The approval of Plum Creek’s concept plan, announced by LURC on September 23, creates the second-largest forest conservation easement in the country—more than 342,000 acres—while granting Plum Creek permission to develop approximately 17,000 acres of unprotected land. The easements, to be held by the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (MBPL) and the Forest Society of Maine, link lands owned or managed by AMC, The Nature Conservancy, and MBPL to form a contiguous area of 2 million protected acres—more than double the size of the White Mountain National Forest.
“There was no question the Roach Ponds Tract would’ve been developed. So [this purchase] really stems the tide of development going into the 100-Mile Wilderness,” says Graff. “We’re protecting one of the last eastern wildernesses, and that is very exciting.”
A WEALTH OF RESOURCES
When exploring the Roach Ponds Tract, wildlife is visible at almost every turn. Moose amble down the center of a logging road, unfazed by approaching humans. Fox dash past and vanish into the trees. Pink lady’s slippers blossom in the middle of trails, and native brook trout circle within nearby pools where the Roach River empties into Second Roach Pond.
Less eager to cross paths with humans are a wide variety of species, including black bears, bobcats, snowshoe hare, and the federally threatened Canada lynx. Dozens of bird species also frequent these woods. Paddlers may see nesting eagles and be serenaded by loons—descendants, perhaps, of the loons recorded at Medawisla for the soundtrack to the film On Golden Pond.
The southwestern corner of the property, which connects with KIW, contains a significant portion of the West Branch of the Pleasant River’s headwaters. The river was deemed “outstanding” in four of 10 categories (geologic/hydrologic, critical/ecologic, undeveloped, and scenic) in a 1982 study performed by the state of Maine, a record matched by just three other rivers statewide. David Publicover, AMC senior staff scientist, says that with 14.5 miles of the river now on or adjacent to AMC property, the organization can begin to restore the West Branch to a more natural state, protecting a native brook trout fishery and creating more habitat diversity.
The size of the surrounding forest can also have a dramatic impact on Maine’s wildlife. A forest covering tens of thousands of acres is large enough to protect most animal species and, adds Mike Tetreault of The Nature Conservancy, the larger network of connected lands—stretching 63 miles from KIW through Baxter State Park—“also positions the area to accommodate any possible impacts of climate change in the long term, by offering ‘migration’ routes for plants and animals that may need to change their address.”
RECREATION CORRIDOR
“The experience of hiking and paddling in Maine’s woods and on Maine’s waters inspires people to invest in conservation and stewardship,” says Alan Stearns, deputy director of MBPL, which manages land and easements covering 1 million acres, including the easements on AMC’s property. “[And] what really delivers results is inspiring current and future generations.”
AMC’s mix of recreation and conservation on public lands has been time-tested in the White Mountains. Now it’s being retrofitted to match the scope of private large-scale conservation in Maine. A hiker, biker, or paddler heading out from Medawisla will find a quick escape from civilization. Spectacular lookouts on Shaw and Trout mountains provides views for dozens of miles in every direction, with Katahdin visible to the north and the AT corridor to the south. On the water, a short paddle will take guests into a tranquil wilderness.
AMC’s Maine trail crew is wrapping up its sixth year of work on the KIW property, having built 50 miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails. Though specific plans for the Roach Ponds Tract are still being drawn up, the crew will soon be shifting its focus to building the trail network from Medawisla and improving lodge-to-lodge ski and bike routes that connect to West Branch Pond Camps, an inholding on the Roach Ponds Tract, then to Little Lyford and Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins. Connections to trails on the state’s Nahmakanta Reserve to the north may also be established.
