STATE LEGISLATURE

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Reproduced from electronic originals (may include minor formatting differences from printed original) 2007 ANNUAL REPORT for Public Reserved, Non-reserved, and Submerged Lands to the

JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND FORESTRY

Denny Pond Campsite, Deboullie Unit

March 1st, 2008

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

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 3 II. 2007 HIGHLIGHTS ...... 3 III. PREFACE ...... 4 IV. INTRODUCTION ...... 4 V. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING ...... 5 VI. NATURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES ...... 6 VII. WILDLIFE RESOURCES ...... 8 VIII. RECREATION RESOURCES ...... 10 IX. TIMBER RESOURCES ...... 13 X. TRANSPORTATION ...... 16 XI. PUBLIC ACCESS ...... 17 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 ...... 20 XVII. ADMINISTRATION ...... 22 XVIII FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 2009 ...... 23 XIX. CONCLUSION ...... 30

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of fee lands pursuant to legislative directives. Acquisitions included additions to the Mahoosuc The Bureau of Parks and Lands is Public Reserved Lands Unit and a significant responsible for the management and conservation easement over the Appalachian administration of Maine’s Public Reserved and Mountain Club’s land at . Non-reserved Lands, Submerged Lands, Coastal Islands, and other lands as provided by Submerged Lands – The Bureau is nearing law. The Bureau is statutorily mandated to completion of an effort begun in 2005 to provide manage the Public Reserved and Non-reserved new conveyances to structure owners who were Lands in a manner consistent with the principles granted 30-year constructive easements when of multiple land use to produce a sustained yield the leasing program was established in 1975. In of products and services in accordance with 2008, the Bureau will focus on completing that both prudent and fair business practices and the effort for coastal areas and continue developing principle of sound planning (Title 12 MRSA an inventory of structures on great ponds. 1833 and 1847). The “Lands” division of the Bureau is a Forest Certification – The Bureau was dedicated revenue component of the agency awarded a new five-year certification in March funding all of its administrative, planning, 2007, and successfully completed the first joint management, and operational activities from FSC/SFI surveillance audit the following revenue generated from the land base. Fifteen summer. year, multiple-use plans for the major properties guide the Bureau’s management activities. Timber Management Program – Harvest Benefits from the wise management of these volume on Bureau lands exceeded 100,000 lands include: cords for the first time, as good operating conditions and in increase of field staff time  Protection of unique natural and spent on timber sales resulted in a significantly cultural resources larger number of harvests. Markets were  Enhancement of wildlife habitat weaker for many products in 2007, but  Access to recreational opportunities hardwood pulp demand was steady enabling the  Production of forest products Bureau to market almost 60,000 cords of low quality wood - while improving the quality of the The Bureau also has responsibility for remaining stands. managing public trust rights to Submerged Lands, and, when granting leases for the use of Submerged Lands, includes conditions to Recreation – The Bureau developed and maintain customary and traditional public implemented volunteer stewardship programs access, navigation, and commercial marine for two popular public use areas, including an uses. Adopt-a-Trail program for and the Cowans Cove campsite host program on the Days Academy Unit. In II. 2007 HIGHLIGHTS addition, numerous hiking trail and campsite improvements were made on the Deboullie, Acquisitions – Continuing its mission to expand Squapan, Holeb, Mahcias River, Seboeis, and conservation and recreation opportunities, in Tumbledown Units, while progress was made 2007 the Bureau acquired roughly 3,700 acres on expanding trail systems on the Nahmakanta, of fee lands, 38,000 acres of conservation Salmon Brook Lake Bog, and Seboomook easements, and 9,000 acres of public access Units. easement. These acquisitions were financed largely by the Land for Maine’s Future Board, Wildlife - The fish barrier dam on Perch Pond on the USDA/USFS Forest Legacy Program, the Deboulllie Unit was replaced through a joint private donations, and fees paid by motorized venture between the Bureau and the Department users. The Bureau conveyed roughly 235 acres of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This project

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compliments a similar project the previous year Reserves is included. The report also contains on the outlet of Crater Lake, also in the Deobullie information on income and expenditures for Unit. calendar year 2007. Secondly, a Financial Report for FY Land Management Planning – Regional 2009 is included as part of this document. The Management plans for the Downeast, ACF Committee, in turn, has the obligation to Seboomook, Flagstaff, and Northern report by March 15th to the Appropriations Aroostook areas of Maine, totaling over Committee on the Bureau’s Lands Division FY 200,000 acres of Bureau-managed lands, were 2009 budget. adopted by the Department Commissioner.

IV. INTRODUCTION III. PREFACE The Bureau of Parks and Lands is an This report constitutes required annual agency within the Department of Conservation. reporting pursuant to 12 MRSA 1853,1839 and In addition to its responsibilities for the elsewhere. This report includes reporting management of State Parks, Historic Sites, the regarding vehicular access to Bureau Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the Penobscot acquisitions pursuant to 12 MRSA 1850(1) and River Corridor, Boating Facilities, and the 1836(1) and elsewhere. This report also fulfills Snowmobile and ATV Programs, the Bureau is legislative reporting requirements related to responsible for the management of ecological reserves pursuant to 12 MRSA 1805 approximately 577,000 fee acres of Public and 1853. Reserved Lands, 3,000 fee acres of Non- reserved Lands, nearly 300,000 acres of This report is submitted by March 1st of each conservation easements, and various public year to the Joint Standing Committee on access easements totaling 600,000 acres. Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation. The Since 1995, the fee ownership managed by the first section of this Report provides a summary Lands Division has increased 20%, with 70% of of the Bureau’s management activities during the new lands acquired within the last five years. the 2007 calendar year in the following program Conservation easements totaled only 5,000 areas: acres in 1995, with nearly 250,000 new acres acquired within the last 5 years. The public  Land Management Planning access easements were all acquired within the  Natural Resources last 4 years (see accompanying chart on back  Wildlife page). In summary, the land acquisition activity  Recreation has added a significant workload to the Bureau’s  Timber Management land management responsibilities, particularly in  Transportation the areas of recreation development, natural  Land Transactions resource planning, and easement monitoring.  Submerged Lands The Bureau also manages 2.3 million  Public Access acres of the State’s marine and freshwater  Shore and Harbor Management Fund Submerged Lands, and 1,316 publicly owned  Coastal Island Program coastal islands. Bureau staff involved in  Income and Expenditures Accounting managing Reserved and Non-reserved Lands  Administration include specialists in planning, forest transportation, wildlife, recreation, and field As required, information on gates and forestry. All collaborate to ensure an integrated barriers that prevent public vehicle access to and balanced approach to the management of Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands, the various resources on these lands. recreation facility fees charged for the use of Since the creation of the Bureau of these lands, and a status report on Ecological Public Lands in 1973, many of the original public lots have been traded with other landowners to 4

consolidate the State’s holdings into larger Because of the nature of multiple-use management units having greater public use management, these areas often overlap, values. Other lands, such as coastal islands, creating zones where management is designed surplus institutional lands, and land acquired to accommodate a variety of uses. The relative through the Land for Maine’s Future Program impact of one use upon another is carefully have been assigned to the Bureau for weighed to establish a hierarchy of resource management. The Bureau is statutorily management that protects the most sensitive mandated to manage Reserved and Non- resources and uses, while allowing other reserved Lands “under the principles of multiple management to continue. For example, planned use to produce a sustained yield of products and timber harvests in deeryards can provide a services by the use of prudent business sustained yield of forest products and deer practices and the principles of sound planning” browse, while maintaining the winter shelter (12 MRSA ' 1833 & 1847). value of these areas. Submerged Lands beneath coastal Regional management plans are waters to the 3-mile territorial limit, and natural developed utilizing technical expertise at the Great Ponds, are managed by the Bureau under State and Bureau level, while involving the the Public Trust Doctrine to protect the public general public in the plan development process. trust rights to fishing, waterfowl hunting, For each plan, Public Advisory Committees are navigation, and recreation. In addition, the established representing local, regional, and Bureau maintains the Coastal Island Registry, statewide interests. These committees serve as which catalogs the ownership of all coastal forums for discussion of draft plans. Public islands. Meetings are held providing interested parties an opportunity to provide input on management issues and to comment on plan drafts. After V. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING consideration of these comments, the Bureau then submits to the Department Commissioner, OVERVIEW upon recommendation by its Director, a final The Bureau owns and manages 150 plan for adoption. parcels of public reserved land and 13 parcels of non-reserved public land. It also holds PLANNING INTIATIVES conservation easements on 20 properties with varying management responsibilities. Downeast Region Management Plan. The Historically, resource management plans were Downeast Region Management Plan was prepared for each of the larger parcels (or adopted by the Department Commissioner in Management Units), many of which are March of 2007. The 48,000 acres of Bureau consolidations of former public lots. Today, lands within the Plan area include the Donnell management plans are prepared regionally, and Pond, Cutler Coast, and Rocky Lake Units a single plan addresses all of the reserved and along with the Great Heath, and public lots in non-reserved lands within a planning region. Osborn, T24 MD, No. 21 Twp. and No. 14 The Bureau’s Integrated Resource Twp. Policy adopted in 1985 and revised in 2000 guides resource management decisions and Seboomook Region Management Plan. The governs management planning for all Public Seboomook Region Management Plan was Reserved and Non-reserved lands. The adopted by the Department Commissioner in planning process allocates areas for specific March of 2007. The 51,000 acres of Bureau uses including: lands within the Plan area include lands around Seboomook Lake, St. Johns Ponds, Baker  Special Protection (Natural/Historic) Lake, and Spencer Mt.  Wildlife  Recreation Flagstaff Region Management Plan. The  Timber Flagstaff Region Management Plan was adopted by the Department Commissioner in

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June of 2007. The 55,000 acres of Bureau lands 12 Eagle Lake3 Adopted June 2007 with the Plan area include the Bigelow 13 Four Ponds Adopted Oct. 1989 Preserve, Mt. Abraham, Chain of Ponds, 14 /Chesuncook To do Dead River Twp., Flagstaff Twp., Wyman 15 Great Heath2 Adopted March 2007 Twp., Carrabassett Valley, Coplin Plt., 16 Holeb Adopted Dec. 1989 Highland Plt., Redington Twp., King & 17 Kennebec Highlands Plan in Progress Bartlett Twp., and Freeman Twp. 18 Little Moose Adopted Oct. 1988 19 Plan in Progress Northern Aroostook Region Management Plan. 20 Mahoosuc Adopted Feb. 1988 The Northern Aroostook Region Management 21 Moosehead Adopted July 1997 Plan was adopted by the Department 22 Nahmakanta Adopted Nov. 1995 Commissioner in June 2007. The 56,000 acres of 23 Pineland Adopted Sept. 1988 24 Richardson Adopted Mar. 1990 Bureau lands with the Plan area include the 2 Deboullie, , and Salmon Brook Lake 25 Rocky Lake Adopted March 2007 26 Round Pond Adopted Dec. 1992 Bog Units and public lots in St. John Plt., 27 Salmon Brook Lake Bog3 Adopted June 2007 Winterville Plt., New Canada, T17 R4, Cyr Plt., 28 Scraggly Lake Adopted Oct. 1988 Caswell, Hamlin, Westmanland, and New 29 Seboeis Adopted Feb. 1990 Sweden. 30 Seboomook Adopted March 2007 31 Squapan Adopted Mar. 1990 Kennebec Highlands Management Plan. 32 Telos Adopted Feb. 1990 Progress continues on developing a 33 Tumbledown Mt. To Begin in 2008 management plan for the Kennebec Highlands. 33 Wassataquoik To do The 5,500-acre unit located in central Maine 1 Flagstaff Region Plan includes Bureau lands within the towns of 2 Downeast Region Plan Rome, Vienna, Mount Vernon and New 3 Northern Aroostook Region Plan Sharon.

Eastern Interior Region Management Plan. VI. NATURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES Resource inventory work began on the next scheduled regional management planning effort, NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORIES focusiong on approximately 60,000 acres of Bureau lands within the eastern interior portion The Maine Natural Areas Program, a of the state. These properties include Duck division of the Bureau of Geology and Natural Lake Unit, Bradley, Machias River Lands, Areas, conducts inventories of natural resources Matawamkeag Lake (T4 R3), and 18 small on lands managed by the Bureau under a public lots. A Public Advisory Committee is Memorandum of Understanding. In general, being formed, with public meetings scheduled to inventories are done in advance of management begin in 2008. planning to provide up-to-date information at the time these plans are developed or revised.

Table 1. Management Plans NRI’s completed in 2007. Natural Resource 1 Mount Abraham1 Adopted June 2007 Inventories were completed for Dodge Point, 2 Bald Mountain/Rangeley To do Pineland, and the Kennebec Highlands. Field 3 Bigelow Preserve1 Adopted June 2007 work in preparation for NRI’s to be developed in 1 4 Chain of Ponds Adopted June 2007 2008 was conducted for the North Central 5 Chamberlain To do Region including the Scraggly Lake and 2 6 Cutler Coast Adopted March 2007 Squapan Units. 7 Dead River/Spring Lake1 Adopted June 2007 3 8 Deboullie Adopted June 2007 ECOLOGICAL RESERVES - OVERVIEW 9 Dodge Point Adopted Nov. 1991 2 Ecological reserves are designated 10 Donnell Pond Adopted March 2007 areas containing representative native 11 Duck Lake Revision in progress ecosystem types managed as special protection

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areas. These areas serve as benchmarks ecological reserves totaling 68,975 acres on against which to measure changes in both public reserved lands included in the above- managed and unmanaged ecosystems, to referenced inventory. These original reserves provide habitat unlikely to occur where active were designated using the best available management occurs, and to serve as sites for information at the time, with the understanding scientific research, monitoring, and education. that adjustments would be needed as research in The annual report must indicate the status of conjunction with management plans revealed these reserves, including acres of reserved and different conditions on the ground and other nonreserved lands designated as ecological factors affecting the lands included in the reserves and the results of monitoring, scientific reserves. The Downeast Region Management research and other activities related to the Plan process recommended and adopted reserves (12 MRSA §1839 and §1853). The changes to three original reserves because of bureau is also required to notify the committee recent land acquisition for the Donnell Pond when a management plan proposes designation Unit, deed conditions affecting use of the Great of an ecological reserve (12 MRSA §1805). This Heath and fieldwork on the natural communities section of the report addresses both at Cutler Coast. The Northern Aroostook Region requirements. Management Plan process recommended and The bureau director may designate adopted changes to the ecological reserve at ecological reserves on bureau lands included in Deboullie where the boundary overlaps an area "An Ecological Reserves System Inventory: of 300-400 acres with developed facilities and Potential Ecological Reserves on Maine's Existing significant public use. The change in ecological Public and Private Conservation Lands," Maine reserve acreage resulted in a net reduction of Biodiversity Project, July 1998. The Director may approximately 111 acres. designate additional reserves in conjunction with Between 2002 and 2004, the bureau the adoption of a management plan, when that acquired three areas with the condition that the process includes public review and comment on lands be designated ecological reserves: Big the plan and notification to the committee of the Spencer Mountain, the Saint John Ponds and proposal. . The March 2006 annual report to the ACF committee reported the acceptance of Original Ecological Reserves Designated in these reserves. These areas, acquired as public 2001 and Modifications Adopted in 2007 reserved lands, were formally designated as Acre Ecological Reserves as part of the adoption of the Original Changes Seboomook Unit Management Plan and the 2001 adopted Flagstaff Region Management Plan in 2007. Name Acres in 2007 Opportunities for public comment on these 1. Bigelow Preserve ER 10,540 management plans are noted under Section V, 2. ER 2,890 LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING. 3. Cutler Coast ER 5,216 +5 4. Deboullie ER 7,253 -350* 5. Donnell/Tunk ER 5,950 +274 Ecological Reserves Formally 6. Duck Lake Unit ER 3,870 Designated in 2007 7. Gero Island ER 3,175 Name Acres* 8. Great Heath ER 5,681 -40 Big Spencer ER 4,249 9. Mahoosucs ER 9,974 Mount Abraham ER 5,186 10. Nahamakanta ER 11,082 St John Ponds ER 3,905 11. Rocky Lake ER 1,516 Total Acres 13,340 12. Salmon Brook Lake ER 1,053 *Acres reported in deed. 13. Wassataquoik ER 775 Total Acres 68,975 -111 As part of the Phase II acquisition of the * Estimated acres at this time Machias River project lands, a 3,870-acre Ecological Reserve was deeded to the state by In 2001, the director designated thirteen

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the Conservation Fund. This area abuts an Ecological Reserves as a Proportion of Total existing Ecological Reserve on Fourth Machias Acres Under Bureau Jurisdiction in 2007* Lake on the Duck Lake Unit, and includes Land Type Total Fee Acres frontage along Fifth Lake and Fifth Lake Stream. State Park Lands 84,529 This reserve will likely be adopted as part of the Boat Access Lands 495 Eastern Interior Region planning effort in 2008. Public Reserved Lands 569,264 As part of the planned Lower Penobscot Nonreserved Public Lands 3,786 Phase I (Amherst) 2008 fee acquisition, the Town Unregistered Coastal Islands 761 of Amherst has requested that a portion of the Subtotal 658,835 property proposed for acquisition be designated Land acquired on condition of -13,340 by deed as an ecological reserve. The Town has ecoreserve designation also asked that other portions of the property be Total 645,495 designated for intensive recreation, forest Acres in Qualifying Reserves 68,864 management, and other purposes. The Bureau Ecological Reserves as a Proportion of hereby provides notice of its intent to comply with Operable Timberland Acres on Public Reserved the municipality’s request to designate an eco and Nonreserved Lands in 2007* reserve in the deed upon acquisition, to be Operable Land Type reinforced later through the management planning Timberland Acres process. Public Reserved Lands 376,800 The total land acreage designated as Nonreserved Public Lands 1,200 ecological reserves may not exceed 15% of the Total 378,000 total land acreage under bureau jurisdiction or Acres in Qualifying Reserves 20,896 100,000 acres, whichever is less. No more than *Operable timberland acres are lands held in fee. Ecological 6% of the operable timberland acres on public Reserve acres include modifications proposed for adoption in 2007. reserved and nonreserved lands may be 16 Reserve inventories have now been designated as ecological reserves. Lands completed as part of this ongoing project. A acquired after the effective date of the ecological separate report on monitoring results is available reserve statute with the condition that the land be designated an ecological reserve are not included from the Maine Natural Areas Program.

when calculating these acreage limits. HISTORIC/CULTURAL INVENTORIES Ecological Reserves included in this The Bureau’s Historic Site Specialist calculation (qualifying reserves) currently comprise routinely conducts research into the history of nearly 69,000 acres or 10.7% of the total land parcels subject to the management planning acreage under bureau jurisdiction as fee lands, process. This research, along with input from the which is well below the 15% or 100,000-acre limit Maine Historic Preservation Commission and set in statute. Of the current 378,000 acres of the public process that accompanies Plan operable timberland on public reserved and development, results in a resource inventory nonreserved lands, 20,896 acres or 5.5% are called a Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) for located in qualifying reserves. This is 1,784 acres each Lands property. This information is then or 0.5% below the 6% limit set in statute. included in the management plans. The MHPC A Memorandum of Understanding has is the lead agency in identifying significant been developed with the Maine Natural Areas historic resources requiring preservation and Program to collect baseline data for the protection of these resources on the State’s Bureau’s Reserve inventory. These surveys are ownership, including designating historically being conducted in accordance with established sensitive areas for special protection. monitoring guidelines. This ongoing effort will

provide information necessary for measuring

ecological changes on Reserves over time. VII. WILDLIFE RESOURCES Baseline Data Collection in 2007. Baseline data was collected on the Wassataquoik, OVERVIEW Mahoosuc, and Chamberlain Units. A total of

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A key component of the Bureau’s devices were maintained at 3 sites, with a new integrated resource management program is device installed at Duck Lake on the Duck Lake coordinating land management activities with Unit.. fisheries and wildlife habitat enhancement. Since 1984 a wildlife biologist from the Maine The Bureau’s tow-behind ATV mower was used Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has to mow 19 acres of remote fields at Chain of been assigned to the Bureau through a Ponds, Adamstown, Bigelow, Days Academy cooperative agreement between the two Grant, Eagle Lake, and Hebron providing agencies. The primary responsibility of the significant savings over contracting this work out. biologist has been to develop and implement a habitat management program for Bureau- The Bureau’s Wildlife staff participated in two managed lands. Wildlife management activities Maine Forest Service invasive species control conducted in 2007 on lands managed by the workshops conducted at Mackworth Island. Bureau were as follows: The fish barrier dam on Perch Pond on the Wildlife Inventory and Survey Work. A Deboulllie Unit was replaced through a joint seasonal Wildlife Technician conducted most of venture between the Bureau and the Department the inventory and survey work in 2007. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The dam will Waterfowl brood counts were conducted at prevent unwanted fish species from entering Blanchard Brook (Dead River Unit), Wiggins Perch Pond. Brook (Little Moose Unit), Wytopitlock Stream, Shallow Pond and Stratton Brook Pond (Bigelow The seasonal 16-week position assigned to the Preserve). High elevation bird surveys Bureaus’ wildlife program conducted a variety of coordinated by the Vermont Institute of Science inventory and survey work including waterfowl were conducted on Mount Abraham and brood counts at various wetland areas, a high , with Bicknells Thrush elevation bird survey and loon nest monitoring. detected on both routes. Habitat enhancement work took place on 7 Bureau properties. Peregrine falcon monitoring took place at Grafton Notch, Bigelow Mountain, Kineo and Seeding Program. Herbaceous seeding was Little Kineo Mountains, and Barren Mountain. established on 48 acres of public lands for wildlife forage and erosion control. Prescriptions. Timber harvest plans for 13,237 acres of public lands were reviewed for fish and Habitat Agreements. A plan was developed to wildlife habitat compatibility. survey the majority of Deer Wintering Areas (DWA’a) on Bureau lands during the 2007-08 winter to update the deer use information. An Forest Certification. Planning and agreement was drafted to hire a consultant to administration for fisheries, wildlife, and conduct Habitat Management Area modeling for biodiversity issues related to forest certification two areas on Bureau lands. Plan agreements for conditions in both the Sustainable Forestry harvesting within DWA’s were developed in Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council cooperation with the regional wildlife biologists (FSC) programs continued. The Wildlife for Beaver Cove, Scraggly Lake, Magalloway Biologists participated in yearly compliance and T8 R10 WELS (pending). audits conducted by both programs. Ongoing Coordination of piping plover and least tern assistance was provided to IF&W staff preparing habitat management on state parks continued for its own third-party forestry audit, to be including several field visits to assess habitat conducted in the near future. conditions.

Habitat Management. One hundred and forty Training and Education. Training for four waterfowl nesting boxes were maintained recertification credits for pesticide applicators and four replacements installed. Beaver control license was completed. The staff biologist

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participated in the CFRU deer wintering area Black Pond to protect the shoreline and correct field tour at Telos and made presentations at a erosion problems; the construction of two new DWA workshop in Orono. campsites near the recently-repaired Perch Pond dam and a new table shelter at the Perch Pond group use area; improvements to VIII. RECREATION RESOURCES campsites on Crater Outlet and the parking area at the Upper Pond campsite; improvements to a PROJECT OVERVIEW wetland boardwalk also on Upper Pond; and the In accordance with management plan complete reconstruction of a section of the commitments, and in response to public Deboullie Mountain Trail to resolve wear and demand, the Bureau continued to develop or erosion problems. A Recreational Trails make upgrades to recreation facilities on its Program application proposal has been lands. The Bureau's Lands Division is submitted for other needed improvements along responsible for 326 campsites, over 150 miles of this trail, including construction of a new 3-mile day hiking and backpacking trails (does not section (Deboullie Loop). include the 71 miles of Appalachian Trail located on state-owned lands), 35 trailered and hand- Squapan Unit. Improvements were made to 6 carry boat launching areas, and 131 miles of miles of ATV trail on the Unit, with funds public access road. In 2007, projects completed provided through the Recreational Trails or worked on included: Program.

Public Lands Management Task Force. The Salmon Brook Lake Bog. As part of the Governor’s Task Force on the Management of Northern Aroostook Region Management Plan Public Lands and Publicly-held Easements process, the Bureau has been working, on an completed its work in 2007 with a Report issued on-going basis, with residents of the Town of in January of 2008. The Bureau along with the Perham on a trail proposal to enhance Department contributed significant staff time in recreational access to the property. The attending meetings and developing information proposal includes fishing access to Salmon for this project. Although the Task Force was Brook and a walking trail to other portions of the concerned with all state lands managed for property. public use, the focus was primarily on recreation as it pertains to Public Reserved Lands. The Chamberlain Unit. With the help of volunteers, Task Force recommendations included setting repairs were made to the Allagash Mountain up an ongoing Recreational Access and Tower, a former Maine Forest Service fire tower Conservation Forum as means to continue the now used primarily for recreational use. discussion of access and recreational issues, and to discuss future trends as it relates to all Donnell Pond Unit. The Donnell Pond initiative types of recreational use. Other to address increased use and vandalism at recommendations included the establishment of Redman’s Beach and Schoodic Beach a scientific review panel to look at recreational continued to show success in 2007. This effort and other existing uses of ecological reserves; included maintaining a ranger presence along and the enhancement of the Bureau’s with continued law enforcement assistance from information and mapping capability to better the Maine Warden Service and the Hancock communicate to the general public the County Sheriff’s Office. A new ADA accessible availability of and opportunities on the lands its vault toilet was installed at the Spring River Lake manages. day use area. A lifeflight evacuation site was constructed on the “Thousand Road” in Deboullie Unit. Following adoption of the Township 10 SD. Northern Aroostook Region Management Plan, a number of recreation facility improvements Machias River Corridor. Vault toilet facilities at took place on the Unit, including: the recreational use areas along the river were construction of a barrier and parking area at improved to meet ADA requirements. Five new 10

signposts were installed to provide recreational and educational information to the public. The Seboomook Unit. As recommended in the access road into the Route 9 campsite area was recently-adopted Seboomook Unit Management improved to more easily accommodate two- Plan, western region staff began working with wheeled vehicles. the owners of Pittston Farm to develop an equestrian trail system on the Unit. Nahmakanta Unit. Construction of a new hiking trail network begun in 2006 was extended from PUBLIC INFORMATION - OVERVIEW Leavitt Pond to Tumbledown Dick Pond, with a The Bureau, through its Interpretive new campsite constructed at Tumbledown Dick Specialist, continued to develop, revise, and Pond. A snowmobile trail on Farrar Mountain distribute informational brochures to visitors to was rerouted away from a management road its lands, which describe the location of hiking currently in use for timber harvesting activities. trails, campsites, and other recreation facilities Vegetation was also cleared along dangerous and opportunities. corners on the Penobscot Pond Road to improve safety for both vehicle and snowmobile Table 2. Completed Brochures travel. New mileage signs where also installed Bigelow Preserve along the road system to improve safety for Cutler Coast users. Deboullie Dodge Point Seboeis Unit. Two new water access Donnell Pond Duck Lake campsites were constructed on recently- Holeb acquired lands along the southern end of Little Moose utilizing LMF access improvement Mahoosuc funds. Nahmakanta Pineland Staff participated in a regionally-based planning Richardson/Bald Mountain initiative addressing recreation and nature- Rocky Lake based tourism opportunities identified in a recent Scraggly Lake study conducted by Formatta. Seboeis Squapan Moosehead Lake. A campground host program “Your Islands and Parks on the Coast” for the Cowans Cove camping area was developed an implemented in 2007. The program was well received by campers, and Website Updates. The Bureau continues to provided needed stewardship for this heavily use its website to provide photos, maps, and used area. facility information for most of its consolidated units. Tumbledown Unit. The Maine Conservation Corp. reconstructed the entire two-mile section Information Signs. The Bureau developed of the Brook Trail, the most direct and popular public information signs for Mackworth Island, route to the summit of Tumbledown Mountain. describing the reforestation techniques used by An Adopt-a-Trail program was developed and the Bureau in response to wind damage and implemented providing local volunteer subsequent public safety issues caused by the stewardship assistance for the Tumbledown Patriots Day storm. Mountain trail system.

Holeb Unit. Began replacement and STAFFING - OVERVIEW reconstruction of bog bridges along the 1-mile Six seasonal rangers were involved in portage trail between Attean and Holeb Ponds. recreation management activities in 2007. The This portage is an important component of the western region also hired a 13-week seasonal popular Bow canoe trip on the . intern from Unity College to assist with campsite

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maintenance on Moosehead Lake. The Corridor. The Penobscot seasonal rangers were responsible for River Corridor (PRC), managed by the Bureau’s recreation facilities maintenance and Parks Division, includes campsites on Public construction, and informing visitors about Reserved Lands on Gero Island on Bureau rules. The full-time Bigelow Preserve , and the portion of the Manager spent much of the summer managing Seboomook Unit below Seboomook Dam, recreational use. including the Roll Dam and Burbank campsites. The Recreation Specialist position PRC staff maintains recreation facilities at these became vacant in the fall of 2007 and will be sites. Visitors to the area pass through filled sometime in 2008. checkpoints operated by , Inc., which collects the PRC camping fee of $4 FEES - OVERVIEW per person per night for residents and $5 per Fees are generally not charged on person per night for nonresidents. A portion of Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands these fees is returned to the Bureau for managed by the Bureau; however, in four campsite management and maintenance. situations fees are charged because these lands Resident and nonresident day use fees ($5.00 are near or within private recreation and $8.00 respectively) are charged for the day management systems having similar in and day out only, and retained by North Maine management objectives. Fees were charged in Woods to cover operating costs for the 2007 on Public Reserved Lands as described checkpoint system. below: . Management of recreation North Maine Woods. Approximately 135,500 sites on Webster Lake in the Telos Unit have acres of Public Reserved Lands managed by the been assigned by mutual agreement to the Bureau, including the Deboullie, Round Pond, Baxter State Park Authority. Most of the use of Chamberlain, Telos, and Seboomook Units, Webster Lake is connected with the Webster are within the three million-acre North Maine Stream canoe trip which traverses the northern Woods (NMW) system. To access these lands, end of Baxter State Park. Under the agreement, the public passes through NMW checkpoints, campsites at the west end of Webster Lake are where fees are paid for day use and camping. administered through Baxter State Park and Visitors then travel over roads on private land subject to its rules and policies within the NMW system. In 2007, Maine resident camping fees were $8.00 per night per PARTNERSHIPS - OVERVIEW person and $5.00 per day per person for day For some properties, the Bureau has use. Fees are retained by NMW for facility entered into partnership agreements with other maintenance and development, except that organizations to assist in managing recreational camping fees on the Deboullie Unit are use. Noteworthy examples of partnerships in returned to the Bureau once the Bureau's place in 2007 were: seasonal park ranger assumes responsibilities for the summer months. Appalachian Trail. The Bureau continued its partnership with the Maine Appalachian Trail South Arm Campground. The Bureau leases Club to accomplish stewardship and trail campsites on the Richardson Unit (Upper maintenance along 43 miles of the AT corridor in Richardson Lake) to South Arm Campground, a the Bigelow Preserve, Mahoosuc, Four privately owned campground on adjoining Ponds, Bald Mountain, and Nahmakanta private land. In 2007, the campground owner Units. An additional 28 miles of the AT is charged $15.00 (including tax) per night per site. located on state park lands. The campground retains a portion of this fee for maintenance of the 12 campsites and the Mill Bigelow Preserve. An agreement is in place Brook public boat launch facility at the north end with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club to ensure of lake. a summer staff presence at the more heavily used areas of the Appalachian Trail; in

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particular, the Horns Pond campsite near the canoe and kayak trips and stewardship across center of the Bigelow Range. many public and private properties in Maine.

Coastal Islands. The Bureau continued its Machias River Corridor. The Bureau partnership with the Maine Island Trail cooperates with the Maine Atlantic Salmon Association for the management of certain state- Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, owned islands along the coast of Maine that are NOAA, Project SHARE and local watershed part of the Maine Island Trail. councils to protect and enhance Atlantic salmon habitat. This year, two open-bottom “arches” Cutler Coast. The Cobscook Trails Coalition were installed under roads to facilitate fish provided trail stewardship and visitor information passage. In addition, the Bureau’s property through a management agreement with the within the corridor was the site of a road grading Quoddy Regional Land Trust, The Nature workshop held to improve practices that protect Conservancy, Maine Coast Trust Heritage Trust, Atlantic salmon habitat. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Maine IF&W, local businesses, and the Bureau. Western Mountain Community Foundation (Huts and Trails). In 2007 the Bureau entered Dodge Point. An ongoing arrangement is in into several new and formal relationships with place with the Association to WMCF in order to facilitate the development of a assist with the maintenance of trails and network of large huts connected by trails. In facilities. 2007 the Bureau acquired a conservation easement over portions of the trail, and entered Frenchman’s Hole, Mahoosuc Unit. A into agreements authorized by the legislature to partnership is in place with the Mahoosuc Land allow the trail to cross portions of the Bigelow Trust to assist in the maintenance of this day Preserve. The growth of the Huts & Trails use area. network will come with many new and expanding formal and informal relationships Grafton Loop Trail. The Bureau continues to between the Bureau and WMCF. be an active member of a coalition of non-profit organizations and private landowners that developed a 39-mile hiking trail in the Mahoosuc IX. TIMBER RESOURCES Mountains. The trail branches off from the Appalachian Trail on the Mahoosuc Unit and The Bureau manages the natural resources on continues east over private land to Puzzle the lands under its care through a carefully Mountain, where it then returns to the planned multiple use program that balances Appalachian Trail. timber management with all other resource values. An important facet of the timber Kennebec Highlands. This recently acquired management program is examination and property is managed in part through a inventory of the forest resource. The field data partnership with the Belgrade Regional acquired in 1999 detailed timber, site, and Conservation Alliance. natural resource measurements, important for both forest management planning, and third- North Maine Woods. The NMW provides party forest certification auditors. maintenance and monitoring services on the Seboeis and Nahmakanta Units. The NMW Status of Current Inventory. The 1999 partnership with the Bureau has many other analysis revealed a total inventory of over 7 facets, as discussed elsewhere in this report. million cords on 349,414 regulated acres (the acres used in calculating sustainable harvest Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The levels), or a stocking of 21 cords per acre. This Bureau has an increasingly strong relationship level of stocking is approximately 30 percent with the multi-state NFCT, which promotes more than the average for all of Maine's timberland as reported by the U.S. Forest

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Service in 1995. This inventory was updated in contracting requires substantially greater Bureau 2006 as part of the Bureau’s forest modeling resources to find and secure markets for project, which predicted that volume now harvested timber. In 2007 no timber was exceeded 8 million cords, and when the 35,000 harvested under contracts for logging services. regulated acres on the Seboomook Unit are Once the timber contracts are awarded, added, over 8.5 million. Bureau foresters and forest technicians work closely with contractors to ensure contract PRESCRIPTIONS - OVERVIEW compliance, and that timber management Planning for the timber management of objectives are met. Bureau staff closely Public Reserved and Non-reserved Lands is a supervises each harvest by marking individual two-step process: trees for removal or by providing loggers with  A management plan for the unit as a whole strict harvesting criteria. These criteria specify is prepared and adopted; which trees are to be harvested. All harvest  More detailed plans for discrete areas operations are inspected by Bureau staff on a between 500 - 2,000 acres (known as weekly basis; more often when individual compartments) are then developed for the situations warrant. unit. Summary of Timber Sales in 2007. The Compartments are examined on a 15-year cycle implementation of prescriptions resulted in: to identify timber and wildlife resources and recreational opportunities. Based on the field  A total of 108,917 cords (allowable cut is examination and the information collected, work 115,000 cords) harvested from 10,230 acres. plans called “prescriptions” are developed to  A total of 36 operations were ongoing in ensure adequate protection of special resources 2007, not including firewood sales to and a sustained yield of forest goods and individuals. These operations are a services, which include timber, wildlife, and combination of newly established sales and appropriate recreational uses. sales carried over from previous years.  In concert with the Bureau’s contractors, Prescriptions in 2007. Bureau staff examined wood was marketed to over 50 mills and prescribed 21 compartments totaling 19,261 statewide. acres for a wide range of resource management activities. In addition, Bureau staff participated in developing a prescription for a state park 2007 Harvest and Market Analysis. In 2007 demonstration forest project. the Bureau harvest was up 35,000 cords from that reported the previous year. This harvest represents 95% of the Bureau-established “allowable cut.” The increase in volume was TIMBER SALES - OVERVIEW mostly due to field staff having initiated several If a timber harvest is prescribed in a long term timber sales in the past two years and compartment, a timber sale is developed. The in 2007. Winter operating conditions came late majority of timber sales are put out to but lasted long, and summer/fall did not have the competitive bid, following State rules and very large rainstorms of recent years. procedures governing the sale of State property Average stumpage price per cord and purchase of services. Most timber is sold decreased 14% from that of 2006, 10% due to as stumpage. Under this system, the contractor product price changes and 4% because a lower agrees to pay the Bureau a bid price per unit for proportion of sawlogs (especially in hardwoods) each type of forest product harvested. were harvested. Sawlog and veneer prices Occasionally timber is sold using contracts for dropped 15-17% for both softwoods and logging services. Under this system, the Bureau hardwoods. Pulpwood prices remained similar pays the contractor to harvest timber and deliver to those in 2006, but as usual were only a small it to specified mills; these mills then pay the fraction of the log/veneer prices. The harvest Bureau directly for these products. This type of volume was 60% hardwoods, well above the

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32% predicted by the growth curves in the case, jack pine), cooperative work on a major Allowable Cut model and very similar to that for river crossing, and hiding from strong 2006, as the Bureau continued to remove low thunderstorms. quality wood to favor the better trees for the future. BOUNDARY LINES - OVERVIEW As part of its multiple use management The Bureau continued to make progress the Bureau will continue to emphasize on the maintenance of boundary lines this past maintaining the harvest volume at a level near year, with 12 miles maintained on 8 different the allowable cut, while continuing to practice parcels in 2007, most of which were in the the highest quality silviculture. In future years northern region. the hardwood-to-softwood ratio is likely to be more balanced, which will increase the average revenue per cord. Larger volume, multi-year FOREST CERTIFICATION - OVERVIEW sales have been initiated during the past two The Bureau was awarded certification of years in an effort to provide stability for its forestlands under the Sustainable Forestry contractors, which in turn should increase Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship annual harvest volumes. These contracts have Council (FSC) programs in 2002. These third- attracted contractors with desired harvesting party audits were conducted to determine if equipment. In addition, this approach should these lands were being managed on a foster better working relationships and improve sustainable basis. The process for conducting efficiency. However, economic conditions that the audit was rigorous and unique in that the result in poor markets, and weather events that Bureau underwent the two audit programs can reduce harvest levels, will remain beyond simultaneously. The audit was comprised of a the Bureau’s control. field analysis of forest management practices at selected sites around the state, and an analysis SILVICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE - of the Bureau's financial, personnel, policy OVERVIEW development, and record-keeping systems. In 1986, the Bureau established a Successful completion of the FSC/SFI systems Silvicultural Advisory Committee with also qualified the Bureau to enter into the “chain representatives from environmental groups, of custody” program to market its “green- academia, and forest managers from public and certified” wood. The process for enrollment in private landowners, to review and critique forest this program was completed in 2003, with management policies and practices on public certified wood now being marketed from Bureau lands. Each year the Bureau sponsors a field managed lands. trip on which the Committee examines work the A Bureau-wide certification team was Bureau has completed or is planning, providing implemented to address “conditions” and “minor valuable input to staff through on-site dialogue. nonconformances” stipulated in the audit reports, including: significant enhancements to Committee Tour in 2007. This year’s field tour forest inventory data, development of a revisited a number of Western Region parcels computerized forest-modeling program, a seen by the committee in 1989, and included a timeline for updating management plans for the first visit to the Holeb Unit where a large multi- entire land base; improvements in the use of year timber sale had recently started. Some of Best Management Practices to protect water the revisited lots had received their second BPL quality; and new commitments to public harvest in the year or two before this trip, outreach and education programs. The Bureau offering committee members longer term, multi- is required to meet these conditions within treatment perspectives. We visited many lots on certain timeframes in order to keep its or near Route 201, and discussed “Island certification status in good standing over the forestry” (small BPL tracts within a private forest five-year certification period. matrix), tradeoffs among equipment, silviculture, and supervision needs, restoration forestry, Certification Accomplishments in 2007. After management of uncommon species (in this undergoing the field portion of full FSC

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recertification late in 2006, the Bureau earned a bridge on Bureau property to facilitate access, new 5-year certificate for exemplary forest with the Bureau providing oversight for the management in March, 2007. The Bureau project. hosted its first joint FSC/SFI surveillance audit in August of 2007, visiting a number of Northern Region sites to view recent and ongoing timber ROADS & ACCESS IMPROVMENTS harvests, along with visiting a joint DIFW/DOC fisheries project on the Deboullie Unit Road Construction. To facilitate both summer (restoration of an old dam to prevent warm water and winter timber harvesting activities across the fish species from migrating into a wild brook state, approximately 34 miles of road was trout pond). Certifiers were very complimentary constructed or reconstructed. toward timber harvest, wildlife, and recreation management projects seen and discussed Access Improvement Projects. Access during the audit. improvements funds through the Land for Maine’s Future Program were provided for the following projects: X. TRANSPORTATION Seboeis Unit. Two new water access

campsites were constructed on recently- OVERVIEW acquired lands along the southern end of The Bureau continued to improve road Seboeis Lake utilizing Land for Maine’s Future access within consolidated units and other access improvement funds. properties, focusing primarily on recreational needs and implementation of its timber Tumbledown Unit. Two parking lots management program. were constructed and a vault privy at trailhead

areas serving the Tumbledown Mt. trial system. BRIDGES

Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Northern Mahoosuc Unit. A parking area was Region Manager served on the Commission to relocated and a vault privy installed at the Study Henderson Brook Bridge in the Allagash popular swimming and day use area known as Wilderness Waterway. Temporary repairs were Frenchman’s Hole. made to the Henderson Brook Bridge, with Army

Corp. and LURC permits obtained in 2007 for Road Maintenance. Each year the Bureau the eventual replacement of this bridge. contracts for maintenance services for grading

and brushwork on public use roads. In 2007, Machias River Corridor. The Bureau approximately 140 miles of roads were cooperates with the Maine Atlantic Salmon maintained. Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

NOAA, Project SHARE and local watershed Hebron Lot (Non-reserved Lands, former councils to protect and enhance Atlantic salmon Maine State Sanatorium). Demolished and habitat. This year, two open-bottom “arches” removed 3 dilapidated buildings and an old were installed under roads to facilitate fish water tower that were public safety hazards on passage. In addition, the Bureau’s property what was once State Sanatorium lands. The within the corridor was the site of a road grading Bureau of General Services assisted with the workshop held to improve practices that protect removal of asbestos from the buildings prior to Atlantic salmon habitat. demolition. The former main access road was

also repaired and blocked for safety reasons. Round Pond Unit. A bridge was constructed within the Schedule Brook watershed.

Blake Gore, Sandy Bay Twp. An adjacent landowner replaced an undersized culvert with a

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XI. PUBLIC ACCESS Cupsuptic Gate, Franklin County. A staffed OVERVIEW gate leased by the Kennebago Campowners Three-fourths of the Public Reserved Association on private lands limits access to the Lands are accessible to the public without fee or 62-acre public lot in Stetsontown Twp. on special arrangements. There are a few Kennebago Lake. A public access agreement circumstances where public vehicle access is with the Association allows up to three vehicles at any one time to access the lake via the public limited or restricted. As required in 12 MRSA § lot, and to park at the Grants Camps lease site 1853, the following is a report of barriers that located on the lot. affect primary motor vehicle access.

INTERNAL GATES

The Bureau maintains 18 internal gates EXTERNAL GATES TO PUBLIC LANDS for safety purposes, to protect sensitive areas, to

limit vehicle traffic on service roads, or to control North Maine Woods Checkpoints. There are certain recreational uses. None of the seven checkpoints, staffed seasonally, barricades restrict foot traffic into these areas. controlling primary access from Maine points to Many of these barriers are left open during the 135,500 acres of Public Reserved Land within winter season to allow safe passage by the nearly three million acre North Maine Woods snowmobiles. The inventory was adjusted in area, including the Deboullie, Round Pond, 2007 to reflect the sale of the North Lagrange Chamberlain, Telos, and Seboomook Units. public lot in 2006, and the addition of an internal These checkpoints are all on private land and gate on the Hebron lot. facilitate management of recreational use on both public and private land.

KI/Jo-Mary Checkpoints. The Katahdin Iron XII. LAND TRANSACTIONS Works checkpoint controls access to the 960- acre public lot in Bowdoin College Grant East. ACQUISITIONS Free public access to the Nahmakanta Unit has Appendix B provides a list of all Bureau been established from the west, with the unit acquisitions in 2007. In addition to these no longer managed as part of the KI/Jo-Mary acquisitions, the Bureau continued to sponsor system. However, the Bureau funds a many land trust acquisitions through the Land checkpoint at Henderson Brook and a fee for for Maine’s Future program requirements. access from Route 11 to the unit through the Dozens of Bureau-sponsored land trust KI/Jo-Mary system continues as in the past. acquisitions also closed in 2007. Significant lands division acquisitions in 2007 included: Cary Plantation, Aroostook County. A locked cable gate on private land restricts access to this Mahoosuc Legacy Lands. The 3,688-acre 230-acre parcel. Grafton Notch property lies at the heart of the Mahoosuc Mountains that stretch from the Magalloway Plantation, Oxford County. A White Mountains of New Hampshire into locked metal gate on private land restricts western Maine. This heavily wooded parcel access to this 1,000-acre parcel. encompasses the southern slope of Old Speck, Maine’s highest mountain outside Baxter State Dallas Plantation, Franklin County. A Park, and runs adjacent to the most rugged chained, metal gate on private land restricts mile of the Appalachian Trail – the famed access to the north lot in Dallas Plantation, and Mahoosuc Notch. The property is also nestled to the lot in Davis Twp. The total area of the within over 30,000 acres of existing State two lots is 1,050 acres. The gate is owned and conservation lands and will be managed as part maintained by the camp owners on the south of the Mahoosuc Unit.. In addition to the end of Kennebago Lake. preservation of this parcel as a working forest, the acquisition, made possible through the

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Forest Legacy Program, protects other public Wassataquoik Valley Pedestrian Easement. values, including public recreation, riparian The landowner who donated this easement areas/wetlands, significant fish & wildlife habitat declined in negotiations to allow vehicular and scenic resources, all of which contribute to access. The new pedestrian easement is the enhancement of local economies. contiguous with pedestrian trails and rights on BP&L and Baxter State Park Lands. Katahdin Iron Works Easement. This 37,000- acre easement located in Bowdoin College Little Big Wood Pond Campsite Donation. Grant West (T8 R10 NWP), Bowdoin College The landowner who donated this remote water Grant East (T7 R10 NWP), and T7 R9 NWP access campsite did not possess vehicular was acquired through the Forest Legacy access rights, and the Bureau would not have Program. The acquisition provides multiple accepted the campsite donation if vehicular public benefits, including the protection of access were allowed, due to management significant natural areas, enhanced recreational challenges. opportunities, and the preservation of a working forest - all of which contribute to the economic Western Mountains Community Foundation development efforts of the State and local (Huts & Trails). The portion of the trail now gateway communities. A wide array of burdend by a Bureau conservation easement recreational opportunities ranging from multi- has limited public vehicular access only at day backpacking to snowmobilng to fishing are some at trail heads. The goal of the acquisition available on the KIW property and will be was to secure as much permanent trail enhanced as a result of this conservation effort. connectivity as possible, recognizing the risks of some gaps in permanent access guarantees. Enchanted Road, Johnson Mt. Twp. The Bureau acquired public access rights from the Somerset County Commissioners along a two- 2007 LAND TRANSACTIONS BILL mile section of road from Route 201 to the Resolves of 2007, chapter 91 (LD 1913) former Enchanted Ski Area property. The right- authorized certain dispositions of Bureau lands of-way is one of several steps involved in and interest in lands including: providing public access to a popular hiking and motorized trail system on the public lot on An easement for electric transmission lines Coburn Mt. across 2 state-owned parcels to TransCanada Maine Wind Development, Inc. The parcels are OTHER DISPOSTIONS in Wyman Township abutting existing utility Appendix B provides a list of all 2007 corridors and proximate to or abutting State dispositions, all of which were authorized by Route 27 and the Appalachian Trail Corridor; legislative action in 2007 or in previous years. The 231-acre Greenfield lot was sold in 2007, An easement for electric transmission lines the last remaining public lot sold as part of the across state-owned parcels in Bradley and Katahdin Lake transaction in 2006. Township 21 to Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. ACQUISITIONS IMPACTING VECHICULAR Conveyance of land on Upper Richardson ACCESS Lake, Richardson Unit that was leased, with the lessee owning the buildings on the property. Pursuant to various sections of law, “if an acquisition is made that does not include Certain of these authorized dispositions guaranteed public vehicular access, the bureau occurred in 2007. Others are expected in 2008 shall describe the acquisition (in this report) and or in later years the justification for that acquisition.” Below is the required justification for selected acquisitions from Appendix B: XIII. SUBMERGED LANDS

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These lands are managed under the XIV. SHORE AND HARBOR Public Trust Doctrine to ensure protection of the MANAGEMENT FUND public trust rights of fishing, waterfowl hunting, navigation, and recreation. The Submerged In 1991, the Legislature created the Lands Program plays an important role in Shore and Harbor Management Fund in maintaining a balance among competing uses of anticipation that annual revenues from the submerged lands and resolving conflicts Submerged Lands Program would exceed between public trust rights and the demand for operating costs. These funds could then be private and commercial uses of these lands. used to support shore and harbor management activities by providing grants to municipalities. Project/Permit Applications. In 2007, the The $1,200 cap on submerged lands Submerged Lands Program processed 358 rents that was passed by the legislature in 1997 applications for proposed and existing waterfront has significantly reduced the anticipated structures and dredging projects requiring a revenues. In 2007, the Bureau contributed submerged lands lease or easement. This $50,000 to the Maine Island Trails Association in includes 186 constructive easement support of continuing partnership for ongoing conversions, and 47 leases and easements for recreation management of State owned coastal new development projects, bringing the islands. combined program total to 2,013 conveyances. Pending the outcome of legislation to The Bureau also reviewed an additional 125 remove the current lease rental cap that would environmental permit applications and substantially improve revenue available to the determined that no conveyances were required. Shore and Harbor Fund, the Bureau will continue to work with other natural resource Constructive Easements. The Bureau agencies, leaseholders, and other interest continues to research information on groups to identify public infrastructure and constructive easements (structures in existence planning needs along the coast and the prior to October 1, 1975) and has identified appropriate level of contribution to those efforts approximately 1,000 structures that will require a from this fund. new conveyance. To date, the Bureau has received over 830 applications and executed The Bureau completed a review of its 650 new leases and easements for these fees under the submerged lands leasing structures. program and reported its findings to the Legislature. Advisory Board. The Submerged Lands Advisory Board met once during the year. This group, established by the legislature in 1997 to XV. COASTAL ISLAND PROGRAM provide advice to the Director, discussed a variety of topics relating to submerged lands, including constructive easement conversions, OVERVIEW draft rule changes, and support for public Maine's Coastal Island Registry was infrastructure improvements and coastal created by the 106th Legislature as a means of planning efforts if the current cap on lease rental clarifying title to 3,000 coastal islands by fees is removed. establishing and registering ownership. By now most island owners have registered their islands. The Bureau continues to receive Sunken Logs. No applications to recover periodic requests to register an island or make sunken logs from public submerged lands were changes in existing registrations (address or received in 2007. ownership changes). There are also many requests for ownership information from persons with a general interest in Maine islands. The Bureau's brochure "Your Islands

and Parks on the Coast" continues to be

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updated each year. This brochure shows the and personnel challenges- factors contributing to location of approximately 40 State-owned reduced revenues, even though harvest islands suitable for recreational use and explains volumes exceeded 100,000 cords for the first the Bureau's visiting, camping, and resource time. At the same time expenses for personnel protection policies. The Maine Island Trail is a services, vehicle operations, information water trail extending along the entire coast of technology and management costs for non- Maine and includes both publicly and privately revenue generating activities have increased. owned islands. The Bureau continues its Revenue generated in 2007 was only partnership with the Maine Island Trail $139,048 more than expenditures, due to the Association in the management and oversight of factors described above. the State-owned islands on the Trail. Not shown in either the income or expenditure figures above are the portion of moneys received from camplot leases and XVI. INCOME AND EXPENDITURES timber sales that are shared with towns and ACCOUNTING plantations pursuant to 12 MRSA §1854. Based on the income received in 2007 (payable in 2008), the Bureau revenue sharing amounts OVERVIEW total $126,245.59, paid to 23 towns and The Bureau has several different plantations. accounts established for specific purposes with Income from the Reserved Lands statutory restrictions on their use. The statutes Account supports most of the administrative, require that financial summaries be prepared planning, timber, transportation, recreation, and on a calendar year basis. The figures wildlife management activities on the land base. presented below do not match those reported At this time the balance in this primary elsewhere on a fiscal year basis, and may tend account is precariously low due to the factors to exaggerate the Bureau's income and described above. Concerted efforts to reduce expenditures in any one calendar year, costs and increase revenue, including depending upon where the income and developing new sources of recurring revenues expenses actually fall within the fiscal year. will be necessary to maintain financial viability in

this dedicated revenue account.

Public Reserved Lands Management Public Non Reserved Lands Management Account (014.04A.0239.22) Account (014.04A.0239.23) This account is restricted to uses related to the This account is used for the management of management of lands that have Public Reserved lands not in the Public Reserved Lands System. Lands status, which includes the original public These Non-reserved Public Lands include lots, land acquired through trading Public institutional lands (those lands considered Reserved Lands, and other lands designated as surplus by other State agencies) assigned to the Public Reserved Lands. Sources of income to Bureau for natural resource management, and this account include the sale of timber coastal islands. Income is primarily derived from stumpage, camplot leases and other special agricultural leases, though the sale of timber leases on the Reserved Lands, and interest on contributes occasionally when timber harvests the account balance. Income for calendar year are completed on Non-Reserved Lands. Income 2007 was $4,081,941 with expenditures of for calendar year 2007 was $1,998 with $3,942,893. Because the Bureau's largest expenditures of $8,091. Expenses were source of revenue is timber, income fluctuates primarily for the demolition of 4 buildings and from year to year in response to the amount of associated structures on the Hebron property wood harvested and economic conditions that that represented public safety concerns. The affect timber markets. cash balance is drawn down when expenses In 2007 the Lands Division has gone exceed revenues. through a staff-intensive green certification process, dealt with depressed timber markets,

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Submerged Lands Account system, and acquisition-related costs. These (014.04A.0239.27) funds cannot be used for operation or The Submerged Lands Account is comprised of maintenance of existing land, and therefore, funds generated from leases and easements on expenditures do not take place on a regular the State’s submerged lands. Most of the fund’s basis. Income that accrues as a result of sales, income is derived from leases of coastal trades, or interest is carried forward until needed waterfront properties to allow commercial uses for future acquisitions. Income for calendar year such as marinas, piers, and boatyards. In 1997, 2007 was $456,496 against expenditures of additional income was generated as part of a $398,299. Income this year was derived from registration program requiring holders of interest earned on the account balance and constructive easements to pay a $50 fee. This reimbursements from state grants. Expenses fee was collected again in 2001, for the period of included the acquisition of 3,700 acres in fee January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2005. and 38,000 acres in conservation easements, Additional revenues were generated from the with additional expenditures on legal, appraisal, sale of gravel. Total revenues in 2007 were and survey costs associated with these $384,715 with expenses of $248,804.56 Funds acquisitions. In all cases, funds were expended for personnel services (salaries) comprise the in conjunction with other funding sources outside majority of the program’s budget. of the Bureau. Funds from this account are restricted by constitutional amendment (Article Shore and Harbor Management Fund IX, Section 23) to the acquisition of lands having (014.04A0239.29) significant conservation and recreation value in A Shore and Harbor Management Fund was the same county in which the sale of lands established in 1991 to provide grants to generating the funds took place. municipalities for harbor planning, public access, and similar local management activities on Non-Reserved Land Acquisition Fund submerged lands. This account receives funds (014.04A.0239.37) from the Submerged Lands account when This account was established to receive revenue income from leases exceeds the operating costs from the sale of Public Non-Reserved Lands. of the program. The rental cap of $1,200 has Income and expenses for calendar year 2007 significantly limited the amount of money were minimal. Funds from this account are available in this fund. In 2000 and 2001, one- limited by constitutional amendment (Article IX, time revenues totaling $1,537,500 from the sale Section 23) to the acquisition of lands having of submerged lands and dredge materials to significant conservation and recreation values in BIW were deposited to this account. Since the same county in which the sale of lands 2005, a significant portion of this revenue generating the funds took place. totaling $1,455,000 has been transferred to provide funding for municipal grants ($550,000), Mackworth Island Trust Fund the Bureau’s Boating Facilities Program (014.04A.0239.30) ($600,000), and coastal island management Section 2 of Chapter 102 Public Law 1998, ($305,000). Total expenses in 2007 were authorized the proceeds from the sale of a 157 $50,000 for the management of the Maine Island acre Bureau of Parks and Lands property in Trail and State owned islands. Total Colorado to be invested as a separate trust fund revenues in 2007 were $7,784.85 mostly from and managed by the State Treasurer for the interest. This revenue contributed to a year-end benefit of Mackworth Island. In November 1999, balance of $99,972. the Colorado property was sold. The proceeds of $60,000 have been deposited into this trust Land Acquisition Fund fund. A non-lapsing account receives interest (014.04A.0239.24) income from the trust fund. This account is used Funds from this account are restricted by statute to manage public recreational activities and to the acquisition of lands of significant public related resources on land under the Bureau’s use and value for the Public Reserved Lands care on Mackworth Island in Falmouth. Income

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for calendar year 2007 was $1,755, with no requirement is found in Appendix C of this expenditures. Report. Although stewardship accounts were established for some of these easements at the time of their acquisition, the Bureau is XVII. ADMINISTRATION responsible for all remaining costs associated with these statutory requirements.

OVERVIEW During 2007, staff responsibilities to support the Bureau’s various programs and activities and to manage responsibilities over newly acquired land continued to increase. The Bureau received approval of a Part II budget request in FY 2002 to address current and future responsibilities and management needs by increasing staff. The new positions included in that budget are necessary to continue to assist with an increasing workload. Budget constraints warranted a conservative approach in filling new positions, although the Chief Forester, Interpretive Specialist, the part-time Planning & Research Associate II have since been filled. Two new Forester I positions were filled in 2005. The Bureau continues to explore and utilize new technology, and to look for ways to deal effectively with its increasing workload, increased expenses and inadequate revenue to fund all program activities.

CAMPLOT LEASE PROGRAM The Bureau continues to administer a Camplot Leasing Program for approximately 300 residential camplots and 8 commercial sporting camps and campgrounds across the state. In 2007 the Bureau reissued leases for a new five- year term, and made adjustments to the lease rental schedule to reflect recent increases in tax- assessed values. The Bureau has a statutory requirement to charge lease fees based on these values.

CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING In response to legislation enacted in 2007 (33 MRSA 477-A-3) requiring all conservation easement holders to monitor easements for compliance with easement terms at least once every three years, Bureau staff spent considerable time developing monitoring protocols for the 42 easement parcels (totaling more than 300,000 acres) within its ownership. A breakdown of the costs associated with this

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XVIII. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 2009

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:

 Public Reserved Lands Management Fund  Public Lands Management Fund (Non-reserved Public Lands)  Public Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund  Public Non-Reserved Lands Acquisition Fund  Submerged Lands Fund  Shore and Harbor Management Fund  Coastal Island Registry  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 2009 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.

23 FY 2009 ACCOUNT SUMMARIES

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

Earnings on Investments * $95,000 Personal Services $3,111,889 Rent of Lands* $825,000 All Other (not including STACAP) $916,240 Camplot Leases* $235,000 Registration Fees $21 ,000 Mise Services & Fees $32,000 Capital Fed Grants for Other $12,000 Purposes Recreational Use of Lands $11 ,000 Sale of Stumpage * $3,419,710 Mise Income $50,000 Capital Subtotal Legis Transfer of Revenue ($67,523) DICAP** ($429,650) STACAP $164,983

Total Income $4,203,537.00 Total Expenses $4,193,112.00 * Represents the maJor components of the Bureau's 1ncome stream. ** Consistent with state accounting practices, DICAP is shown as a "revenue debit," although it is actually an expenditure.

The Bureau, as of February 20, 2008, has an account balance of $770,896.50 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.

24 New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2009 Expenses

Sale of Stumpage $166,857 Personal Services DICAP ($1 ,400) All Other $5,000 Increase in the cost of legal services from the AG's office increase in CFM cost $67,097 Consolidation of IT cost to a ($56,387) centralized account STACAP $2,744 All Other Subtotal $18,454.00 Capital $23,000 Equipment Roads and Bridges $67,000 Capital Subtotal $90,000.00

TOTAL $165,457.00 TOTAL $108,454.00

Increases in all other are requested to address increased rates being charged to the Bureau for legal services provided by the Attorney Generals office and for rental vehicles by Central Fleet Management. In addition, increased funds are requested to cover the costs associated with the consolidation of computer services to a central account.

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

Earnings on Investments $3,000 All Other (not including STACAP) $32,772 Rent on Lands and Buildings $16,850 Capital Sale of Stumpage $17,582 STACAP $750 DICAP** ($3,468)

Total Income $33,964.00 Total Expenses $33,522.00 • n .. ** Cons1stent w1th state accountmg pract1ces, DICAP IS shown as a "reve nue 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 $7,626.04, 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 .

25 New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2009 Expenses

Sale of Stumpage $60,000 Personal Services All Other Capital Land $25,000

Structures $35,000

Capital Subtotal $60,000

TOTAL $60 000.00 TOTAL $60 000.00

This initiative provides allocation for capital improvements to existing structures and for culvert replacements, if funds become available.

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 $201,859 Sale of Land Capital $90,254 DICAP** STACAP ($21,672) $7,616

Total Expenses Total Income $212,582.00 $209,47..5 .00 ** Cons1stent w1th state accountmg 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 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. This account currently has a balance of $1,274,559.89. At this time all of the funds in this account are limited for use in specific counties from which the revenue was generated, as requ ired by the Constitution. This situation will limit the Bureau's ability in the future to pursue acquisition projects in counties without funds.

26 New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2009 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 ot protect the State's interests.

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

Sale of Land $69,544 All Other (not incl uding STACAP) $60,578 DICAP** ($6,506) Capital STACAP $2,306

Total Expenses Total Income $63,038.00 $62,88..4. 00 ** Cons1stent w1th state accountmg 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. This account currently has a balance of $438,070.14.

New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2009 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.

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

Earnings on Investments $21,000 Personal Services $211,701

Rent of Lands $264,505 All Other $19,914 (not including STACAP) STACAP $8,818

DICAP** ($24,875)

$260,630.00 Total Expenses $240,433.00 Total Income .. ** Consistent w1th state accountmg 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 currently has a balance of $829,035.40. As constructive easements have been brought under lease beg inning 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.

New Initiative Dedicated Revenue Income Requested for 2009 Expenses DICAP $371 Personal Services All Other ($4,424) Consolidation of IT cost to a centralized account Capital TOTAL $371.00 TOTAL ($4,424.00)

Additional "all other" funds are requested to cover costs of consolidating computer costs to centralized account.

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

Income Expenses

Transfers and Earnings $120,527 Grants to Cities & Towns $120,527 on Investments

Total Income $120,527 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. This account currently has a balance of $100,366.60.

7. Coastal Island Registry Fund Account# 014.04A.0241.26 I Income $120 I Expenses $1071

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 $589.71.

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

Earnings on Investments $5,000 All Other (not including STACAP) $3,906

DICAP** ($419) STACAP $149

Total Income $4,581 Total Expenses $4,055

• n ** Consistent w1th state accountmg 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

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this trust fund. A non-lapsing account receives interest income from the trust fund. The account currently has a balance of $12,274.61.

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.

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Appendix A

f;:.'~- Department of Conservation ~ ~ Bureau of Parks and Lands ~.;-:.-. ·--..1.-· FGf\l.illl'y. ~ ! I

• L E G E N D

~~~crON!U~ - 2Xi .~.S ... ______,_ _,,. ---..- ·--... ---·-·-... ~-=:..-::--..:: ··· ·-

31 Appendix B 2007 BP&L Acquisitions

Parks or Name Town County Fee CE Access Total Lands Acres Acres Acres Acres Lands Johnson Mtn ROW (2 miles) Johnson Mtn Twp Som 0 0 y 0 Parks Bradbmy Mmmtain State Park addition Pownal Cumb 9.31 0 0 0 (McMahon donation) Lands KIW Conservation Easement Bowdoin Coli Grants Pisc 0 37,011 0 37,011 East & West Lands Mahoosucs addition (Grafton - Bayroot) Grafton Twp Oxf 3,688 0 0 3,688 Lands Wassataquoik Valley Pedestrian Easement T3 R8 Wels Pen 0 0 8,900 0 Lands Little Big Wood Pond Campsite donation Dennistown Som 5.03 0 0 5 Parks Androscoggin Riverlands addition (Turner Turner And 326 0 0 326 Cove) Parks Camden Hills State Park expansion (TNC) Camden Waldo 0.35 0 0 0.4 Parks Camden Hills State Park expansion (TNC) Lincolnville Knox 250.3 0 0 250 Parks-ORV Southem Aroostook Trail Campsite Monticello Arcos 5 0 0 5 Parks-ORV Millinocket to Matagamon Snowmobile T2 R8 ; T3 R7; more Pen 0 0 y 0 Trail Easement (variable mileage, see deed) Parks-ORV Lagrange Rail Trail Easement (3.2 miles) Medford Pisc 0 38.4 0 0 Parks-ORV Downeast Sunrise Trail (85 mile Many Han 0 0 0 0 agreement, MDOT ownership) +Wash Parks-Boat Mopang Lake boat access T29MD Wash 6.43 0 0 6 Parks-Boat Pleasant River Lake boat access T29MD Wash 4.52 0 0 5 Parks-Boat Upper Pond boat access T28MD Hanc 3.31 0 0 3 Parks-Boat Lower Lead Mountain Pond boat access T28MD Hanc 1.87 0 0 2 Parks-Boat Spectacle Pond boat access Osbom Twp Hanc 3.01 0 0 3 Lands Westem Mountains Community West Forks, Lower Som 0 1,120 0 1,120 Foundation (Huts & Trails) Conservation Enchanted, more Easement (escrow closing in 2007 fmal closing in 2008)

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2007 BPL Dispositions

Parks or Name Town County Fee CE Access Total Lands Acres Acres Easement Acres Acres Lands Greenfield Public Lot sale (escrow closing Greenfield Pen -231 0 0 -231 in 2006 final closing in 2007) Parks Bradbury Mountain State Park transfer to Pownal Cumb -4.24 0 0 -4.24 Town of Pownal Parks Bradbury Mountain State Park easement Pownal Cumb 0 0 y 0 transfer to McMahon

33 Appendix C

Conservation E asements -the Full Cost

The full cost of less than fee land protection and public recreation rights is challenging the Bureau of Parks and Lands ' budget.

1. The Bureau of Parks and Lands presently BPL Conservation Easement Lands 1990-2007 holds over 300,000 acres of conservation easements in more than 42 separate 350,000 .,------. easements. Most of these were acquired since 300,000 +------.1 1994.

2. 282,000 acres of these easements are ~ 200,000 working forest conservation easements :i. 150,000 +------funded substantially through the federal Forest Legacy Program. 100,000 +------,

3. In 2008 the Bureau expects to acquire another 43,000 acres of conservation easements that 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 have secured funding and will be ready for Year closing by year's end. In addition, another project was recently approved for Forest Legacy funding and may be ready for closing in 2009- the Machias River Phase III encompassing 33,000+ acres. Of this additional 76,000 acres expected over the next two years, over 74,000 acres will be working forest conservation easements.

4. 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 reqnire 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.

5. Many of these easements have come with endowments 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 they were largely unprecedented in size and scope. Ftmders have established endowments for BPL easements amounting to $1.10 million to date; of which $43,000 is available annually for Bureau costs. Significantly more resources are needed, as described below.

6. 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 Forest Legacy 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 4 79-C.

7. The estimated current annual shortfall for administering and monitoring Bureau-held or enforced conservation easements (annually for Forest Legacy easements and once in three years for all others) including those to be held by the end of this year, is approximately $160,000 (see next page), even while noting a constant strategic drive for efficiencies. The Bureau must find these resources, either through timber revenues, appropriations

34

or additional grants or endowments. (The sustainability or weakness of timber and other revenues 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. To fully cover this shortfall, an additional endowment of $4.0 million would be needed. 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.

8. The discussion above does not cover other unfunded commitments and liabilities of the Bureau. 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. Nor does the discussion here cover 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.

9. The discussion above does not cover current and future unfunded commitments of the Bureau regarding “third party” easements. The role of third party easements may be more prominent in 2008 and future years due to emerging regulatory best-thinking at the Land Use Regulation Commission, and as the new SPO registry exposes primary easement holders who fail to report or monitor easements.

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Addressing the Costs of Holding Conservation Easements

Being in the forefront of protecting working forests, habitat and public recreation values with large scale conservation easements has required the Bureau to operate on the cutting edge while new approaches for cost-effectively monitoring large scale conservation easements were developed and tested. What we now know, and what we are doing to meet the challenges of responsibly holding these conservation easements.

1. Large scale working forest easements are a relatively new as a conservation tool, holding the promise of accomplishing major land protection with limited up-front funds. The Forest Legacy Program, the prime source of funds for this tool, has funded research by the to develop cost-effective tools for monitoring these easements. This research, relying on remote sensing techniques employing satellite imagery, has now been tested on a number of large scale easements in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and appears ready for wide- scale application.

2. Between 2004 and 2007, the Bureau concentrated on assembling baseline documents for the conservation easements it held, with the help of two MOHF grants and assistance from the State Planning Office. Baseline documents were missing from most of the 40+ easements the Bureau held.

3. In addition, beginning in 2000, the Bureau issued contracts with the Forest Society of Maine to monitor three easements – one of its smallest (Wyman Lake shoreland, 740 acres) and two of its largest (Nicatous at 20,260 acres, and most recently, Katahdin Forest at 189,968 acres). These contracts are providing the Bureau with a basis for determining the cost of monitoring using standard approaches, and also, with the Katahdin Forest Easement, the costs of also using satellite imagery technology.

4. In 2007, the Bureau contracted with the researchers at the University of Maine that had developed the satellite imagery monitoring techniques to design a monitoring protocol for nine of its working forest easements, and to test its application on three of these. That contract, still in progress, provided a preliminary estimate of the cost per acre of applying satellite imagery technology, according to the size of the easement. In the past five years, the costs of obtaining satellite images has been dramatically reduced, making this technology affordable in applications like easement monitoring.

5. As a result, the Bureau is able now, for the first time, to estimate the costs of monitoring its conservation easements. That cost, estimated at $204,000 per year (of which $43,000 is presently covered by endowments), was based on the following (subject to refinement as we continue to learn from studies and experience).

Size of Conservation Easement Cost of Annual Monitoring Endowment Fund1 (acres) Scenic easements Min. $3,000 $40,000 – 50,000 Standard Conservation/Recreation CE Min. $4,000 $80,000 – 100,000 Working Forest-Up to 3,000 Min. $6,000 ($2.00/acre) $120,000 – 150,000 10,000 $7,500 ($0.75/acre) $150,000 – 187,500 50,000 $10,000 ($0.50/acre) $200,000 – 250,000 100,000 $15,000 ($0.15/acre) $300,000 – 375,000 150,000 $20,000 ($0.133/acre) $400,000 – 500,000 .200,000 $25,000 ($0.125/acre) $500,000 – 625,000 1 Based on average available funds from the endowment of 4 -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.

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

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