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The fate of Moosehead Lake and the North Woods is at a crossroads — our natural heritage should not be on the auction block.
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The Moosehead Lake area represents an amazing stretch of wilderness full of recreational opportunities in secluded coves and extensive forests. Unfortunately, an out-of-state real estate behemoth, Plum Creek, is planning on converting the wilderness into a tourist trap, threatening a tradition of forest management and public access to those forests.
New development plan, same destruction
Last summer, Plum Creek first proposed to rezone 426,000 acres around Moosehead Lake and to immediately develop 10,000 acres. Development would include nearly 1,000 house lots, two resorts, three recreational-vehicle parks, a golf course, a marina, and more than 100 rental cabins. This scheme, the largest proposed development project in Maine’s history, was met with fierce public opposition from locals, conservation and recreation groups like Environment Maine and citizens statewide. At informational hearings around the state, hundreds of people turned out to raise concerns that this sprawling development would forever alter a landscape that defines Maine’s natural heritage.
Amidst the intense criticism, Plum Creek withdrew their proposal. Despite guarantees from Plum Creek that they would take the public’s comments to heart in redrafting the proposal, the new development plan has changed little. Again, the plan they submitted will do little or nothing to protect Moosehead Lake’s recreational wilderness. Environment Maine is again activating its membership to oppose the development.
Plum Creek’s bad practices exposed
In 2005, the same year that it submitted its proposal to carve up Moosehead Lake, Plum Creek Land Company provided financial support to 38 organizations in Maine. In 2004, the company made a mere three contributions to Maine organizations. Plum Creek’s financial support to Maine communities appears to be an attempt to buy Mainers acceptance of the proposal.
Land use plans key to North Woods protection
The fate of Moosehead Lake and Maine’s North Woods still hangs in the balance. In order to ensure that the future of the North Woods is not decided on a proposal-by-proposal basis, Environment Maine is advocating special land use plans for sensitive areas within the unorganized territories and the designation of the most important pristine places in Maine that deserve protection. These steps will preserve our centuries-old tradition of public access, our wilderness and sense of place. Without an articulated vision for the North Woods, proposals like Plum Creek’s could obliterate the traditional balance between private ownership. |
