Maine State Legislature

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Reproduced from electronic originals (may include minor formatting differences from printed original) 2008 ANNUAL REPORT for Public Reserved, Non-reserved, and Submerged Lands to the

JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND FORESTRY

Scraggly Lake Unit, Staff confer at Owls Head Trail Overlook

March 1st, 2009

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Bureau of Parks and Lands Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION ...... ! II. 2008 HIGHLIGHTS ...... 1 III. PREFACE ...... 3 IV. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES ...... 3 V. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING ...... 4 VI. NATURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES ...... 5 VII. WILDLIFE RESOURCES ...... 8 VIII. RECREATION RESOURCES ...... 9 IX. TIMBER RESOURCES ...... 13 X. TRANSPORTATION ...... 16 XI. PUBLIC ACCESS ...... 16 XII. LAND TRANSACTIONS ...... 17 XIII. SUBMERGED LANDS ...... 18 XIV. SHORE AND HARBOR MANAGEMENT FUND ...... 19 XV. COASTAL ISLAND PROGRAM ...... 19 XVI. INCOME AND EXPENDITURES ACCOUNTING ...... 19 XVII. ADMINISTRATION ...... 21 XVIII. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 2010 ...... 22 XIX. CONCLUSION ...... 28 Appendix B ...... 30 Appendix C ...... 31

I. INTRODUCTION II. 2008 HIGHLIGHTS

The Bureau of Parks and Lands is Acquisitions – 2008 was a quiet year for public responsible for the management and reserved land acquisitions compared to previous administration of Maine’s Public Reserved and years. Although only one 27-acre parcel was Non-reserved Lands, Submerged Lands, acquired in fee, this parcel provides deeded access Coastal Islands, and other lands as provided by from State Route 155 to the Bureau’s Bradford- law. Lagrange Unit. Also acquired was the last piece of This report constitutes required annual a multi-parcel expansion to the Bradbury Mountain reporting pursuant to: State Park – a 1-acre trail easement needed to connect recent extensions from Bradbury State ¾ 12 MRSA 1853, 1839 and elsewhere. Park to the Pineland Public Reserved Lands (via a ¾ 12 MRSA 1850(1) and 1836(1) and CMP transmission line corridor trail license). This elsewhere related to vehicular access to was a key piece completing the Bradbury – Bureau lands Pineland Project, one of the original LMF projects. ¾ 12 MRSA 1805 and 1853 related to Both of these acquisitions were funded from ecological reserves on Bureau lands. Bureau revenues. Two conservation easements were donated The Bureau is statutorily mandated to to the Bureau in 2008, protecting 303 acres along manage the Public Reserved and Non-reserved the Kennebec River in Madison, and 6,730 acres in Lands in a manner consistent with the principles the Western Mountains (Robinson Peak) adjacent of multiple land use to produce a sustained yield to the Bureau’s Mahoosuc Unit. of products and services in accordance with The Bureau also conveyed 7.5 acres of fee both prudent and fair business practices and the lands pursuant to legislative authorization. principle of sound planning (Title 12 MRSA 1833 and 1847). Plum Creek Moosehead Concept Plan and The “Lands” division of the Bureau is a Conservation Easement Review: This year the dedicated revenue component of the agency Bureau was engaged intensively in the dialog and funding all of its administrative, planning, formal review of Plum Creek Moosehead Region Concept Plan, in which the Bureau is contemplated management, and operational activities from rd revenue generated from the land base. Fifteen to be 3 party holder of approximately 400,000 year, multiple-use plans for the major properties acres of additional conservation easements guide the Bureau’s management activities. required as part of pending LURC approval. Benefits from the wise management of these Firewood Permit Program: In response to lands include: rocketing energy prices in the summer of 2008, the

Bureau’s firewood program attracted many times ¾ Protection of unique natural and the interest of that in previous years. Nearly 800 cultural resources inquiries were answered by BPL staff, and 377 ¾ Enhancement of wildlife habitat permits totaling 2,020 cords were issued to ¾ Access to recreational opportunities individuals wanting to harvest their own firewood ¾ Production of forest products from Bureau-managed lands.

The Bureau also has responsibility for Forest Certification – In 2008 the Bureau managing public trust rights to Submerged completed a full re-certification audit under the Lands, and, when granting leases for the use of Forest Stewardship Council program and the first Submerged Lands, includes conditions to annual audit under the Sustainable Forest Initiative. maintain customary and traditional public Dual surveillance audits were conducted in the access, navigation, and commercial marine Bureau’s Western Region, looking at high quality uses. timber harvests and best management practices for

water quality.

The Bureau was awarded unconditional Wildlife – Most notable for wildlife management certification, reflecting its exemplary forest and activities in 2008 was that the Bureau was able to land management practices. conduct deer use surveys on many public land parcels due to abundant snowfall. Timber harvest Recreation – Providing extended trail plans for 14,892 acres of public lands were opportunities was the focus for continued work reviewed for fish and wildlife habitat compatibility on several public reserved units in 2008. In and potential habitat enhancement. southern Maine, after 8 years of acquisition work in partnership with the Pownal Land Trust on the Timber Management Program - In 2008 Bureau Bradbury-Pineland Project, the Bureau now has harvest volume decreased a bit, but still exceeded the legal right and approved permission to 100,000 cords for the second time, despite establish a multi-use trail connecting Bradbury excessive rain throughout the summer. Markets Mt. State Park in Pownal with the Pineland were weaker for many products, but hardwood Public Reserved Land Unit in Gray and North pulp demand was steady, enabling the Bureau to Yarmouth. In the north central area, on the market over 52,000 cords of low quality wood Nahmakanta Unit, a 1-mile trail and a campsite while improving the residual stands. were constructed with the help of the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC), finalizing a new Land Management Planning – In 2008 Regional loop option for extended hiking. In the far north, Management plans were initiated for the 36,000 - the hiking trail network was improved at the acre Aroostook Hills Region which includes the Deboullie Unit with the help of MCC services. Squapan and Scraggly Units and a number of small Improvements were made to the Deboullie tower lots; and the 57,300-acre Eastern Interior Region trail and a new 3-mile Black Mountain loop was including the Duck Lake, Bradley, Mattawamkeag constructed. In the downeast area, an effort to and Machias River Units, and a number of small establish extended hiking options in the Donnell lots. The Plans also address Bureau-held Pond Public Land Unit was launched in 2008. In conservation easements, which include easements the western mountains area, improvements in the Eastern Interior Region at Nicatous Lake, were made by the MCC to the Wright Trail on Mattawamkeag Lake, and along the Machias River. the Mahoosuc Unit to address deteriorating These plans are expected to be completed in 2009. conditions on this rugged and challenging hiking trail to the summit of Goose Eye Mountain. On Submerged Lands – Following a collaborative the Bigelow Preserve, a site plan was developed stakeholder process, in 2008 the Bureau to reroute the Appalachian Trail along the presented recommendations for legislative eastern shore of Flagstaff Lake and provide changes to improve its lease rent structure for additional lakeside campsites off that trail; and to submerged lands. The Bureau continues to provide a hiking trail connecting to the Western provide conveyances for new proposals on Mountains Foundation Hut to Hut trail. submerged lands and to owners of coastal Other recreation improvements on structures who were granted 30-year constructive public reserved lands enhanced road and water easements when the leasing program was access, campsites, and motorized trails. A new established in 1975. In addition the Bureau public use road and bridge were constructed over continues to develop an inventory of structures on the Red River at the outlet of Pushineer Pond in great ponds. the Deboullie Unit, eliminating vehicle fording across the river. Also in the northern region, a multi-use trail spur was constructed on the Salmon River Lake Unit from the Bangor and Aroostook rail trail in Perham to Salmon Brook just below the outlet of the lake for hand carry watercraft, walkers, bikes and ATV’s. In the eastern interior area, the Bureau sited two new campsites on Mattawamkeag Lake, and began the permit process to establish those.

III. PREFACE the Bureau to enforce by the US Forest Service). In addition, the Bureau holds various public This report is submitted by March 1st of access easements totaling 600,000 acres. each year to the Joint Standing Committee on The Bureau also manages 2.3 million Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation. The acres of the State’s marine and freshwater first section of this Report provides a summary Submerged Lands, and 1086 publicly owned of the Bureau’s management activities during coastal islands. Since the creation of the Bureau the 2008 calendar year in the following program of Public Lands in 1973, many of the original areas: public lots have been traded with other landowners to consolidate the State’s holdings ¾ Land Management Planning into larger management units having greater ¾ Natural Resources public use values. Other lands, such as coastal ¾ Wildlife islands, surplus institutional lands, and land ¾ Recreation acquired through the Land for Maine’s Future ¾ Timber Management Program have been assigned to the Bureau for ¾ Transportation management. ¾ Land Transactions The Bureau is statutorily mandated to ¾ Submerged Lands manage Reserved and Non-reserved Lands ¾ Public Access “under the principles of multiple use to produce a ¾ Shore and Harbor Management Fund sustained yield of products and services by the ¾ Coastal Island Program use of prudent business practices and the ¾ Income and Expenditures Accounting principles of sound planning” (12 MRSA ' 1833 & ¾ Administration 1847). Bureau staff involved in managing Reserved and Non-reserved Lands include As required, information on gates and specialists in planning, forest transportation, barriers that prevent public vehicle access to wildlife, recreation, and field forestry. All Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands, collaborate to ensure an integrated and balanced recreation facility fees charged for the use of approach to the management of the various these lands, and a status report on Ecological resources on these lands. Reserves is included. The report also contains Submerged Lands beneath coastal information on income and expenditures for waters to the 3-mile territorial limit, and natural calendar year 2008. Great Ponds, are managed by the Bureau under Secondly, a Financial Report for FY the Public Trust Doctrine to protect the public trust 2010 is included as part of this document. The rights to fishing, waterfowl hunting, navigation, ACF Committee, in turn, has the obligation to and recreation. In addition, the Bureau maintains report by March 15th to the Appropriations the Coastal Island Registry, which catalogs the Committee on the Bureau’s Lands Division FY ownership of all coastal islands. 2010 budget. TRENDS AND ISSUES IV. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES Since 1995, the fee ownership managed by the Lands Division has increased by roughly The Bureau of Parks and Lands is an 102,000 acres (a 21% increase), with the majority agency within the Department of Conservation. (67%) of the new lands acquired between 2003 In addition to its responsibilities for the and 2007. Conservation easements have management of State Parks, Historic Sites, the increased dramatically compared to fee lands, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the Penobscot from only 5,000 acres in 1995 to now over River Corridor, Boating Facilities, and the 312,000 acres, with nearly 259,000 acres of these Snowmobile and ATV Programs, the Bureau is conservation easements acquired between 2003 responsible for the management of 577,932 fee and 2008. That is an increase of 650% in the acres of Public Reserved and Non-reserved past 5 years. Lands, and 312,236 acres of conservation easements (including 9,815 acres delegated to

The public access easements were all acquired easements on 42 properties; is delegated by the between 2004 and 2007 (see accompanying US Forest Service to enforce 3 others; and is 3rd chart on back page). party enforcer on an additional 11 easements. Land Management Issues: Both land The Bureau’s Integrated Resource and easement acquisitions have increased the Policy (IRP) adopted in 1985 and revised in 2000 Bureau’s land management responsibilities, and guides resource management decisions and added a significant workload and cost, governs management planning for all Public particularly in the areas of recreation Reserved and Non-reserved lands. Management development, natural resource planning, and Plans are prepared consistent with the IRP and easement monitoring. However, the Bureau’s taking into consideration comments received from land management staffing has not increased a defined public process. Historically, resource since 2002 and options for revenue to cover management plans were prepared every ten increasing costs are lagging behind the needs. years for each of the larger parcels (or In addition the markets for selling timber Management Units), many of which are products have significantly diminished in the consolidations of former public lots. Today, downturned economy. Potential revenues from management plans are prepared regionally, for a new fee lands are not sufficient to cover the period of 15 years, and a single plan addresses increased costs associated with the acquired all of the reserved and non-reserved lands within lands – some lands acquired have included a planning region. deed restrictions limiting timber harvest (deeded The planning process allocates areas for ecological reserves), while others have low specific uses including: volumes of standing timber at the time of y Special Protection (Natural/Historic) purchase thus limiting the revenue generation y Wildlife potential for a decade or more, or are of high y Recreation value for recreation such that timber y Timber management must be secondary to recreation. Because of the nature of multiple-use Easement Monitoring Funding Issues: management, these areas often overlap, creating Significantly, the Bureau can generate revenue zones where management is designed to from timber management to manage its fee accommodate a variety of uses. The relative lands for recreation and wildlife; but impact of one use upon another is carefully conservation easements impose management weighed to establish a hierarchy of resource costs for compliance monitoring, with no timber- management that protects the most sensitive based revenue generation to support that cost. resources and uses, while allowing other Monitoring endowments established by management to continue. For example, planned acquisition partners in the Maine Community timber harvests in deeryards can provide a Foundation (MCF) as part of acquisition fund sustained yield of forest products and deer raising has helped to cover part of these costs; browse, while maintaining the winter shelter value but recent declines in the value of those of these areas. endowments due to the global economic crisis Regional management plans are (one third of the value lost in the last year) has developed utilizing technical expertise at the State underscored the fragility of those endowments. and Bureau level, while involving the general Clearly the loss of value recently experienced is public in the plan development process. For each a major challenge for the Bureau and is giving plan, Public Advisory Committees are established pause to continued investment in the MCF representing local, regional, and statewide endowments. The Bureau is exploring options interests. These committees serve as forums for to charitable foundation endowments that could discussion of draft plans. Public meetings are have less risk from market interruptions. held providing interested parties an opportunity to provide input on management issues and to V. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING comment on plan drafts. After consideration of these comments, the Bureau then submits the The Bureau owns and manages 147 final Plan to the Department Commissioner, upon public reserved land units and 21 non-reserved recommendation by its Director, and the Plan is public land units. It also holds conservation effective upon the Commissioner’s approval.

MANAGEMENT PLAN STATUS NRI’s completed in 2008. Natural Resource Inventories were completed for the Scraggly Lake 1 Mount Abraham1 Adopted June 2007 and Squapan Units in the Aroostook Hills Region. 2 Bald Mountain/Rangeley Begins 2009 In 2008 NRI work was initiated for the Mahoosuc 3 Bigelow Preserve1 Adopted June 2007 and Four Ponds Units. 4 Chain of Ponds1 Adopted June 2007 5 Chamberlain Scheduled 2011-12 ECOLOGICAL RESERVES 2 6 Cutler Coast Adopted March 2007 1 7 DeadRiver/Spring Lake Adopted June 2007 History, Status Related to Statutory Acres 3 8 Deboullie Adopted June 2007 Limits. Ecological reserves are designated 9 Dodge Point Adopted Nov. 1991 2 areas containing representative native ecosystem 10 Donnell Pond Adopted March 2007 types managed as special protection areas. 11 Duck Lake5 Revision in progress 3 These areas serve as benchmarks against which 12 Eagle Lake Adopted June 2007 to measure changes in both managed and 13 Four Ponds Revision begins 2009 unmanaged ecosystems, to provide habitat 14 Gero Island/Chesuncook Scheduled for 2011-12 2 unlikely to occur where active management 15 Great Heath Adopted March 2007 occurs, and to serve as sites for scientific 16 Holeb Adopted Dec. 1989 17 Kennebec Highlands Plan in Progress research, monitoring, and education. The annual 18 Little Moose Adopted Oct. 1988 report must indicate the status of these reserves, 19 Machias River5 Plan in Progress including acres of reserved and nonreserved 20 Mahoosuc Revision begins 2009 lands designated as ecological reserves and the 21 Moosehead Adopted July 1997 results of monitoring, scientific research and other 22 Nahmakanta Adopted Nov. 1995 activities related to the reserves (12 MRSA §1839 23 Pineland Adopted Sept. 1988 and §1853). The bureau is also required to notify 24 Richardson Revision begins 2009 the committee when a management plan 25 Rocky Lake2 Adopted March 2007 proposes designation of an ecological reserve (12 26 Round Pond Adopted Dec. 1992 MRSA §1805). This section of the report 27 Salmon Brook Lake Bog3 Adopted June 2007 addresses both requirements. 28 Scraggly Lake4 Plan in progress The bureau director may designate 29 Seboeis Adopted Feb. 1990 ecological reserves on bureau lands included in 30 Seboomook Adopted March 2007 "An Ecological Reserves System Inventory: 31 Squapan4 Plan in progress Potential Ecological Reserves on Maine's Existing 32 Telos Adopted Feb. 1990 Public and Private Conservation Lands," Maine 33 Tumbledown Mt. To Begin in 2009 Biodiversity Project, July 1998. The Director may 33 Wassataquoik To be scheduled designate additional reserves in conjunction with 1 Flagstaff Region Plan the adoption of a management plan, when that 2 Downeast Region Plan 3 process includes public review and comment on Northern Aroostook Region Plan the plan and notification to the committee of the 4 Aroostook Hills Region Plan 5 proposal. Eastern Interior Region Plan In 2001, the director designated thirteen

ecological reserves totaling 68,975 acres on VI. NATURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES public reserved lands included in the above- referenced inventory. These original reserves NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORIES (NRI’s) were designated using the best available information at the time, with the understanding The Maine Natural Areas Program, a that adjustments would be needed as research in division of the Bureau of Geology and Natural conjunction with management plans revealed Areas, conducts inventories of natural resources different conditions on the ground and other on lands managed by the Bureau under a Memorandum of Understanding. In general, inventories are done in advance of management planning to provide up-to-date information.

Original Ecological Reserves Designated in As part of the Phase II acquisition of the 2001 and Modifications Adopted in 2007 Machias River project lands, 2,780 acres were Acre conveyed to the state by the Conservation Fund Original Changes in 2006 subject to a deed restriction that the lands 2001 adopted be designated as an Ecological Reserve. This Name Acres in 2007 area expands by 400 acres an existing Ecological 1. Bigelow Preserve ER 10,540 Reserve on Fourth Machias Lake on the Duck 2. Chamberlain Lake ER 2,890 Lake Unit, and adds a 2,380-acre adjacent area 3. Cutler Coast ER 5,216 +5 that includes frontage along Fifth Machias Lake 4. Deboullie ER 7,253 -350* and Fifth Lake Stream. These additions to the 5. Donnell/Tunk ER 5,950 +274 Ecological Reserve system will likely be adopted 6. Duck Lake Unit ER 3,870 as part of the Eastern Interior Region planning 7. Gero Island ER 3,175 effort in 2009. 8. Great Heath ER 5,681 -40 The total land acreage designated as 9. Mahoosucs ER 9,974 ecological reserves may not exceed 15% of the 10. Nahamakanta ER 11,082 total land acreage under bureau jurisdiction or 11. Rocky Lake ER 1,516 100,000 acres, whichever is less. No more than 12. Salmon Brook Lake ER 1,053 6% of the operable timberland acres on public 13. Wassataquoik ER 775 reserved and nonreserved lands may be Total Acres 68,975 -111 designated as ecological reserves. Lands * Estimated acres at this time acquired after the effective date of the ecological reserve statute with the deeded condition that the factors affecting the lands included in the land be designated an ecological reserve are not reserves. included when calculating these acreage limits. The Downeast Region Management Plan Hence the 2780 acre additions in the Machias (adopted in 2007) recommended and adopted River system previously discussed will not add to changes to three original reserves because of the statutory limits. recent land acquisition for the Donnell Pond Unit, Ecological Reserves included in this deed conditions affecting use of the Great Heath calculation (qualifying reserves) currently and fieldwork on the natural communities at Cutler comprise nearly 69,000 acres or 10.7% of the Coast. The Northern Aroostook Region total land acreage under bureau jurisdiction as fee Management Plan (adopted in 2007) lands, which is well below the 15% or 100,000- recommended and adopted changes to the acre limit set in statute. ecological reserve at Deboullie where the boundary overlaps an area of 300-400 acres with Ecological Reserves Designated as a Result of developed facilities and significant public use. The Deed Restrictions change in ecological reserve acreage resulted in Name Acres* a net reduction of approximately 111 acres. Big Spencer ER (2007) 4,242 Between 2002 and 2004, the Bureau Mount Abraham ER (2007) 5,186 acquired three areas with the condition that the St John Ponds ER (2007) 3,917 lands be designated ecological reserves: Big Total Designated Restricted Deeds Spencer Mountain, the Saint John Ponds and ER Acres 13,345 Mount Abraham. The March 2006 annual report to Machias River ER (2009) 2,780 the ACF committee reported the acceptance of Total ER acres deductable from Land these reserves. These areas, acquired as public base for purposes of statutory limits 16,125 reserved lands, were formally designated as *Acres reported in deed. Ecological Reserves as part of the adoption of the Seboomook Unit Management Plan and the Flagstaff Region Management Plan in 2007. Opportunities for public comment on these management plans are noted under Section V, LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

Ecological Reserves as a Proportion of Total In 2008 baseline data was collected on Acres Under Bureau Jurisdiction in 2008* the Mahoosuc and Chamberlain Lake Ecological Land Type Total Fee Acres Reserves. With the exception of open wetlands at State Park Lands 83,650 the Great Heath, and the pending 5 h Machias Lake Boat Access Lands 515 Ecological Reserve, baseline inventories have now Public Reserved Lands 574,115 been completed for all Ecological Reserves. A Non-reserved Public Lands 3,817 separate report on monitoring results is available Unregistered Coastal Islands 1,104 from the Maine Natural Areas Program. Subtotal 663,201 Land acquired on condition of Ecological Reserves Scientific Advisory -16,125 ecoreserve designation Committee. An Ecological Reserves Scientific Total 647,076 Advisory Committee was established in the mid- Lesser of 15% of Lands under 1990s to provide guidance regarding the inventory 97,061 Bureau Jurisdiction or 100,000 and assessment of a potential Ecological Reserve Acres in Qualifying Reserves 68,864 system in Maine. Following the designation of Reserves on DOC lands in 2000, an Ecological Of the current 399,600 acres of operable Reserves Monitoring Committee (consisting of timberland on public reserved and non-reserved many of the same representatives as the original lands, 20,896 acres or 5.2% are located in Advisory committee) was assembled to work with qualifying reserves. This is 3,080 acres or 0.8% the Maine Natural Areas Program to create an below the 6% limit set in statute. Ecological Reserve Monitoring Plan (2003). In May 2008, as one outcome of the Task Ecological Reserves as a Proportion of Force Regarding the Management of Public Lands Operable Timberland Acres on Public and Publicly Held Easements, Governor Baldacci Reserved and Nonreserved Lands in 2008* issued an invitation to re-establish an Ecological Operable Land Type Reserves Advisory Committee. Invited members Timberland Acres represent state and federal agencies, conservation Public Reserved Lands 398,400 groups, and academics. Beginning in July 2008, Non-reserved Public Lands 1,200 the Committee convened several times to review Total 399,600 the status of the Reserve system and discuss 6% of Operable Lands 23,976 Acres in Qualifying Reserves 20,896 recreational access and use of Reserves. The Net available acres for ER Committee will develop a report for the Governors’ 3,080 designation office by July 2009. *Operable timberland acres are lands held in fee, not including deeded ecological reserves. Operable acres on Ecological HISTORIC AND CULTURAL INVENTORIES Reserves include modifications adopted in 2007.

The Bureau’s Historic Site Specialist

routinely conducts research into the history of Baseline Data Collection in 2008. An annual parcels subject to the management planning Memorandum of Understanding has been process. This research, along with input from the developed with the Maine Natural Areas Program Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the to collect baseline data for the Bureau’s Reserve public process that accompanies Plan inventory. These surveys are being conducted in development, results in a resource inventory called accordance with established monitoring a Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) for each guidelines. This ongoing effort will provide Lands property. This information is then included in information necessary for measuring ecological the management plans. The MHPC is the lead changes on Reserves over time. agency in identifying significant historic resources

requiring preservation and protection of these

resources on the State’s ownership, including

designating historically sensitive areas for special

protection.

VII. WILDLIFE RESOURCES Stewardship Council (FSC) programs continued. The Wildlife Biologist participated in yearly A key component of the Bureau’s integrated compliance audits conducted by both programs. resource management program is coordinating Ongoing assistance was provided to IF&W staff land management activities with fisheries and preparing for its own third-party forestry audit, to wildlife habitat enhancement. Since 1984 a be conducted in the near future. wildlife biologist from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been assigned Habitat Management. One hundred and to the Bureau through a cooperative agreement twenty four waterfowl nesting boxes were between the two agencies. The primary maintained by regional staff and one responsibility of the biologist has been to develop replacement box was installed. Beaver control and implement a habitat management program for devices were maintained at Skowhegan and at Bureau-managed lands. Wildlife management Newcastle. activities conducted in 2008 on lands managed by Native tree seedlings (~850) were planted the Bureau were as follows: on 4 acres at Mackworth Island in Falmouth as part of a habitat restoration project, after the Wildlife Inventory and Survey Work. Most of island was damaged from the 2007 spring this work is performed by a seasonal Wildlife (Patriot’s Day) storm. Technician during a 16 week season, typically Eastern Region staff assisted IFW mid-May to mid-September. In 2008 the seasonal Regional fisheries staff in surveying Upper position was activated in January to take Unknown Lake in the Duck Lake Unit -Oquiton advantage of the opportunity to conduct deer Twp. ( T4 ND) aerial and ground surveys of mapped and unmapped Deer Wintering Areas (DWA’S) on Seeding Program. Ninety one acres of BP&L lands during restrictive travel conditions. A herbaceous seeding was established on public total of 8 weeks was dedicated to aerial and lands for wildlife forage and erosion control. ground surveys of DWA’s on public lands, during which 3 aerial flights and 18 ground surveys were Habitat Agreements. Bureau staff worked with conducted. IFW staff to develop a habitat management agreement for Canada lynx critical habitat. That Ground Surveys were conducted using modified effort is ongoing. The Bureau and IFW are also IFW protocol and standard Wildlife Division DWA developing a cooperative agreement for piping Winter Ground Survey forms. Ground surveys plover and least tern management on state park were conducted on 5,035 acres in 12 towns and beaches. aerial surveys were conducted on 4,950 acres in The steep pass fishway in the bureau 18 towns. owned dam on Great Works Stream in Bradley was operated by Salmon Commission staff in the The seasonal position was not filled for the spring to pass anadromous fish from the summer season. As a result no peregrine falcon Penobscot River to upstream areas for monitoring, waterfowl brood counts, Bicknell’s spawning. thrush surveys or loon monitoring was performed in 2008. Easement Monitoring. The biologist assisted the bureau in monitoring the Katahdin Forest Prescriptions. Timber harvest plans for 14,892 Management easement. acres of public lands were reviewed for fish and wildlife habitat compatibility and potential habitat Acquisition Assistance. The staff biologist enhancement. provided natural resource information for three potential acquisitions in Augusta, Cutler and Forest Certification. Planning and administration Seboeis Plt. for fisheries, wildlife, and biodiversity issues related to forest certification conditions in both the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest

Training and Education. Training for Pending the development of a coordinated recertification credits for pesticide applicators management plan for the Bradbury-Pineland lands, license was ongoing. The staff biologist the CMP trail corridor was the focus of trail planning participated in invasive species workshops, and construction activity in 2008. The Off Road presented a nest box program at the Governor Vehicle division (ORV) upgraded an approved Baxter School for the Deaf, participated in an railroad crossing linking the CMP corridor section of MFS DWA management workshop for foresters trail with the Pineland Unit. Additionally, ORV and presented the history of the Yankee Woodlot obtained 80’ steel bridge beams from Maine DOT in Skowhegan to a chainsaw safety workshop. at no cost. These beams will support a major trail bridge across Chandler Brook. VIII. RECREATION RESOURCES Actions anticipated for 2009 include obtaining required permits amendments, trail signage/education, and planning for trail connectors The Bureau's Lands Division is to the CMP corridor. responsible for 326 campsites, over 150 miles of day hiking and backpacking trails (does not Bigelow Preserve. A site plan was developed to include the 71 miles of Appalachian Trail located reroute the Appalachian Trail along the eastern on state-owned lands), 35 trailered and hand- shore of Flagstaff Lake and provide additional carry boat launching areas, and 131 miles of lakeside campsites off that trail; and to provide a public access road. hiking trail connecting to the Western Mountains Foundation Hut to Hut trail. 2008 PROJECTS Tumbledown Mt. Trails. Access funds from the In accordance with management plan Lands for Maine Future program funded 10 weeks commitments, and in response to public demand, of Maine Conservation Corps trail work to restore the Bureau continued to develop or make and upgrade the popular trail system at the upgrades to recreation facilities on its lands. In Tumbledown Mt. area. 2008, projects included: Seboomook Unit. In 2008 recreation management Bradbury-Pineland Trail Corridor Project. After was transferred to the Penobscot River Corridor 8 years of acquisition work in partnership with the Parks staff for the campsites and facilities adjacent Pownal Land Trust, BPL now has the legal right to the rivers and lakes on this unit, which extends and approved permission to establish a multi-use the system of campsites along the upper trail connecting Bradbury Mt. State Park in Penobscot River. Riverside fishing/nature trails Pownal with the Pineland Public Reserved Land were established along the West Branch and South Unit in Gray and North Yarmouth. Acquired public Branch. The Bureau also collaborated with Great reserved lands will be managed by Bradbury Mt. Lakes Hydro in improving the portage trails at State Park. Canada Falls and Seboomook dams. In 2008, a working group comprised of Wright Trail, Mahoosuc Unit. The Wright Trail is a Parks & Lands staff (including Parks, Lands, and hiking trail originating from the Sunday River Rd. in Off Road Vehicle Divisions) as well as local Ketchum and leading to the summit of Goose Eye recreation and conservation minded individuals Mt. In total, there are approximately 5.6 miles of met on multiple occasions to examine and discuss trail on BPL property. This rugged, challenging trail the corridor lands and trail possibilities. is in need of numerous stone steps, bog bridges, The CMP corridor trail will include co- and waterbars (as well as trail brushing and located motorized and non-motorized trails. The blazing). In an effort to improve the rapidly connection from the CMP corridor to Bradbury Mt. deteriorating trail conditions and to improve visitor State Park will be non-motorized only due to deed experiences and environmental quality, BPL restrictions. The CMP trail corridor also connects contracted for 3 weeks of Maine Conservation to the Pineland Public Reserved Land Unit. Corps trail crew work in 2008. 10 Additional MCC

weeks are scheduled for 2009.

Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land Unit. An trail crew, with assiatance from BPL staff, worked effort to establish extended hiking options in the on the Deboullie tower trail, which included new Donnell Pond Public Land Unit was launched in switchback, footbridge, stone steps, and water the fall of 2008. A trail planning group was formed bars. They also created a new 3-mile Black Mtn. to advise the Bureau, with members from Maine loop, which included footbridge, clearing, and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, regional planning scenic vistas. interests, the Nature Conservancy, the Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and local trail Salmon Brook Lake Unit. The Bureau’s northern constituents. The trail planning group will also region also established a multi-use trail spur on the advise the Bureau on recreational developments Salmon Brook Lake Unit connecting the Bangor on the portion of the Blackwoods Scenic Byway and Aroostook rail trail in Perham to Salmon Brook that bisects the northern section of the unit. In just below the outlet of the lake. This provides 2009 the anticipated focus will be to inventory water access for hand carry watercraft, and serves potential trail connectors and backcountry walkers, bikes and ATV’s. Hardening of the trail campsites. surface with shale dust and the use of boardwalks over wet areas were important parts of the project Nahmakanta Public Reserved Land Unit. The to minimize environmental impacts. A picnic table Bureau continued to develop an expanded and table shelter was built at the end of the trail backcountry hiking opportunity on this Unit in spur a short distance from the stream. Project 2008. With the help of the Maine Conservation partners included the Town of Perham, community Corps, 1 mile trail and a campsite were volunteers, the ORV Division, and Washburn constructed finalizing a new loop option for Beavers ATV Club. extended hiking in the Nahmakanta Land Unit. Prior trail construction linked the Appalachian Trail Allagash Mountain. It is also worth mentioning near Nahmakanta Stream to Tumbledown Dick that volunteers completed improvements to the fire Falls; and Tumbledown Dick Pond to the Leavitt tower at Allagash Mountain. Pond area. The 2009 trail work will entail completing the trail gap between Tumbledown PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE Dick Falls and Tumbledown Dick Pond. The new trails and campsites will link significant trail The Governor’s Task Force on the systems in the unit, namely the 8 mile plus Turtle Management of Public Lands and Publicly-held Ridge Trail, a short section of the Appalachian Easements completed its work in 2007 with a Trail, a relatively short section of public use road, Report issued in January of 2008. As a and the 12 mile plus Debsconeag Backcountry recommendation of the task force, a Recreation Trail in the Debsconeag Ecological Reserve. and Conservation Forum was established and led by non-governmental organizations involved in Deboullie Unit. The Bureau’s Northern Region the task force. Two events were held exploring a) Public Lands staff recently completed a number of backcountry recreation issues and recreational access projects that were understandings, and b) the history and status of recommended in the management plan adopted ecoreserves. The forum continues to exist and in 2007. additional meetings are expected in 2009. The first project is a new public use road Other recommendations included the and bridge over the Red River at the outlet of establishment of a scientific review panel to look Pushineer Pond using the existing footprint of a at recreational and other existing uses of dam. This new access to campsites and the boat ecological reserves; and the enhancement of the launch site on the north side of the river has Bureau’s information and mapping capability to eliminated the need for vehicles to ford the river. better communicate to the general public the As part of this project, the Pushineer trailer availability of and opportunities on the lands its accessible boat launch site was reconfigured and manages. See also Section VI; and PUBLIC improved to reduce conflicts with a campsite. INFORMATION in this section.

The hiking trail network was improved at Deboullie as well. A Maine Conservation Corps

subsequent public safety issues caused by the 2007 Patriots Day storm. PUBLIC INFORMATION STAFFING

The Bureau, through its Interpretive Six seasonal rangers were involved in Specialist, continued to develop, revise, and recreation management activities in 2008. The distribute informational brochures to visitors to its western region also hired a 13-week seasonal lands, which describe the location of hiking trails, intern to assist with campsite maintenance on campsites, and other recreation facilities and Moosehead Lake. The seasonal rangers were opportunities. New brochures and maps were responsible for recreation facilities maintenance developed for Cutler Coast, Rocky Lake and and construction, and informing visitors about Machias River Corridor. Previously there was not Bureau rules. The full-time Bigelow Preserve a map and brochure for the Machias River Manager spent much of the summer managing Corridor. recreational use. The vacant Recreation Specialist Completed Brochures position was filled in 2008.

Bigelow Preserve FEES Cutler Coast (2008) Deboullie Fees are generally not charged on Dodge Point Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands Donnell Pond managed by the Bureau; however, in four Duck Lake situations fees are charged because these lands Holeb are near or within private recreation management Little Moose systems having similar management objectives. Machias River Corridor (2008) Fees were charged in 2008 on Public Reserved Mahoosuc Nahmakanta Lands as described below: Pineland Richardson/Bald Mountain North Maine Woods Recreation Management Rocky Lake (2008) System . This is a privately operated gated Scraggly Lake system involving 3 million acres of primarily Seboeis private lands where public recreation is allowed Squapan subject to fees. Approximately 135,500 acres of “Your Islands and Parks on the Coast” Public Reserved Lands managed by the Bureau, including the Deboullie, Round Pond, Chamberlain, Telos, Gero Island, and Seboomook Website Updates. The Bureau continues to use Units, are within the North Maine Woods (NMW) its website www.parksandlands.com to provide system. To access these lands, the public photos, maps, and facility information for most of passes through NMW checkpoints, where fees its consolidated units. The website was enhanced are paid for day use and camping. Visitors then with new search features, expanded content, travel over roads on private land within the NMW print-at-home maps and brochures. The Unit system. In 2008, camping fees were brochures and corresponding web descriptions $8.00/person/night for Maine residents and updated in 2008 showcase a new format with $10/person/night for non-residents; and day use more complete descriptions and information. A fees were $6.00/person for residents and PowerPoint presentation about the Bureau was $10.00/person for non-residents. Fees are also developed and posted to the website. retained by NMW for facility maintenance and development, except that the camping fees are Information Signs. The Bureau developed returned to the Bureau when the Bureau assumes public information signs for Mackworth Island, maintenance responsibilities (Deboullie Unit). describing the reforestation techniques used by See additional information for fees for the the Bureau in response to wind damage and Seboomook Unit and Gero Island in the following section on the Penobscot River Corridor.

$15.00 (including tax) per night per site. The In 2009 40,500 acres of the Seboomook campground retains a portion of this fee for Unit will be removed from the NMW system (see maintenance of the 12 campsites and the Mill discussion under the Penobscot River Corridor Brook public boat launch facility at the north end below). of lake.

KI-Jo Mary Recreation Management System. Baxter State Park. Management of campsites at Similar to the NMW system, this is a privately the west end of Webster Lake in the Telos Unit operated gated system involving 175,000 acres of have been assigned by mutual agreement to the primarily private lands where public recreation is Baxter State Park Authority and are administered allowed subject to fees. The 960-acre Bowdoin subject to its rules and policies. Most of the use of College Grant East Unit lies within this system. Webster Lake is connected with the Webster Day use fees ($6/person/day resident and Stream canoe trip which traverses the northern end $9/person/day non-resident) are charged at of Baxter State Park. checkpoints in Katahdin Ironworks and West Bowdoin College Grant for access to this PARTNERSHIPS Unit and other lands within the system. See also Section XI. Public Access for fees to access the For some properties, the Bureau has Nahmakanta Unit from Route 11. entered into partnership agreements with other organizations to assist in managing recreational Penobscot River Corridor. The Penobscot use. Noteworthy examples of partnerships in River Corridor (PRC), managed by the Bureau’s place in 2008 were: Parks Division, includes campsites on Public Reserved Lands on Gero Island on Chesuncook Appalachian Trail. The Bureau continued its Lake, and a portion of the Seboomook Unit. PRC partnership with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club staff maintain recreation facilities at these sites. to accomplish stewardship and trail maintenance Visitors to the area pass through checkpoints along 43 miles of the AT corridor in the Bigelow operated by North Maine Woods, Inc., which Preserve, Mahoosuc, Four Ponds, Bald Mountain, collects the PRC camping fee – in 2008 this was and Nahmakanta Units. An additional 28 miles of $4/person/night for residents and $5/person/night the AT is located on lands within state parks or on for nonresidents (increased to $8 for nonresidents lands subject to Bureau-held conservation July 1 2008). A portion of the fees is returned to easements. the Bureau for campsite management and maintenance. NMW day use fees ($6.00 and Bigelow Preserve. An agreement is in place with $10.00 per person respectively for residents and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club to ensure a non-residents in 2008) are also charged for PRC summer staff presence at the more heavily used visitors to these Units and retained by North areas of the Appalachian Trail; in particular, the Maine Woods to cover operating costs for the Horns Pond campsite near the center of the checkpoint system. For Gero Island, day use fees Bigelow Range. were charged for the day in and day out only, NMW day use fees continued to be charged for all Coastal Islands. The Bureau continued its trip days to visitors to the Seboomook Unit, partnership with the Maine Island Trail however. Association for the management of certain state- In 2009, 40,500 acres of the Seboomook owned islands along the coast of Maine that are Unit surrounding Seboomook Lake will be part of the Maine Island Trail. removed from the NMW system and users will then only be charged for camping at PRC rates. Cutler Coast. The Cobscook Trails Coalition provided trail stewardship and visitor information South Arm Campground. The Bureau leases through a management agreement with the campsites on the Richardson Unit (Upper Quoddy Regional Land Trust, The Nature Richardson Lake) to South Arm Campground, a Conservancy, Maine Coast Trust Heritage Trust, privately owned campground on adjoining private Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Maine land. In 2008, the campground owner charged IF&W, local businesses, and the Bureau.

Dodge Point. An ongoing arrangement is in into several new and formal relationships with place with the Damariscotta River Association to WMCF in order to facilitate the development of a assist with the maintenance of trails and facilities. network of large huts connected by trails. In 2007 the Bureau acquired a Frenchman’s Hole, Mahoosuc Unit. A conservation easement over portions of the trail, partnership is in place with the Mahoosuc Land and entered into agreements authorized by the Trust to assist in the maintenance of this day use legislature to allow the trail to cross portions of the area. Bigelow Preserve. The growth of the Huts & Trails network will come with many new and expanding Grafton Loop Trail. The Bureau continues to be formal and informal relationships between the an active member of a coalition of non-profit Bureau and WMCF (see also Projects: Bigelow organizations and private landowners that Preserve - in this Recreation section). developed a 39-mile hiking trail in the Mahoosuc Mountains. The trail branches off from the IX. TIMBER RESOURCES Appalachian Trail on the Mahoosuc Unit and continues east over private land to Puzzle Mountain, where it then returns to the The Bureau manages the natural resources on the Appalachian Trail. lands under its care through a carefully planned multiple use program that balances timber Kennebec Highlands. This recently acquired management with all other resource values. property is managed in part through a partnership Timber revenues support the Bureau’s public with the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. reserved and non-reserved management costs, including provision of recreation facilities and KI-Jo-Mary / NMW System. The KI-Jo-Mary opportunities, and wildlife management. Other System is similar to the NMW system; in fact the public benefits include contribution to the local two systems share administrative services. The economy, provision of low-cost firewood through Nahmakanta Unit and Sebois Unit both lie near or the Bureau’s firewood harvest permit program, and adjacent to the KI-Jo-Mary System. Because of demonstration of exemplary multi-aged the proximity of the Seboeis and Nahmakanta management focused primarily on mature quality Units to this existing managed system, NMW timber. provides maintenance and monitoring services for these Units under contract with the Bureau. The TIMBER INVENTORY NMW partnership with the Bureau has many other facets, as discussed elsewhere in this report. An important facet of the timber management program is examination and inventory Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The of the forest resource. Benchmark field data Bureau has an increasingly strong relationship acquired in 1999 detailed timber, site, and natural with the multi-state NFCT, which promotes canoe resource measurements. This inventory was and kayak trips and stewardship across many important for both forest management planning, public and private properties in Maine. In 2008 and third-party forest certification auditors. the Bureau established two new campsites on Moosehead Lake in support of this regional water Status of Current Inventory. The 2006 modeling trail system. update of the 1999 analysis revealed a total inventory of over 8 million cords on about 360,000 Machias River Corridor. The Bureau regulated acres (the acres used in calculating cooperates with the Maine Atlantic Salmon sustainable harvest levels). With Seboomook Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, included the inventory is over 8.5 million cords on NOAA, Project SHARE and local watershed just under 400,000 acres, nearly 22 cords per acre. councils to protect and enhance Atlantic salmon habitat.

Western Mountain Community Foundation (Huts and Trails). In 2007 the Bureau entered

This level of stocking is approximately 30 percent Once the timber contracts are awarded, more than the average for all of Maine's Bureau foresters and forest technicians work timberland as reported by the U.S. Forest Service closely with contractors to ensure contract in 2004. The most abundant tree species on compliance, and that timber management Bureau lands is red spruce, and its volume per objectives are met. acre is over 50 percent greater than that shown Bureau staff closely supervises each statewide in the 2004 report. harvest by marking individual trees for removal or by providing loggers with strict harvesting criteria. PRESCRIPTIONS These criteria specify which trees are to be harvested. All harvest operations are inspected by Planning for the timber management of Bureau staff on a weekly basis; more often when Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands is a individual situations warrant. two-step process: Summary of Timber Sales in 2008. The y A management plan for the unit as a whole implementation of prescriptions resulted in: is prepared and adopted; y A total of 101,015 cords (allowable cut is y More detailed plans for discrete areas 115,000 cords) harvested from 9,750 acres. between 500 - 2,000 acres (known as y A total of 38 operations were ongoing in compartments) are then developed for the 2008. These operations are a combination of unit. newly established sales, and sales carried over from previous years, and do not include Compartments are examined on a 15-year cycle permits for firewood sales issued to to identify timber and wildlife resources and individuals (see below). recreational opportunities. Based on the field y In concert with the Bureau’s contractors, examination and the information collected, work wood was marketed to over 50 mills plans called “prescriptions” are developed to statewide. ensure adequate protection of special resources

and a sustained yield of forest goods and Firewood Permit Program: In response to services, which include timber, wildlife, and rocketing energy prices, the Bureau’s firewood appropriate recreational uses. program attracted many times the interest of that in

previous years. Nearly 800 inquiries were Prescriptions in 2008. Bureau staff examined answered by BPL staff, and 377 permits totaling and prescribed 14 compartments totaling 19,184 2,020 cords were issued to individuals wanting to acres for a wide range of resource management harvest their own firewood from Bureau-managed activities. lands. All trees on these firewood harvest areas

were marked by Bureau staff to ensure that the TIMBER SALES forest was being managed sustainably.

If a timber harvest is prescribed in a 2008 Harvest and Market Analysis. In 2008 the compartment, a timber sale is developed. The Bureau harvest declined about 7% from that majority of timber sales are put out to competitive reported the previous year. This harvest bid, following State rules and procedures represents 88% of the Bureau-established governing the sale of State property and purchase “allowable cut.” The decrease in volume was of services. Most timber is sold as stumpage. mostly due to rainfall in June-September being Under this system, the contractor agrees to pay about twice the normal amount, delaying many the Bureau a bid price per unit for each type of warm-season operations. Winter operating forest product harvested. Occasionally timber is conditions were very good, though by February sold using contracts for logging services. Under snow depth was a problem in many areas. this system, the Bureau pays the contractor to harvest timber and deliver it to specified mills; these mills then pay the Bureau directly for these products. In 2008 no timber was harvested under contracts for logging services.

Average stumpage price per cord increased Committee Tour in 2008: This year’s field tour 6% from that of 2007, almost entirely due to a revisited Scraggly Lake and Squapan in the change in product mix. Sawlog and veneer prices Northern Region, tracts seen by the committee in dropped 5-10% for both softwoods and 1986 and 1998 (Scraggly) and 1992 (Squapan.) hardwoods, but pulpwood prices were about 10% One major subject addressed at Scraggly was higher. This jump in pulpwood price, especially management of deer wintering areas(DWA), as the for hardwood pulp, lasted only a few months and unit contains portions of four zoned DWAs and is a had decreased to 2007 rates or below by the end “magnet” town for the eight surrounding townships. of 2008. A second topic was management of late Softwood volume was about the same for successional stands, especially those with a strong both years but hardwood pulp harvest was 7,000 old growth component. Scraggly has probably the cords less in 2008, though still over half the highest proportion of late successional forest of any overall volume. The harvest volume was 55% large BPL parcel, as our extensive harvests since hardwoods, well above the 32% predicted by the the early 1980s have worked to retain and enhance growth curves in the Allowable Cut model, as the this character. Bureau continued to remove low quality wood to At Squapan we discussed BPL favor the better trees for the future. In future years management planning, in particular retention of the hardwood-to-softwood ratio is likely to be desired visual character along public use roads and more balanced, which will increase the average elsewhere, and consideration of multiple use trails revenue per cord. on this unit with the highest level of motorized use As part of its multiple use management, the of any on BPL. Also addressed was the creation of Bureau will continue to emphasize maintaining the habitat for snowshoe hare as a means of providing harvest volume at a level near the allowable cut, for the threatened Canada lynx. while continuing to practice the highest quality silviculture. BOUNDARY LINES Larger volume, multi-year sales have been initiated during the past two years in an effort to The Bureau continued to make progress provide stability for contractors, which in turn on the maintenance of boundary lines this past should increase annual harvest volumes. These year, with 26 miles maintained in 2008, more than contracts have attracted contractors with desired half of which were in the eastern region. harvesting equipment. In addition, this approach should foster better working relationships and FOREST CERTIFICATION improve efficiency. However, economic conditions that result in poor markets, and weather events The Bureau was awarded certification of that can reduce harvest levels, will remain beyond its forestlands under the Sustainable Forestry the Bureau’s control. Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) programs in 2002. These third- SILVICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE party audits were conducted to determine if these lands were being managed on a sustainable In 1986, the Bureau established a basis. The Bureau underwent the two audit Silvicultural Advisory Committee with programs simultaneously, a rigorous and unique representatives from environmental groups, process. The audit included a field analysis of academia, and forest managers from public and forest management practices at selected sites private landowners, to review and critique forest around the state, and an analysis of the Bureau's management policies and practices on public financial, personnel, policy development, and lands. Each year the Bureau sponsors a field trip record-keeping systems. on which the Committee examines work the Successful completion of the FSC/SFI Bureau has completed or is planning, providing systems qualified the Bureau to enter into the valuable input to staff through on-site dialogue. “chain of custody” program to market its “green- certified” wood. Since 2003, green-certified wood has been marketed from Bureau managed lands. Following its initial certification, a Bureau- wide certification team was implemented to

address “conditions” and “minor ROADS & ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS nonconformances” stipulated in the audit reports, including: significant enhancements to forest Road Construction. To facilitate both summer inventory data, development of a computerized and winter timber harvesting activities across the forest-modeling program, a timeline for updating state, approximately 38 miles of road were management plans for the entire land base; constructed or reconstructed. improvements in the use of Best Management Practices to protect water quality; and new Road Maintenance. Each year the Bureau commitments to public outreach and education contracts for maintenance services for grading and programs. The Bureau is required to meet these brushwork on public use roads. In 2008, conditions within certain timeframes in order to approximately 187 miles of roads were maintained keep its certification status in good standing over under contract. the five-year certification period. In addition to normal maintenance, spring floods in 2008 damaged a number of roads that Certification Accomplishments in 2008. The were repaired with the help of FEMA funds. These Bureau underwent joint FSC/SFI surveillance included the causeway at Seboomook Lake, and audits in August of 2008, visiting a number of the Nahmakanta and Sebois Roads. Western Region sites to view recent and ongoing timber harvests, along with just completed and XI. PUBLIC ACCESS older water crossings and roadwork. As a result of this audit and the fine work done by BPL field Three-fourths of the Public Reserved staff, the Bureau for the first time since Lands were accessible to the public without fee or certification has no Corrective Action Requests special arrangements in 2008. There are a few pending from either certification program. circumstances where public vehicle access is

limited or restricted. As required in 12 MRSA § X. TRANSPORTATION 1853, the following is a report of barriers that affect primary motor vehicle access. The Bureau continued to improve road access within its Units, focusing primarily on EXTERNAL GATES TO PUBLIC LANDS recreational needs and implementation of its timber management program. North Maine Woods Checkpoints. There are seven checkpoints, staffed seasonally, controlling BRIDGES primary access from Maine points to 135,500 acres of Public Reserved Land within the nearly Allagash Wilderness Waterway. The Bureau’s three million acre North Maine Woods area, Northern Region Manager served on the including the Deboullie, Round Pond, Commission to Study Henderson Brook Bridge in Chamberlain, Telos, and Seboomook Units. the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Temporary These checkpoints are all on private land and repairs were made to the Henderson Brook facilitate management of recreational use on both Bridge, with Army Corp. and LURC permits public and private land. obtained in 2007 for the eventual replacement of this bridge. In 2008 FEMA funds were secured to KI/Jo-Mary Checkpoints. The Katahdin Iron repair spring flood damage to this bridge, and Works checkpoint controls access to the 960-acre deck timbers were sawed for the replacement public lot in Bowdoin College Grant East. Free bridge. public access to the Nahmakanta Unit has been established from the west, with the unit no longer Pushineer Dam Bridge. A new bridge was managed as part of the KI/Jo-Mary system. constructed over the Red River at T15R9 to replace a river ford. However, the Bureau funds a checkpoint Nahmakanta Stream Bridge. In 2008 new treads at Henderson Brook and a fee for access from were installed on the Nahmakanta Stream Bridge. Route 11 to the unit through the KI/Jo-Mary system continues as in the past.

XII. LAND TRANSACTIONS Cary Plantation, Aroostook County. A locked cable gate on private land restricts access to this ACQUISITIONS 230-acre parcel. Appendix B provides a list of all Bureau acquisitions Magalloway Plantation, Oxford County. A in 2008. Forest Legacy Program funding has been locked metal gate on private land restricts access approved for expected 2009 acquisition of an to this 1,000-acre parcel. additional 5,000 acres in fee and 40,000 acres in conservation easements. In addition to these Dallas Plantation, Franklin County. A chained, acquisitions, the Bureau continued to sponsor land metal gate on private land restricts access to the trust acquisitions through the Land for Maine’s north lot in Dallas Plantation, and to the lot in Future program requirements. In 2008, five Davis Twp. The total area of the two lots is 1,050 Bureau-sponsored land trust acquisitions also acres. The gate is owned and maintained by the closed, bringing the total number of Bureau- camp owners on the south end of Kennebago sponsored projects to 60. Lake. OTHER DISPOSTIONS Cupsuptic Gate, Franklin County. A staffed Appendix B also provides a record of one 2008 gate leased by the Kennebago Campowners disposition, which was authorized by legislative Association on private lands limits access to the action in 2008.

62-acre public lot in Stetsontown Twp. on ACQUISITIONS IMPACTING VECHICULAR Kennebago Lake. A public access agreement ACCESS with the Association allows up to three vehicles at any one time to access the lake via the public lot, Pursuant to various sections of law, “if an and to park at the Grants Camps lease site acquisition is made that does not include located on the lot. guaranteed public vehicular access, the bureau shall describe the acquisition (in this report) and INTERNAL GATES the justification for that acquisition.” Below is the required justification for selected acquisitions The Bureau maintains 18 internal gates from Appendix B: for safety purposes, to protect sensitive areas, to limit vehicle traffic on service roads, or to control Robinson Peak Forest (CE): This conservation certain recreational uses. None of the barricades easement abuts the Mahoosuc Unit reserved restrict foot traffic into these areas. Many of these lands. The easement couldn’t provide direct barriers are left open during the winter season to vehicular access due to issues of crossing allow safe passage by snowmobiles. The privately owned land, though pedestrian access is inventory was adjusted in 2007 to reflect the sale through the Public Lands Mahoosuc Unit. of the North Lagrange public lot in 2006, and the Vehicles can access the easement lands via addition of an internal gate on the Hebron lot. woods roads from Route 2 which also crosses over private lands owned by others.

2008 LAND TRANSACTIONS BILL Resolves of 2008, chapter 179 authorized certain dispositions of Bureau lands and interest in lands. Below is a summary and status report for these:

1. To convey in Wyman Township, Franklin County, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest management purposes to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest

management road located on state-owned land running south from State Route 27. XIII. SUBMERGED LANDS 2. To convey in Moosehead Junction Township, Piscataquis County a nonexclusive These lands are managed under the linear easement for forest management purposes Public Trust Doctrine to ensure protection of the to benefit GMO Renewable Resources, LLC, The public trust rights of fishing, waterfowl hunting, easement must be located entirely along the navigation, and recreation. The Submerged existing forest management road on state-owned Lands Program plays an important role in land running southwest from State Route 15. maintaining a balance among competing uses of 3. To convey in Coplin Plantation, Franklin submerged lands and resolving conflicts County, a nonexclusive linear easement for forest between public trust rights and the demand for management purposes to benefit GMO private and commercial uses of these lands. Renewable Resources, LLC. The easement must be located entirely along the existing forest Project/Permit Applications. In 2008, the management roads on state-owned land. Submerged Lands Program processed 114 4. To convey in Chain of Ponds Township, applications for proposed and existing waterfront Franklin County 4 nonexclusive linear structures and dredging projects requiring a easements with multiple branches for forest submerged lands lease or easement. This management purposes to benefit GMO includes 58 constructive easement conversions, Renewable Resources, LLC. The easements and 53 leases and easements for new must be located entirely along the existing forest development projects, bringing the combined management roads on state-owned land running program total to 2,065 conveyances. The in various directions from State Route 27. Bureau also reviewed an additional 103 5. To convey in the Town of Newport, environmental permit applications and Penobscot County. Resolved, a trail-crossing determined that no conveyances were required. easement to benefit the properties of Maureen M. Greene, and Paul A. Greene, Jr. and Joel S. Constructive Easements. The Bureau Burrill and Christine A. Burrill. continues to research information on 6. To convey in the City of Augusta, Kennebec constructive easements (structures in existence County; for negotiated value not less than prior to October 1, 1975) and has identified $60,000, and on such other terms and conditions approximately 1,000 structures that require a as the director may direct, the land and buildings new conveyance. To date, the Bureau has at 157 Hospital Street leased to Bread of Life received over 862 applications and executed Ministries. Said land and buildings consisting of 681 new leases and easements for these approximately 0.82 acres of land, one building structures. and one garage. 7. To lease within Quoddy Head State Park in Advisory Board. This group, first established in the Town of Lubec, Washington County certain 1997 to provide advice to the Director, met once rights and lands within Quoddy Head State Park during the year to review Bureau in the Town of Lubec, Washington County to the recommendations for improvements to the lease United States Government or the United States fee schedule. Individual board members also Coast Guard. The lease is limited to the rights to participated in the stakeholder working group maintain, operate, expand, modernize and that helped develop those recommendations.. improve existing public safety communications facilities located within Quoddy Head State Park, including access rights and utility rights necessary Sunken Logs. One application to recover to service such facilities. sunken logs from public submerged lands at None these authorized dispositions Moosehead Lake was received in 2008. Over occurred in 2008. Several are expected to be 260 logs were recovered with a total volume of transacted in 2009. 52,444 board feet.

XIV. SHORE AND HARBOR requests for ownership information from persons MANAGEMENT FUND with a general interest in Maine islands. The Bureau's brochure "Your Islands In 1991, the Legislature created the and Parks on the Coast" continues to be Shore and Harbor Management Fund in updated each year. This brochure shows the anticipation that annual revenues from the location of approximately 40 State-owned Submerged Lands Program would exceed islands suitable for recreational use and explains operating costs. These funds could then be the Bureau's visiting, camping, and resource used to support shore and harbor management protection policies. The Maine Island Trail is a activities by providing grants to municipalities. water trail extending along the entire coast of The $1,200 cap on submerged lands Maine and includes both publicly and privately rents that was passed by the legislature in 1997 owned islands. The Bureau continues its significantly reduced anticipated revenues but partnership with the Maine Island Trail has improved somewhat following the expiration Association in the management and oversight of of constructive easements in 2005 and the the State-owned islands on the Trail. steady increase in the number of leases since that time. In 2008, the Bureau contributed XVI. INCOME AND EXPENDITURES $130,000 for 13 municipal shore and harbor ACCOUNTING planning grants in cooperation with the State Planning Office Coastal Management Program. OVERVIEW In addition, $50,000 to the Maine Island Trails The Bureau has several different Association in support of continuing partnership accounts established for specific purposes with for ongoing recreation management of State statutory restrictions on their use. The statutes owned coastal islands. require that financial summaries be prepared The Bureau anticipates that with the on a calendar year basis. The figures pending removal of the lease rental cap in July presented below do not match those reported of 2009 that revenues available to the Shore and elsewhere on a fiscal year basis, and may tend Harbor Fund will continue to improve. The to exaggerate the Bureau's income and Bureau will continue to work with other natural expenditures in any one calendar year, resource agencies, leaseholders, and other depending upon where the income and interest groups to identify public infrastructure expenses actually fall within the fiscal year. and planning needs along the coast and the appropriate level of contribution to those efforts Public Reserved Lands Management from this fund. Account (014.04A.0239.22) This account is restricted to uses related to the The Bureau completed a review of its management of lands that have Public Reserved fees under the submerged lands leasing Lands status, which includes the original public program and reported its findings to the lots, land acquired through trading Public Legislature. Reserved Lands, and other lands designated as Public Reserved Lands. Sources of income to XV. COASTAL ISLAND PROGRAM this account include the sale of timber stumpage, camplot leases and other special OVERVIEW leases on the Reserved Lands, and interest on Maine's Coastal Island Registry was the account balance. Income for calendar year created by the 106th Legislature as a means of 2008 was $4,284,078 with expenditures of clarifying title to 3,000 coastal islands by $3,814,216. Because the Bureau's largest establishing and registering ownership. By now source of revenue is timber, income fluctuates most island owners have registered their from year to year in response to the amount of islands. The Bureau continues to receive wood harvested and economic conditions that periodic requests to register an island or make affect timber markets. changes in existing registrations (address or In 2008 the Lands Division completed a ownership changes). There are also many staff-intensive green certification process, dealt

with weather conditions that restricted harvest funds generated from leases and easements on operations, but was still able to accomplish the State’s submerged lands. Most of the fund’s harvest volumes exceeding 100,000 cords for income is derived from leases of coastal the second year in a row. At the same time waterfront properties to allow commercial uses expenses for personnel services, vehicle such as marinas, piers, and boatyards. operations, information technology and Additional revenues were generated from management costs for non-revenue generating application and easement registration fees and activities have increased. the sale of gravel. Total revenues in 2008 were Revenue generated in calendar year $336,298 with expenses of $223,811. Funds for 2008 was only $469,862 more than personnel services (salaries) comprise the expenditures, due to the factors described majority of the program’s budget. above. Not shown in either the income or Shore and Harbor Management Fund expenditure figures above are the portion of (014.04A0239.29) moneys received from camplot leases and A Shore and Harbor Management Fund was timber sales that are shared with towns and established in 1991 to provide grants to plantations pursuant to 12 MRSA §1854. Based municipalities for harbor planning, public access, on the income received in 2008 (payable in and similar local management activities on 2009), the Bureau revenue sharing amounts submerged lands. This account receives funds total $53,888.90, paid to 20 towns and from the Submerged Lands account when plantations. income from leases exceeds the operating costs Income from the Reserved Lands of the program. The rental cap of $1,200 has Account supports most of the administrative, significantly limited the amount of money planning, timber, transportation, recreation, and available in this fund. In 2000 and 2001, one- wildlife management activities on the land base. time revenues totaling $1,537,500 from the sale At this time the balance in this primary of submerged lands and dredge materials to account is precariously low due to the factors BIW were deposited to this account. Since described above. Concerted efforts to reduce 2005, all of this revenue plus contributions from costs and increase revenue, including the Submerged Lands Fund, totaling $1,585,000 developing new sources of recurring revenues has been transferred to provide funding for will be necessary to maintain financial viability in municipal grants ($680,000), the Bureau’s this dedicated revenue account. Boating Facilities Program ($600,000), and coastal island management ($305,000). Total Public Non Reserved Lands Management expenses in 2008 were $130,000 for municipal Account (014.04A.0239.23) planning grants and $50,000 for the This account is used for the management of management of the Maine Island Trail and lands not in the Public Reserved Lands System. Casco Bay State owned islands. Total revenues These Non-reserved Public Lands include in 2008 were $226,107 mostly from interest. institutional lands (those lands considered This revenue contributed to a calendar year-end surplus by other State agencies) assigned to the balance of $276,079. Bureau for natural resource management, and coastal islands. Income is primarily derived from Land Acquisition Fund agricultural leases, though the sale of timber (014.04A.0239.24) contributes occasionally when timber harvests Funds from this account are restricted by statute are completed on Non-Reserved Lands. Income to the acquisition of lands of significant public for calendar year 2008 was $1,948 with use and value for the Public Reserved Lands expenditures of $1,158. The cash balance is system, and acquisition-related costs. These drawn down when expenses exceed revenues. funds cannot be used for operation or maintenance of existing land, and therefore, Submerged Lands Account expenditures do not take place on a regular (014.04A.0239.27) basis. Income that accrues as a result of sales, The Submerged Lands Account is comprised of trades, or interest is carried forward until needed

for future acquisitions. Income for calendar year 2008 was $761,141 against expenditures of OVERVIEW $106,091. Income this year was derived from During 2008 staff responsibilities to interest earned on the account balance and the support the Bureau’s various programs and sale of the Smilow lease lot in the Upper activities and to manage responsibilities over Richardson Lake Public Reserved Lands Unit. newly acquired land continued to increase. Expenses included the acquisition of 47.33 The Bureau received approval of a Part acres in fee and 8,153 acres in conservation II budget request in FY 2002 to address current easements, with additional expenditures on and future responsibilities and management legal, appraisal, and survey costs associated needs by increasing staff. The new positions with these acquisitions. In all cases, funds were included in that budget are necessary to expended in conjunction with other funding continue to assist with an increasing workload. sources outside of the Bureau. Funds from this Budget constraints warranted a account are restricted by constitutional conservative approach in filling new positions, amendment (Article IX, Section 23) to the although the Chief Forester, Interpretive acquisition of lands having significant Specialist, the part-time Planning & Research conservation and recreation value in the same Associate II have since been filled. Two new county in which the sale of lands generating the Forester I positions were filled in 2005. funds took place. The Bureau continues to explore and utilize new technology, and to look for ways to Non-Reserved Land Acquisition Fund deal effectively with its increasing workload, (014.04A.0239.37) increased expenses and inadequate revenue to This account was established to receive revenue fund all program activities. from the sale of Public Non-Reserved Lands. Income and expenses for calendar year 2008 CAMPLOT LEASE PROGRAM were minimal. Funds from this account are The Bureau continues to administer a limited by constitutional amendment (Article IX, Camplot Leasing Program for approximately 300 Section 23) to the acquisition of lands having residential camplots and 8 commercial sporting significant conservation and recreation values in camps and campgrounds across the state. In the same county in which the sale of lands 2007 the Bureau reissued leases for a new five- generating the funds took place. year term, and made adjustments to the lease rental schedule to reflect recent increases in tax- Mackworth Island Trust Fund assessed values. The Bureau has a statutory (014.04A.0239.30) requirement to charge lease fees based on Section 2 of Chapter 102 Public Law 1998, these values. authorized the proceeds from the sale of a 157 acre Bureau of Parks and Lands property in CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING Colorado to be invested as a separate trust fund In response to legislation enacted in and managed by the State Treasurer for the 2007 (33 MRSA 477-A-3) requiring all conservation easement holders to monitor benefit of Mackworth Island. In November 1999, easements for compliance with easement terms the Colorado property was sold. The proceeds at least once every three years, Bureau staff of $60,000 have been deposited into this trust spent considerable time developing monitoring fund. A non-lapsing account receives interest protocols for the 42 easement parcels (totaling income from the trust fund. This account is used more than 300,000 acres) within its ownership. A to manage public recreational activities and breakdown of the costs associated with this related resources on land under the Bureau’s requirement is found in Appendix C of this care on Mackworth Island in Falmouth. Income Report. Although stewardship accounts were for calendar year 2008 was $1,311, with no established for some of these easements at the expenditures. time of their acquisition, the Bureau is responsible for all remaining costs associated XVII. ADMINISTRATION with these statutory requirements.

XVIII. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 2010

OVERVIEW Pursuant to Title 12 M.R.S.A., ' 1839 and 1853 the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry must review allocations for the Bureau of Parks and Lands dedicated funds and revenue accounts pertaining to Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands for the upcoming fiscal year, and submit a written report to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs by March 15th. To assist in the preparation of that report, the Bureau is submitting information regarding Bureau income, expenditures, and management of the following seven dedicated accounts:

¾ Public Reserved Lands Management Fund ¾ Public Lands Management Fund (Non-reserved Public Lands) ¾ Public Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund ¾ Public Non-Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund ¾ Submerged Lands Fund ¾ Shore and Harbor Management Fund ¾ Coastal Island Registry ¾ Mackworth Island Trust

These accounts derive revenue from the sale of forest products, from lease fees, from interest on cash balances, and from the sale of land. Programs funded by these accounts receive no support from the State’s General Fund. The dedicated revenues in these accounts must cover all operating expenses. The Bureau plans its expenditures for each fiscal year based on a level of income it projects to receive from its various revenue sources. If projected income is not sufficient, then the Bureau determines whether the balance in its contingency fund is sufficient to carry it through until additional revenues are received. If both revenue projections and contingency funds are insufficient, then the Bureau postpones planned expenditures until revenue returns to an adequate level. The Bureau has established internal financial management procedures to accomplish this process and reviews budgetary matters on a monthly and quarterly basis. In the past, this internal management has proven successful. The Bureau has adjusted its expenditures and managed its financial resources so that core program activities have continued to be funded. The Bureau continues to manage the State-owned Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands to produce timber on a sustained yield basis and within established levels for allowable harvest to generate revenue to support resource protection, wildlife, and recreation programs. However, it is becoming more difficult to maintain the financial viability of this arrangement with existing sources of revenue as personal services and fixed costs continue to increase. The addition of new lands and management responsibilities places increasing strain on the Bureau’s capacity to remain financially self-sufficient. Presented below are the FY 2010 budget allocations proposed for each of seven dedicated accounts within the Bureau’s “Lands” division. These allocations represent the limits within which the Bureau must operate.

22 FY 2010 ACCOUNT SUMMARIES

1. Public Reserved Lands Management Fund Account# 014.04A.0239.22 II Income Expenses II

Earnings on Investments * $95,000 Personal Services $3,253,136 Rent of Lands* $825,000 All Other (not including STACAP) $978,314 Camplot Leases* $235,000 Registration Fees $21,000 Mise Services & Fees $32,000 Capital Recreational Use of Lands $1 1,000 Sale of Stumpage * $3,580,000 Mise Income $100,000 Capital Subtotal Legis Transfer of Revenue ($70,695) DICAP** ($344,734) STACAP $121,363

Total Income $4 483,571.00 Total Expenses $4 352 81 3.00 * Represents the maJor components of the Bureau's mcome stream. ** Consistent with state accounting practices, DICAP is shown as a "revenue debit," although it is actually an expenditure.

The Bureau, as of December 31, 2008, had an account balance of $1, 11 0,279.56 in the Public Reserved Lands Management Fund which serves as its contingency fund . Because most of the Bureau's timber harvesting takes place during the winter (to minimize environmental impacts and potential conflicts with recreational users}, there is a significant seasonal fluctuation in income. The contingency fund enables the Bureau to operate during the first half of the fiscal year when income is low and expenses are relatively constant. It also serves as a buffer to cover operating costs when expenses exceed revenues. The current balance is significantly below the optimum level, which would be half of the annual operating expense. It is below the level necessary to remain self sufficient and support program needs. A concerted effort, with particular emphasis on the timber management program, and modifications to harvest preparation and sale practices, is ongoing and will be necessary to build up this contingency fund. In addition, many desired program expenditures will need to be curtailed and alternative sources of revenue will need to be explored and developed.

23 New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2010 Expenses

Sale of Stumpage $66,694 Personal Services ($124 800.00) DICAP ($2,737) All Other Utility Services $763.00 Rents - CFM $6,491.00 Fuel $1,213.00 STACAP $188.00 All Other Subtotal $8,655.00 Buildings $20,000.00 Capital $24,000.00 Equipment Roads and Bridges $135,000.00 Capital Subtotal $179 000.00

TOTAL $63,957.00 TOTAL $62,855.00

Increases in all other are requested to address increased rates being charged to the Bureau for fuel oil, utility services, and for rental vehicles by Central Fleet Management. The capital requests are for routine capital equipment purchases, as well as capital improvements on buildings, roads, and bridges. The personnel services amount shows negative from the curtailment of a Forester I and 2 Forest Technicians. These positions have been returned to this account in the 2009 Supplemental Budget.

2. Public Non-Reserved Lands Management Fund Account# 014.04A.0239.23 II Income Expenses I

Earnings on Investments $3,000 All Other (not including STACAP} $32,947 Rent on Lands and Build ings $16,850 Capital Sale of Stumpage $77,582 STACAP $575 DICAP** ($1,610)

Total Income $95 822.00 Total Expenses $33.. 522.00 ** Cons1stent w1th state accounting pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "revenue deb1t", although 1t IS actually an expenditure.

Both income and expenses will be less than the budgeted allocations in this account. The account has a balance of $7,587.71, which is used as a contingency fund to cover expenses that occur between the relatively small and infrequent timber harvests on these lands. It is unlikely the Bureau will harvest the amount of timber needed to meet the proposed revenue projection. Therefore, management expenditures and associated activities will be limited.

24 3. Public Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund Account# 014.04A.0239.24 II Income Expenses I

Earnings on $144,000 All Other (not including STACAP) Investments $203,579 Sale of Land Capital $90,475 DICAP** STACAP ($16,498) $5,896

$217,977.00 Total Expenses $209 475.00 Total Income .. ** Cons1stent w1th state accounting pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "revenue deb1t", although 1t IS actually an expenditure.

By statute, the money in this account is used only for purposes related to the acquisition of interest in land. Lands purchased with the funds from this account have Public Reserved Land status. These funds are necessary to acquire rights-of-ways, in-holdings, conservation easements, and add itions to the existing land base. As in most years, it is difficult to predict the timing , income, and expenditures involved in potential land transactions. This budget allows the Bureau, if the opportunity arises, to acquire land or other interests within the available allocation. The "All Other" expenses are used to cover the cost of legal assistance for title searches, drafting deeds, appraisals, and related items. At the end of calendar year 2008 this account had a balance of $1,941 ,909.91. At this time all of the funds in this account are limited for use in specific counties from which the revenue was generated, as required by the Constitution. This situation will limit the Bureau's ability in the future to pursue acquisition projects in counties without funds.

New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2010 Expenses

Sale of Land $700,000 Personal Services All Other Capital Land $700,000

TOTAL $700 000 TOTAL $700,000

This initiative provides funding for land acquisitions and related closing costs. Land acquisitions require appraisals, title searches, and other legal matters in order to protect the State's interests.

25 4. Public Non-Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund Account# 014.04A.0239.37 II Income Expenses I

Sale of Land $269,544 All Other (not including STACAP) $61 ,114 DICAP** ($4,952) Capital STACAP $1 ,770

Total Income $264,592.0 Total Expenses $62,884.00 0 .. ** Cons1stent w1th state accounting pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "revenue deb1t", although 1t IS actually an expenditure.

The money in this account is used only for purposes related to the acquisition of interest in non reserved land. Lands purchased with the funds from this account have Public Non-Reserved Land status. These funds are necessary to acquire rights-of-ways, in-holdings, conservation easements, and additions to the existing land base. As in most years, it is difficult to predict the timing, income, and expenditures involved in potential land transactions. This budget allows the Bureau, if the opportunity arises, to acquire land or other interests within the available allocation. The "All Other" expenses are used to cover the cost of legal assistance for title searches, drafting deeds, appraisals, and related items. At the end of calendar year 2008 this account had a balance of $436,570.14.

New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2010 Expenses

Sale of Land $200,000 Personal Services All Other Capital Land $200,000

TOTAL $200 000 TOTAL $200 000

This initiative provides funding for land acquisitions and related closing costs.

5. Submerged Lands Fund Account# 014.04A.0239.27 II Income Expenses I

Earnings on Investments $21,000 Personal Services $216,667

Rent of Lands $400,000 All Other $17,556 (not including STACAP) STACAP $6,752 Transfer to S&H ($100,000) DICAP** ($18,979)

$302,021.00 Total Expenses $240 975.00 Total Income .. ** Consistent w1th state accounting pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "revenue deb1t," although 1t IS actually an expenditure.

Most of the rental income for the program is not received until late in the fiscal year because rent payments are due in February. Like the Public Reserved Lands account, the Submerged Lands account carries a balance that funds the program through the first portion of the fiscal year. This account had a balance of $348,586.50 at the end of calendar year 2008. As constructive easements have been brought under lease beginning in the fall of 2005, rental income has begun to meet program expenses, but continues to be constrained by the $1,200 rental cap. To address this revenue constraint, the Bureau has carefully managed expenses and carried a larger balance to ensure that program costs are covered. As revenue projections stabilize with the substantial completion of the constructive easement conversions, the bureau anticipates transferring more of the balance to the Shore and Harbor Management Fund.

6. Shore and Harbor Management Fund Account # 014.04A.0239.29

Income Expenses

Transfers and Earnings $20,527 Grants to Cities & Towns $120,527 on Investments Transfer from $100,000 Submerged Lands Total Income $120,527.00 Total Expenses $120,527

This account was set up by the legislature in 1991 in anticipation that the Submerged Lands Program would eventually yield revenues that could provide benefits to the public beyond what was needed to administer the program. These funds are set aside in a special account and made available to municipalities and state agencies for grants to enhance shore and harbor management, planning, and public access efforts. A portion of the fund is also available to support management programs on coastal islands under the Bureau’s jurisdiction. As noted above, with the substantial completion of the constructive easement conversions, the Bureau anticipates improved funding for municipal coastal planning and public access projects. At the end of calendar year 2008 this account had a balance of $276,078.96.

7. Coastal Island Registry Fund Account # 014.04A.0241.26

Income $120 Expenses $107

Funding in this program covers the cost of reviewing new applications for island registrations. Most private coastal island titles have been reviewed and current program activity, for the most part, involves providing information to the public and occasionally reviewing application and deed information. The account currently has a balance of $609.71.

27 8. Mackworth Island Trust# 014.04A.0239.30 II Income Expenses II

Earnings on Investments $4,374 All Other (not including STACAP) $3,941

DICAP** ($319) STACAP $114

Total Income $4,055.00 Total Expenses $4,055.00 .. ** Consistent w1th state accounting pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "revenue deb1t", although 1t IS actually an expenditure.

This account is used to manage public recreational activities and related resources on land under the Bureau's care on Mackworth Island in Falmouth, Maine. Section 2 of Chapter 102 Public Law 1998, authorizes the proceeds from the sale of a 157 acre Bureau of Parks and Lands property in Colorado to be invested as a separate trust fund and managed by the State Treasurer for the benefit of Mackworth Island. In November 1999, the Colorado property was sold. The proceeds of $60,000 have been deposited into this trust fund. A non-lapsing account receives interest income from the trust fund. At the end of calendar year 2008 the account had a balance of $12,892.41.

XIX. CONCLUSION

Expenditures will be managed to operate within the Bureau's financial means for all accounts. The Public Reserved Lands Management Fund is under considerable pressure to meet increasing demands to cover rising costs in such areas as personnel services, health care, land acquisition, vehicle rental, information technology (computer), and public information while assuming management responsibility for more and more non-revenue generating acres and activities. The Bureau continues to make a concerted effort to further increase the volume of timber harvested to an amount closer to the sustainable harvest level, in anticipation of a more favorable forest products market. However, with a continuation of these trends it will be necessary to identify new non-timber sources of revenue available on an annual basis. This effort will need to be balanced with continued demands on staff time related to new acquisition initiatives and non-timber related responsibilities, including recreation. The Bureau will continue to explore ways to stabilize revenues in all accounts, while managing Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands on a sustained yield basis.

28 Department of Conservation Property Interests & Responsibilities Appendix A February, 2009

·.

D , • Bureau of Parks and Lands Property Interests and Responsibilities Public Reserved & Non-Reserved ..Fee Properties

Easement & Easement Enforcement

Public Access Easement Proper1ies

2008 Fee or Conservation .. Easement Acquisitions - Interstate == State Highways

AU infomution de-pict..d o~ thii; m.:.p if; ;~ot; .:.c:eur.:.to as available data allo-Ns. The property boandaries .:.ro Jll\ o.:.tim.:.tion SJ. .;;o byon 1:24 K :.ro from th o S ta~e of Maine OGIS websit e. This is not ~ survey l'l'nrtul"'.t

Appendix B 2008 BP&L Acquisitions and Dispositions

Parks or Name Town County Fee CE Trail Total Lands Acres Acres Easement Acres Acres Acquisitions Lands Robinson Peak Forest Riley Township OX 6,730 6,730 Lands Anson-Abenaki Project – Madison Paper Madison, Madison SO 303 303 Lands Bradford/Lagrange Orneville TWP PI 27 27 Lands Bradbury-Pineland: Wentworth Pownal CU 1 1 Lands *Western Mtn. Foundation Dead River CE West Forks, Lower SO 1,120 1,120 Escrow closing 2007, final closing 2008 Enchanted, more Parks Katahdin Ironworks Brownville PI 20 20 Parks Colonial Pemaquid addition Bristol LI .33 .33 Parks Calais Branch – Sunrise Rail Trail Hancock HA .55 .55

Dispositions Lands Mill Brook Road Richardsontown OX -7.53 -7.53

* Also reported in 2007 as escrow closing

Appendix C 2008 Update on: Conservation Easements –the Full Cost

1. In 2007 the State enacted legislation requiring all conservation easement holders to monitor these easements for compliance with easement terms at least once every three years. See 33 MRSA 477-A(3). The Federal Forest Legacy Conservation Easement Program requires annual compliance monitoring. State legislation also required the State Planning Office to maintain a registry of all conservation easements, to ensure greater accountability of easement holders. See 33 MRSA 479-C.

2. The Bureau of Parks and Lands presently holds or directly enforces over 312,000 acres of conservation easements in 45 separate easements. Most of these were acquired since 1994. 282,000 acres of these easements are working forest conservation easements funded substantially through the federal Forest Legacy Program. In 2009 the Bureau expects to acquire another 40,000 acres of working forest conservation easements that have secured federal funding and will be ready for closing by year’s end.

3. Working forest easement terms are complex as they provide multiple public benefits and are generally large tracts of lands (in the thousands of acres compared to most others in the tens and hundreds of acres). They require an increased the level of oversight to ensure compliance with the easement terms. They also often include rights granted to the Bureau (and expectations the Bureau will exercise those rights) for development of recreation facilities and maintenance of public access roads.

4. Many of these easements have come with endowments established at the Maine Community Foundation (MCF) to help offset the Bureau’s administrative and monitoring costs. However, when these endowments were established, no one really understood the full costs these easements imposed on the holders, as the easements were largely unprecedented in size and scope. Further, recent losses from endowment investments have further diminished resources available to the Bureau. In 2008 the total value of endowments supporting Bureau-held easements dropped from $1,136,000 to $840,000 (a 26% loss), and the recommended allowable withdrawals dropped from roughly $43,000 to $30,860. Further, MCF advises that in 2010 recommended withdrawals could be reduced by another 30% to $21,600 .

5. Even before this loss in value, significantly more resources were needed to meet the Bureau’s responsibilities. Estimated total costs for monitoring all easements may be as high as $200,000 even while noting a constant strategic drive for efficiencies. The estimated current annual shortfall for administering and monitoring Bureau-held or enforced conservation easements, based on reduced expectation of annual yields including those to be held by the end of this year, will exceed $170,000. The Bureau must find these resources, either through timber revenues, appropriations or additional grants or endowments. To fully cover this shortfall, an additional endowment of $4 to 5 million would be needed. (The sustainability or weakness of timber and now endowment funds available to the bureau is the subject of separate needed analysis.) In the alternative, Maine’s conservation community must accept some informed risks from underfunded stewardship expectations. In any event, stewardship of all future conservation easements accepted or acquired by the Bureau should be fully funded with endowments or other stewardship solutions.

6. In addition to monitoring costs, easements often come with other unfunded commitments and liabilities; for example the Bureaus has acquired rights but not obligations to maintain hundreds of miles of roads within conservation easements and in various public access easements totaling hundreds of thousands of acres. Other unfunded obligations or expectations include costs and liabilities for development and management of recreation facilities as provided in various conservation easements. Various public access easements create liability or insurance obligations upon any change in the liability exposure of the fee owner.

Easement negotiations include constant pressures for the Bureau to accept share maintenance obligations for roads and other assets.

Determining Costs of Holding Conservation Easements

During 2008 the Bureau continued its efforts to develop a cost-effective approach for easement monitoring, with assistance from consultants with expertise in the emerging field of monitoring working forest easements. The Bureau adopted, for its large scale working forest easements, a three-tiered monitoring approach that reviews changes in land use with remote sensing (satellite imagery), follow-up inspection from low-level air flights or air photos, and on-the-ground inspections. This protocol will be applied in 2009 to all working forest easements. In addition, in 2009, the Bureau will explore how to apply this approach to small-scale traditional conservation easements.

Once the appropriate tools and methods are defined, the Bureau will be able to assess how much of this responsibility it can assume with existing staff, and how much it will have to contract out to consultants or other state agencies. Current best thinking (which is still evolving) on easement monitoring costs is summarized in the table below:

Size of Conservation Easement Cost of Annual Endowment Fund1 (acres) Monitoring Scenic easements Min. $3,000 $60,000 – 100,000 Standard Conservation/Recreation $80,000 – 130,000 Min. $4,000 CE Working Forest-Up to 3,000 Min. $6,000 ($2.00/acre) $120,000 – 200,000 10,000 $7,500 ($0.75/acre) $150,000 – 250,000 50,000 $10,000 ($0.50/acre) $200,000 – 350,000 100,000 $15,000 ($0.15/acre) $300,000 – 500,000 150,000 $20,000 ($0.133/acre) $400,000 – 650,000 200,000 $25,000 ($0.125/acre) $500,000 – 850,000 1 Based on average available funds from the endowment of 3 -5%/year. Costs include monitoring, plus related tasks such as reviewing 3rd party certification reports, required forest management plans, responding to information requests, and occasional meetings with the landowners.

Additional costs not included in the above table include development and maintenance of GIS files and database systems for tracking and documenting easement monitoring and reporting requirements; and development and/or maintenance of recreational facilities or roads, were those rights granted to the Bureau.

The pressing challenges are thus summarized:

• to find the resources to cover these unfunded costs, in the context of other expenditure and revenue trends facing the Bureau;

• to continue to refine cost estimates and search for efficiencies and best new practices;

• to more fully fund stewardship on all new easements with mechanisms that have limited risk;

• to educate decision makers on the conservation risks presented by underfunding, while maintaining Maine’s reputation as a national leader of conservation easement practice.