages and experience levels the best fish handling practices for t i$BUDIBOE3FMFBTFB'JTIwTIPXTIPXUPTBGFMZIBOEMFBOESFMFBTFBöTI every step of a fishing trip. including how to remove the hook, how to properly hold a fish and support its weight, and how to gently release the fish back into the water. t i(FBSBOE5BDLMFwQSPWJEFTBSVOUISPVHIPGUIFCBTJDHFBS that should be brought along on any fishing trip to ensure t i,FFQJOHB'JTIwEFNPOTUSBUFTIPXUPLJMMBöTI BOEPVUMJOFTUIJOHTUP that fish are caught and released as simply as possible. consider when deciding whether or not to keep a fish.

t i4FUUJOH UIF )PPLw JMMVTUSBUFT UIF CBTJD SPE NPWFNFOUT These videos are being shown at various public events and can be found online needed to catch the hook firmly in the fish’s mouth and at the Maine Professional Guides Association’s YouTube channel http://www. ensure that it stays on the line. youtube.com/user/MPGAssociation?blend=3&ob=video-mustangbase Top Fisheries Biologist Retires

After more than 45 years in the Fisheries and Hatcheries divisions at well and keep things rolling.” the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Peter Bourque Bourque remained the director until early last decade, when he became the retired this past fall. new Director of Fisheries Program Development. Bourque, who lives in Farmingdale, began his career with the MDIFW He has no concrete plans for retirement, beyond traveling some with his wife in 1965 as an assistant regional fisheries bi- and staying involved in fish and wildlife pursuits. ologist in the Moosehead Lake region. He “I want to keep interested in the fish and wildlife worked under Roger Auclair at the time, “I want to keep interested in the field,” said Bourque, who retreats in his spare time before moving to Ashland to work as the fish and wildlife field. Wherever to his camp near Haymock Lake. “Wherever I can be regional fisheries biologist in the Fish River/ helpful, even on volunteer basis, I want to do that. Allagash region in late 1968. I can be helpful, even on a I’m hoping to do some traveling – we haven’t done For 15 years, that’s where Bourque called volunteer basis.” a lot of that as a husband-wife team. “I’m going to home – until moving to Augusta to become spend a lot of time with outdoors pursuits. Boating, the Assistant Chief of Fisheries in 1983. One fishing, hunting, kayaking. Hopefully, with a little year later, he became the Chief, a position more time, I can do more of that, too. Myself, I know now known as Director of Fisheries. that I’m going to spend a lot more time in the out- “Having the 18½ years in the field was really, doors.” really important in terms of knowing what Peter represented the Department on several North the needs were for the division, knowing Maine Woods committees during his career. He the type of work the (biologists) did, and served on the Campsite Committee, the Coordinat- being able to support them,” Bourque said. ing Committee and the St. John River Committee. “The ‘boots on the ground’ really makes a He was instrumental in working with NMW staff in difference in fisheries. It’s really those guys 2011 to make improvements to the boat access and in the regions that make it work. It’s impor- camping area on Glazier Lake. tant for them to understand their waters www.northmainewoods.org | page thirty three Public Lands Round Pond Unit By Vernon M. Labbe, Regional Manager HMA Bureau of Parks & Lands You may be asking yourself what is an HMA? HMA is an acronym for Habitat location of specific areas for specific uses. In this system it is natural to Management Area which is a long-term strategy for managing deer winter- have overlapping uses. To reduce conflicts, a dominant use is identified ing habitat. The Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, as priority and all other uses become secondary. As you would expect, Lands Division and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have the dominant use for the HMA is wildlife management. The secondary entered into an agreement for management of white-tailed deer and for uses for the HMA in descending order are special protection, remote rec- other species requiring mature coniferous forests. The agreement provides reation, visual consideration, developed recreation, and timber manage- an increased landbase for habitat management as well as increased flex- ment. ibility for management, which will provide higher and more stable levels of During critical winter conditions white-tailed deer utilize predominately mature forest habitat over time. mature coniferous (softwood) habitat. This The Round Pond Unit, in T13R12 WELS, con- period can last for 5 months or more. The lo- tains 23,114 acres which consists of 20,349 cal saying that northern Maine has 2 seasons, acres of Public Reserve Land and 2,765 winter and the 4th of July, has an unsettling acres managed by the Allagash Wilderness amount of truth to it. Suitable wintering Waterway. The AWW acres are not part of habitat provides relief from wind, more stable the agreement but the corridor along the temperature and humidity conditions, and river adds significant habitat for a number lower snow depths. Quality habitat consists of of wildlife species. Of the 20,349 acres, shelter interspersed with openings that pro- 2,030 acres are zoned by Land Use Regula- vide foraging opportunities and sunlight. tion Commission as P-FW, Deer Wintering The Bureau’s primary objectives for the Round Area. The 10,000 acre HMA represents a Pond HMA are to: (1) provide winter habitat in quintuple increase in area focused on deer at least 50% of the area of forest stands that wintering habitat. are primary softwood sites, (2) actively manage To back up a little bit for those unfamiliar with the Bureau, the Lands Di- by implementing sound silvicultural practices to improve structural division is responsible for managing nearly 600,000 acres of Public Reserve versity in order to achieve sustainable winter habitat for deer, (3) include Land. The Bureau has a mandate to implement multiple-use management management considerations for the many other species of wildlife that principles to produce a sustained yield of products and services. The Bu- utilize mature coniferous forest habitat and associated forest habitats, (4) reau has developed a multiple-use management system based on the al- improve forest health and quality, (5) ensure that these areas continue

Round Pond Habitat Management Area 10,000 Acres Private habitat management programs also succesful

BPL’s Round Pond Unit is an excellent example of a Habitat Management Area on public land. While the jargon may differ, many private forest landowners also designate HMAs and work with staff biologists and IF&W biologists to manage for deer. (See “Deer Wintering Areas” in last year’s edi- tion of this magazine.) In some cases there are formal written agreements between IF&W and the landowner; in others, hand-shake agreements. Many cooperative agreements go back a decade or more. Forestry and habitat management are both long-term commitments and a long-term process – trees take decades to grow into good winter shelter. If creating more wintering habitat increases the deer herd (which we expect), results will become gradually apparent over time. page thirty four | www.northmainewoods.org Fort Kent -- “The little town that could!” 356 West Main Street • Fort Kent, Maine 04743 Toll Free: 866-834-3133 Phone: 207-834-3133 Fax: 207-834-2784 www.northerndoorinn.com Email: [email protected]

Uncle Buck’s Archery Parker, Diamond, Bowtech, PSE and Mathews to provide a broad range of public values, and (6) produce a balanced forest age Crossbows Accessories Repairs class structure that will provide stable habitat levels to support a diversity of flora and fauna. 8 Elizabeth Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769 207-764-4845 • 207-227-3209 The minimum 50% in winter habitat is comprised of critical deer winter habitat (CDWH) and secondary deer winter habitat (SDWH). Both CDWH and SDWH have Glenn Daigle, NFAA INSTRUCTOR specific sets of criteria regarding crown closure, basal area and stand height. Soft- wood dominated stands that are typed as S2A, S2B, S3A, S3B, C2A and C2B meet the criteria of CDWH. Softwood stands on poor sites and some mixed wood stands may not have the potential to meet CDWH but would meet SDWH. At least 25% of the HMA winter habitat must be maintained as critical deer winter habitat. The Round Pond HMA has been mapped and is monitored annually to ensure that the objectives are being met. In the near future computer habitat modeling will be used to assist in harvest planning for the HMA. Most of the harvesting is scheduled in the winter to provide food and mobility for deer, to protect regeneration, and to minimize soil disturbance. Road construction will be designed to minimize habitat 57 Penobscot Avenue, Millinocket, ME 04462 fragmentation. Road right-of-way widths will be reduced in travel corridors. Dis- 207-723-6100 turbed areas such as ditches, landings, and winter roads will be seeded with the www.americanloggers.com Bureau’s wildlife mix. For a variety of reasons many of the roads within the HMA will be closed to vehicle access upon completion of the harvest operation.

There is a detailed list of forestry guidelines to be implemented for coniferous and deciduous stands aimed at achieving habitat objectives. For example, tree species that provide shelter and/or food for deer and are long-lived such as cedar, pine, beech and red spruce are favored. This is accomplished mostly through retention, release or regeneration. There are minimums for residual (post harvest) basal area and crown closure in order for harvested stands to be CDWH or SDWH. The Bureau marks (paints) all or most of the trees to be harvested. There are maximums for trail width and for the percentage of the stand in total trail area. Skid trails are frequently flagged. Guidelines are followed for selection harvests, shelterwood harvests, and The Moose Shed overstory removal harvests. To date, clearcut harvests by the Bureau have not oc- Lodge and Meeting Place curred in the Round Pond HMA. Forestry guidelines for predominately deciduous stands include both intolerant hardwood management and tolerant hardwood management. 237 Bates Street Millinocket, ME 04462 Achieving the goals and objectives of the Round Pond HMA is a long-term process requiring a significant commitment in staff time by the Bureau’s foresters. If the ad- 207-723-4507 age “build it and they will come” holds true, all the efforts by the Bureau and IF&W will have positive results on Maine’s deer herd.

www.northmainewoods.org | page thirty five Illegal Smelt Introduction Causes Problems at Wadleigh Pond by Tim Obrey, Greenville Regional Fisheries Biologist An illegal introduction of rainbow smelt occurred nearly 10 years ago that has resulted in some very dramatic (and negative) changes on the Arctic charr population in Big Wadleigh Pond. Big Wadleigh Pond is one of just 12 native charr waters left in the lower 48 states of the U.S., all of which are in Maine. Big Reed Pond located 30 miles east of Wadleigh Pond suf- fered a similar fate of illegal smelt introduction and was reclaimed in 2010 at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars. So it is important that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife make a concerted effort to protect these fish. This past spring Fisheries Biologists Jeff Bagley and Steve Seeback out of the Greenville office implanted 10 radio transmitters in charr so they could locate them, and presumably others, in the fall just before spawning. These transmitters were purchased in a partnership with the Greenville’s Natural Resource Education Center’s Fisheries Internship/Enhancement fund. We travelled back to Big Wadleigh this fall on two occasions to attempt to capture native brood stock brook trout and Arctic charr. These fish would be stripped of eggs and milt and the fertilized eggs would be reared in a hatchery until the pond could be chemically reclaimed. Then these native fish and their progeny would be re-introduced.

Maine is the only place in the lower 48 states where anglers can catch Arctic charr and the

last location on the east coast with substantial numbers of native brook trout population.

From left to right: IFW Biologist Steve Seeback holds a radio tagged Arctic charr; illegally introduced smelt at Big Wadleigh Pond; a nice 18 inch charr from Big Wadleigh Pond.

Brook trout typically spawn in mid-October in our ponds and lakes; however, we soon discovered that the brook trout in Big Wadleigh Pond were early spawners. Our trapnets caught very few adult trout in October and the campowner relayed to us that he saw spawning activity in late September. This is not unheard of in this neck of the woods. We do have a handful of trout ponds in this region with early spawning fish and a few very late (November) spawners. So, we will have to return this spring to collect our brook trout. We were much more successful capturing the adult charr needed for the project. While charr typically spawn in mid- November, we decided not to wait based on the early spawning of the brook trout. We returned in early November and our radio transmitters really paid off. We had 100% survival of these surgically-tagged fish and by tracking them, we were able to net 9 of the 10 tagged fish. In addition to these charr, we also captured 51 untagged charr. These 60 fish were transported to Mountain Spring Trout Hatchery in Frenchville by owner Gary Picard. We were able to strip approximately 4,300 eggs from these fish in November. This is a terrific start and we hope to have some of the brood fish available again next year. We plan to reclaim the pond in October of 2013 which will remove the illegally introduced smelt and restore the habitat for native brook trout and Arctic charr and we want to thank Clayton Lakes Woodlands Holdings LLC for their kind donation towards this restoration project. Maine is the only place in the lower 48 states where anglers can catch Arctic charr and the last location on the East Coast with substantial numbers of native brook trout populations. Most of these waters are concentrated in northern Maine where we have benefited from good land management, limited development, and fewer introductions of illegal fish compared to southern Maine and other states. We all play a role in protecting this very special place. page thirty six | www.northmainewoods.org Help us protect Maine’s forests Firewood can move forest pests long distances

t*OTFDUTBOEEJTFBTFTDBOCFJO POPSVOEFSUIFCBSLPGöSFXPPE PSFWFOEFFQXJUIJOUIFXPPEJUTFMG1FPQMFDBONPWFQFTUT UIBUTQSFBETMPXMZPO their own) hundreds of miles in a single day.

t8JUIHMPCBMUSBEF PVSGPSFTUTBSFHFUUJOHNPSFQSFTTVSFGSPNJOTFDUTBOEEJTFBTFTJOBEWFSUFOUMZCSPVHIUUP/PSUI"NFSJDBBOEUIFONPWFEXJUI firewood.

t&NFSBMEBTICPSFSJTPOFPGUIFTDBSJFTUJOTFDUTUIBUDBOCFNPWFEXJUIöSFXPPE*UDBO kill any ash in North America and has already killed millions of trees in the mid-west. This Did You Know? insect is found in Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vir- Even within Maine, the movement of ginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Ontario and Quebec in Canada as of 2008. firewood is regulated to and from certain t"TJBOMPOHIPSOFECFFUMFLJMMTNBQMFT CJSDIFT QPQMBST XJMMPXTBOENBOZNPSFUSFFT" parts of the State because of: very large infestation was found in 2008 in Worcester, MA, not far from Maine’s border. It tHZQTZNPUIEPFTOPUPDDVSOPSUIPG is also found in New York, New Jersey and Toronto, Canada Houlton t5IFSFJTBGFEFSBMRVBSBOUJOFPOBMMöSFXPPEJOBMMPSQPSUJPOTPGUIFTFTUBUFTBOE'*3&- tIFNMPDLXPPMMZBEFMHJEPOMZPDDVSTJO WOOD CAN NOT BE TRANSPORTED ACROSS THESE STATELINES. parts of York county t0UIFSTFSJPVTJOTFDUTBOEEJTFBTFTDBOCFNPWFEXJUIöSFXPPEBTXFMM tMBSDIDBOLFSPOMZPDDVSTJOQBSUTPG Knox, Lincoln, Washington and Waldo t0ODFFTUBCMJTIFE JOTFDUQFTUTBSFBUCFTUEJóDVMUBOEDPTUMZUPDPOUSPM BOEVTVBMMZJNQPT- counties sible to eradicate. tQJOFTIPPUCFFUMFEPFTOPUPDDVSJO For more information contact the Maine Forest Service Insect & Disease Lab at 287-2431 Aroostook and Washington counties. or [email protected]

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Your outdoor Stanley’s headquarters for hiking, AUTO CENTER camping, 2184 Medway Road ﬁshing and Medway, Maine 04460 hunting 746-5770 supplies in Goodyear and Dunlop Tires Jackman, “The FULL SERVICE CENTER (207) 668-3411 Switzerland www.bishopsstore.com of Maine” Need a Shed? Tool Rooms Work Shops Horse Barns Garages Green Houses Hunting Shacks Play Houses Animal Shelters 2587 US Route 2 Need a place to go? Smyrna, ME 04780 We also specialize in outhouses. 207-757-7877 page thirty eight | www.northmainewoods.org Road Safety The Industrial Road Safety Committee has existed for many years, serv- the committee. The rules are published in three languages, English, ing in a number of capacities. Most of the larger landowners in the French and Spanish and are made available to all contractors, land- north half of the state are represented on the committee. Road use by owners and trucking companies as well as the recreational public different landowners has dominated the past focus along with mediat- via North Maine Woods. Extensive training in safe driving has been ing the occasional dispute and establishing agreements between vari- provided to migrant workers and others, along with first aid training ous landowners for use of one another’s roads. The recent focus of the and communication training. Landowners who are responsible for committee, since initiating a higher profile in 1997, has been safety. maintenance of the private road systems began an intensive signage Safety was elevated as an issue after a period of increasingly frequent effort, including stop signs, speed limit signs, and warning signs. All complaints about dangerous and aggressive driving as well as ex- signs use the international symbols recognizable by anyone from the tremely rude behavior on the part of some drivers. Poor driving habits US or elsewhere. Mile markers have been placed along most major and behavior spanned the spectrum of drivers routes and are the basis for radio communica- from large 18 wheel trucks to recreational cars tion, whereby drivers call out location by mile and pickup trucks. Complaints were generated markers to alert others of their location. from the public users of private roads as well Dangerous road situations have been addressed as industrial users ( employees ) of the same through aggressive brush control efforts to roads. Everyone knew a story, or so it seemed, improve visibility, widening sections of roads about a close call or an unpleasant experience where needed, reconstruction of dangerous while driving on a woods road. curves and intersections and even re-routing The safety committee initiated discussions to roads where necessary. Some side roads have define problems, discuss various approaches been named and signed making it easier to get to correcting the problems and develop so- around and give directions. Frequent mainte- photo by Mike Langley by photo lutions, as well as define additional changes nance of high traffic areas has been initiated in which could help the situation. A very important an effort to improve safety. A unique truck num- challenge was integrating public recreational use with industrial use. bering system has been introduced into the industrial trucking group, Industrial use extends to large, heavy equipment and trucks traveling to provide a means of identifying individuals that may cause prob- on the roads as well as occasionally working in the roads. Since most lems. Each landowner/manager has developed a disciplinary system recreational users are not accustomed to heavy equipment and large to minimize problems, as well as correct them when possible. off-road trucks, the challenge became one of training on both sides, in- The recreational public can improve their own safety by abiding by dustrial and recreational. Problems relative to vehicles were identified all the rules of the road, monitoring CB and MURS radio traffic when basically as speed, attitude and an over-reliance on communication they can, yielding right of way to trucks, (do not expect loaded off- from truck to truck, excluding recreational users. Other problems were road trucks to move away from the center of the road), avoid stopping identified as dangerous road situations including extreme curves, poor on bridges and main roads (preferably pulling onto side roads or well visibility and narrow sections. Tolerance of unsafe practices, inconsis- out of the road before stopping), and above all, paying attention and tent rules, lack of a disciplinary system and lack of a common approach driving prudently. to administering the problems were also identified as issues. Please note that all NMW Checkpoints close at the end of November. Frequent meetings of the committee over the last few years led to a Although plowed roads are open during the winter months to the number of accomplishments. Involvement of representatives of the public, be aware that snow and ice can make roads dangerous, es- trucking industry on the committee brought valuable input and in- pecially when meeting log trucks and other traffic. Main roads and sights into possible solutions. A significant accomplishment is a con- side roads are plowed to accommodate the movement of timber and solidation of “Rules of the Road” which is supported by all members of equipment related to the forest industry.

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Rooted in Stewardship; Growing Value and Opportunity

Proudly managing forests within the North Maine Woods 115 Franklin Street, Suite 2B since 1999 Bangor, ME 04401 ph (207) 262-5552 www.wagnerforest.com fx (207) 262-5554 [email protected] www.northwoodsmgmt.com

Excellence in Practice A full-service, sustainable natural resource management company. SEVEN ISLANDS LAND COMPANY managing forest resources for the future

Ashland-Bangor-Rangeley PO Box 327 10A Main St. Ashland, Maine 04732 207-435-4100 Visit us at: www.oriontimber.com Specializing in The Outdoor Adventure Northern Bear Hunts • Camp Rentals Company • Deer, Moose and Coyote Guide Service & Outfitter since 1987 • Hunting and Fishing • Canoeing and Relaxing Jayson Allain • Sight Seeing 1250 West Main Street • Housekeeping Cabins DoverFoxcroft, Maine 04426 DAVID PREVOST 207.564.0007 c e l l : 603-381-8376 ON FISH RIVER [email protected] www.outdoorAdventureCompany.com PORTAGE, MAINE www.highlandingcamps.com

Northern Maine’s Last Frontier Separate cabins of hewn log construction located within fifty feet of the shoreline. Hunting • Fishing Here you will find an atmosphere of an honest to River Trips goodness sporting camp in the Maine tradition John F. Robertson 207-435-6211 Portage, Maine 04768 Registered Maine Guide 2018 Portage Road, PO Box 40 Phone (207) 435-6156 Route 11, Portage, ME 04768

Whether you need a single consultant or a team of experts...a little advice or long-term forest management services...an appraisal or a new road... Prentiss & Carlisle In-depth experience. Integrated approach. Exceptional performance.

N management plans HUBER N timber harvesting RESOURCES CORP N timber marketing 1141 Main Street Old Town, ME 04468 N woodlot services 207-827-7195 N road and bridge building

N consultation and valuation Forest Management Professionals N tax and regulatory assistance Wherever Huber operates, our commitment 107 Court Street to the environment follows. Bangor, Maine 207.942.8295 www.huberresources.com prentissandcarlisle.com See our website for land use policies www.katahdinoutfitters.com LandVest KATAHDIN OUTFITTERS Se r v i n g Ti m b e r l a n d in v e ST o r S Si n c e 1968 Canoeing and Kayaking Adventures Allagash • St. John • Penobscot River Expeditions Timberland Marketing and Investment Analysis Services Transportation and Vehicle Shuttle Provided throughout the U.S. and Canada Canoe and Kayak Rental and Outfitting Full Service Forestry Consulting PO Box 34, Millinocket, ME 04462 Across New England, New York and Pennsylvania 207-723-5700 • 1-800-862-2663 Foresters and Licensed Real Estate Professionals in the following offices: Russell Pond Outfitters Americus, GA (229) 924-8400 Concord, NH (603) 228-2020 Bangor, ME (207) 947-2800 W. Stewartstown, NH (603) 246-8800 Join us at Russell Pond Camps for: Bethel, ME (207) 836-2076 Lowville, NY (315) 376-2832 Hunting: Bear over Bait, Trophy Deer, Moose, Grouse Fishing and Summer Rentals Clayton Lake, ME (603) 466-7374 Tupper Lake, NY (518) 359-2385 Portland, ME (207) 774-8518 Eugene, OR (541) 790-2105 Call us to book a full guided adventure Russell Pond Camps or to reserve a camp for that special get St. Aurelie, ME (418) 593-3426 Kane, PA (814) 561-1018 away. Advance reservations required. PO Box 1417 Jackman, ME (207) 668-7777 Newport, VT (802) 334-8402 Greenville, ME 04441 Remote Camps Located 70 Miles 866-552-2038 from Greenville or Millinocket. www.landvest.com www.russellpondcamps.com Stewardship For Your Timberland Investment

Katahdin Forest Management

Where can you find huge expanses of forestland containing lakes, rivers, fish, wildlife and endless scenic views that you can enjoy all for less than a night on the town? The privately owned forestland that North Maine Woods manages public recreation on is where!

Katahdin Forest Management is proud to continue the long tradition of public recreation on its lands in partnership with North Maine Woods.

We are the Maine Operations of Acadian Timber www.AcadianTimber.com

Our rental cabins: www.katahdinforestcabins.com Landowners and Managers within the 3,500,000 acres of North Maine Woods

Black River, LLC [5] Pingree Associates, Inc. [1] Canopy Timberlands, LLC [5] Prentiss & Carlisle Co, Inc [2] Clayton Lake Woodlands Holdings, LLC [6] St. John Timber, LLC [4] Dunn Heirs [2] Sylvan Timberlands, LLC [4] Dunn Timberlands, Inc. [5] The Forestland Group, LLC [2] Fish River Company [2] The Nature Conservancy [4] Great North Woods, LLC [7] Timbervest, LLC: St. Aurelie Timberlands [6] Griswold Heirs [2] Timbervest Partners Maine, LLC [6] Huber Resources Corp. [4] Webber Timberlands [2] Irving Woodlands, LLC Yankee Fork Corp. [2] John Cassidy Timberholdings [2] State of Maine Katahdin Forest Management, LLC [2] Lost River Company [1] Lands managed by Seven Islands Land Company [2] Lands managed by Prentiss & Carlisle Management Co. [2] McCrillis Timberlands, LLC [3] Lands managed by Wagner Forest Management Company [4] Lands managed by Huber Resources Corp. [3] Merriweather, LLC [5] Lands managed by Orion Timberlands LLC [6] Lands managed by LandVest Inc. [4] North Woods Maine, LLC [7] Lands managed by Northwoods Management LLC

This publication is made possible through efforts of edi- Any comments or questions related to this publication tors Sarah Medina of Seven Islands Land Company and and its contents may be sent to: Barry Burgason of Huber Resources Corporation. It was Al Cowperthwaite, Executive Director designed and produced by Melissa Arndt of Slingshot Mul- North Maine Woods Inc timedia. Front cover photos by Steve Day, Peter Freeman, PO Box 425, 92 Main Street, Ashland, ME 04732 Mike Langley, Bill Leach, Jen Brophy-Price and NMW staff. or [email protected] Back cover photo by Peter Freeman.

North Maine Woods PO Box 425, Ashland, ME 04732 207-435-6213 www.northmainewoods.org [email protected]