Moosehead Region Management Plan
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Moosehead Region Management Plan View across Little Moose Unit toward Moosehead Lake from Big Moose Mtn. trail. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Bureau of Parks and Lands February 2017 Table of Contents I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 About this Document .................................................................................................................. 1 What is the Moosehead Region? ................................................................................................. 1 The Lands of the Moosehead Region ......................................................................................... 2 Acquisition History ..................................................................................................................... 3 II. The Planning Process and Resource Allocation System....................................................... 6 Statutory and Policy Guidance.................................................................................................... 6 Public Participation and the Planning Process ............................................................................ 7 Summary of the Resource Allocation System ............................................................................ 9 Forest Certification ..................................................................................................................... 9 III. Planning Context .................................................................................................................. 11 Conservation Lands and Public Recreation Resources in the Moosehead Region ................... 11 Recreation Resources at Moosehead Lake and Vicinity ....................................................... 11 Other Recreation Opportunities in the Moosehead Region .................................................. 17 Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan and Conservation Easement Lands ........................ 17 Appalachian Mountain Club’s Conservation Lands ............................................................. 18 Public and Private Recreation Initiatives .................................................................................. 18 Moosehead Visitor Center .................................................................................................... 18 Moosehead Lake Scenic Byway ........................................................................................... 19 Moosehead Region Branding Initiative ................................................................................ 19 Maine Residents’ Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activities and Visitation to Public Reserved Lands and State Parks ............................................................................................... 19 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License for the Moosehead Project ......................... 20 Summary of Planning Implications .......................................................................................... 21 IV. Resources and Management Issues for Lands in the Moosehead Region ....................... 22 General Management Focus ..................................................................................................... 22 Little Moose Unit ...................................................................................................................... 23 Character of the Land Base ................................................................................................... 23 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................. 24 Wildlife and Fisheries Resources .......................................................................................... 25 Historic and Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 27 Access ................................................................................................................................... 29 i Recreation and Visual Resources .......................................................................................... 29 Timber Resources ................................................................................................................. 33 Management Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ................................................................ 35 Administrative Issues ............................................................................................................ 40 Vision for the Little Moose Unit ........................................................................................... 42 Proposed Resource Allocations for the Little Moose Unit ................................................... 43 Days Academy Unit .................................................................................................................. 51 Character of the Land Base and Acquisition History ........................................................... 51 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................. 51 Wildlife and Fisheries Resources .......................................................................................... 53 History and Culture ............................................................................................................... 54 Access ................................................................................................................................... 54 Recreation Resources ............................................................................................................ 55 Timber Resources ................................................................................................................. 57 Management Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ................................................................ 58 Administrative Issues ............................................................................................................ 60 Vision for the Days Academy Unit ....................................................................................... 61 Proposed Resource Allocations for the Days Academy Unit ............................................... 61 Management Recommendations for the Days Academy Unit .............................................. 65 Sugar Island Unit ...................................................................................................................... 66 Character of the Land Base and Acquisition History ........................................................... 66 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................. 66 Wildlife and Rare Animal Species ........................................................................................ 67 History and Culture ............................................................................................................... 68 Access ................................................................................................................................... 68 Recreation and Visual Resources .......................................................................................... 68 Timber Resources ................................................................................................................. 70 Management Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ................................................................ 71 Vision for the Sugar Island Unit ........................................................................................... 73 Proposed Resource Allocations for the Sugar Island Unit.................................................... 73 Management Recommendations for the Sugar Island Unit .................................................. 76 Moosehead Lake East Shore Lands .......................................................................................... 76 Character of the Land Base and Acquisition History ........................................................... 77 Natural Resources and Timber .............................................................................................. 77 ii History and Culture ............................................................................................................... 77 Access ................................................................................................................................... 77 Recreation and Visual Resources .......................................................................................... 78 Management Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ................................................................ 79 Proposed Resource Allocations for the Moosehead Lake East Shore Lands Unit ............... 79 Management Recommendations for the Moosehead East Shoreline Lands Unit ................. 82 Kineo and Farm Island Undeveloped State Park Lands ........................................................... 82 Character of the Land Base and Acquisition History ........................................................... 82 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................. 83 Wildlife Resources ...............................................................................................................