Note to Editors: Additional informational materials, including background on natural resources on the property, a timeline of AMC’s history in Maine, photos, and B-roll video footage, are available in AMC’s online news room at
www.outdoors.org/about/newsroom/roach-ponds-event.cfm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2009
KOKADJO, Maine— (Nov. 9) The
Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) today announced its recent purchase of the 29,500-acre
Roach Ponds tract in an historic transaction that marks the creation of a 63-mile-long corridor of conservation land stretching from AMC’s Katahdin Iron Works property near Greenville north to Baxter State Park, comprising nearly 650,000 contiguous acres of conservation land open to public recreational use. AMC has donated a conservation easement on the Roach Pond property to the State of Maine, ensuring the parcel is protected from development in perpetuity.
Just as important to hikers and backpackers, the purchase protects and enhances the Appalachian Trail viewshed by buffering more than 20 miles of the trail corridor. The purchase also permanently protects the headwaters of the West Branch of the Pleasant River, a native brook trout fishery prized by anglers.
The parcel abuts AMC’s 37,000-acre Katahdin Iron Works property, which was conserved in cooperation with Maine’s Department of Conservation and the Trust for Public Land, for a total of 66,500 acres in AMC management that will be forever open to the public for backcountry recreation.
Both land conservation projects are major milestones in AMC’s
Maine Woods Initiative, a plan for land conservation in the 100-Mile Wilderness region that addresses regional ecological and economic needs through outdoor recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry, and community partnerships.
“Today marks an incredible step forward for land conservation and outdoor recreation in Maine,” said AMC Deputy Director Walter Graff, the organization’s lead representative on the initiative. “This parcel has been the missing link in a corridor of protected land stretching from the southern end of AMC’s Katahdin Iron Works parcel north to Katahdin and Baxter State Park. AMC is committed to managing this land for long-term conservation, recreation, and public access by the people of Maine and those who come to visit and enjoy the rich natural resources and recreational opportunities offered by the 100-Mile Wilderness region.”
This purchase also provides a permanent connection between four sporting camps (
three owned by AMC, and one of private, fourth-generation ownership) through hiking, skiing and biking trails, adding to the region’s growing reputation as a destination for unique, backcountry recreation in the 100-Mile Wilderness region.
"I am pleased that AMC, working with state and local partners, acquired the magnificent Roach Ponds property,” said Maine Governor John Baldacci. “The conservation easement placed on the property preserves public access for traditional recreation and protects the land from development. I am confident that AMC will manage the property in a way that will promote nature-based tourism in Piscataquis County while providing local jobs in the forest products industry. Maine residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this beautiful area for generations to come.”
In keeping with the overarching goals of the Maine Woods Initiative, public access for hiking, hunting, fishing, and cross-country skiing on the Roach Ponds Tract will be ensured in perpetuity, and sustainable forestry management can take place on the property.
“Through the management of our Maine wilderness lodges, we are proud to help keep the Maine sporting camp tradition alive,” noted Graff. “In addition, AMC will continue to provide additional opportunities for outdoor recreation in the region by creating new hiking and cross-country skiing trails, investing in a recreational infrastructure that contributes to the region’s growing reputation as an attractive nature-based tourism destination,” he said.
AMC currently operates
Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins within the property. "We envision a permanent lodge-to-lodge ski trail to connect Medawisla with our lodge and cabins at
Little Lyford Pond and Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins (to open in 2011). In addition, numerous paddling and fishing opportunities on the Roach Ponds tract are available that can make excellent day or overnight trips,” said Graff.
Eric Stirling, fourth generation owner of West Branch Pond Camps, which lies within the Roach Pond Tract, welcomes the AMC purchase. "Being inside an industrial working forest, you have to be used to change that you have no control over,” he said, noting that the new ownership brings more predictability to the management of the property for conservation and recreation. A partner with AMC in offering camp-to-camp ski-and-stay opportunities, Stirling said, "Having destination skiing, point-to-point, seems to really appeal to folks."
Specific management plans for the property still need to be developed, but AMC has committed to keep open the ITS #85/86 snowmobile route along the Nahmakanta Road near the northern border of the property. Other snowmobile trails and access are under discussion with neighboring land owners and BPL.
“The lands in the Roach Ponds area are popular among sportsmen and outdoors enthusiasts of all types. While AMC is largely focused on non-motorized recreation, I am happy with their willingness to work with local riders to create a much needed snowmobile route across their property and to allow existing ATV access around First Roach Pond to continue. I look forward to continuing this cooperative relationship well into the future,” said Fred Candeloro, owner of Kokadjo Trading Post and representative of Roach Riders Snowmobile Club.
AMC bought the Roach Ponds parcel from Plum Creek for $11.5 million. The purchase is the first conservation milestone in a planned 400,000-acre Conservation Framework effort negotiated between Plum Creek, AMC, The Nature Conservancy, and the Forest Society of Maine. That effort represents the second largest conservation easement in United States history.
The Roach Ponds tract purchase was made possible by the financial support of AMC members, foundations, friends, and other supporters through the organization’s
Campaign for the Maine Woods. No public funds were used in the acquisition.
Conservation of the 100-Mile Wilderness has long been a goal of AMC. Graff noted the Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club conferred with AMC and others and provided early energy to support protection for the area through its involvement in the creation of the 100-Mile Wilderness Working Group. More recently, AMC has worked closely with The Nature Conservancy, which assisted in the acquisition of the Roach Ponds tract.
“The opportunities for landscape-scale conservation make this area unique in the eastern U.S.,” said Mike Tetreault, executive director of The Nature Conservancy. “Plus, with a local economy that is driven by forestry and outdoor recreation, it is possible to protect those natural resources while supporting the needs of local human communities, too. It's a great chance to show how conservation and economics can work together.”
The Appalachian Trail Conference also applauded the transaction. "Anyone who has been fortunate enough to trek the 100-Mile Wilderness portion of the Appalachian Trail in Maine understands that it is a very special place--a vast, remote landscape of sweeping vistas, lakes and ponds, and mostly forested lands. AMC's recent acquisition of the nearly 30,000-acre Roach Ponds tract, which abuts the relatively narrow Appalachian Trail corridor acquired earlier by the National Park Service, assures that the special character of that landscape and the extraordinary ecosystem resources it contains, will remain intact and available for public use,” said Dave Startzell, executive director of the Appalachian Trail Conference. “It is a marvelous addition to a growing network of conserved lands in the great Maine woods."
More information on the Roach Ponds Tract purchase and the Maine Woods Initiative is available at
www.outdoors.org/mwi.
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, including more than 3,700 members in Maine, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and stewardship of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment. More information is available at
www.outdoors.org.
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