Forest Society of Maine

Your land trust for Maine's North Woods.
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Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge

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This story first appeared in the 2020 spring edition of Forest View, FSM’s biannual newsletter. 

In the summer green herons can be found in parts of Maine and New Hampshire. Photo by Pam Wells.

The Forest Society of Maine is working with a forestland owner to conserve 21,300 acres in the Grafton region. The Grafton Forest project is supported by many partners in the region:  local land trusts, ATV and snowmobile clubs, a local search and rescue group, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Grafton Notch State Park, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The latter partnership is especially exciting as the Grafton Forest project area contains lands of importance to the NWR—in particular the area encompassing the headwaters of the Swift Cambridge River which eventually flows north into Lake Umbagog.

Umbagog NWR was established in 1992 with the primary purpose of protecting wetlands, wetland-associated wildlife, and migratory birds. Umbagog Lake has an extensive complex of wetlands like Harper’s Meadow, a designated Floating Island National Natural Landmark, that are highly utilized by waterfowl. The refuge and the area around it support more than 166 wildlife species of elevated conservation concern in national, regional, and state plans.

The refuge is regionally important for a diversity of species, including Canada lynx. White-tailed deer rely on the deer wintering areas. The complex wetlands are home to common loons and wood turtles. Loons are listed as threatened in New Hampshire and wood turtles are a species of special concern in Maine. Additionally, a native brook trout population relies on the shallow Umbagog Lake and Magalloway River as crucial winter habitat.

Umbagog NWR is primarily known for its exceptional wetland values and the upland forests around it play a significant role in maintaining good habitat quality. Being able to conserve land near existing conservation lands, like the NWR, is another reason FSM found this conservation opportunity so worthwhile. Through the Grafton Forest project, FSM will be able to ensure that the future of the surrounding forest and headwaters of the Swift Cambridge River will be conserved in perpetuity under a working forest conservation easement.

Three Steps to Follow Before Heading Outdoors

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Graphic showing the three steps to take before heading outdoors to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2020

Three Steps for Mainers to Follow Before Heading Outdoors

AUGUSTA, Maine – The current “Stay Healthy at Home” mandate identifies “engaging in outdoor exercise activities, such as walking, hiking, running, or biking” as essential personal activities, provided they are conducted in accordance with all public health restrictions and guidance. Maine’s conservation community, natural resource agencies, and outdoor brands want everyone to have the opportunity to get outside during this challenging time.

Most of our publicly accessible conservation lands are available for healthy outdoor recreation. Still, we all must do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent unnecessary stress on our Maine Warden Service, Forest Rangers, and first responders.

While some popular conservation lands have closed recently due to overuse and crowding, the vast majority remains open to the public. As spring weather arrives in Maine, it is critical that all individuals and families who head outdoors follow three simple steps:

  1. Find the Right Time and Place
  2. Be Prepared Before Heading Out
  3. Heed All COVID-19 Health Warnings

The following checklists will help us all enjoy Maine’s outdoors in ways that are safe and responsible during this difficult time.

Before you hit the trail, cast a line, or launch a canoe, please be sure to:

 Find the Right Time and Place

  • Know What’s Close to Home: Consider visiting a nearby Wildlife Management Area, or a less-trafficked state park, public land, or local land trust (Maine Trail Finder is a great resource!)
  • Check before you go: Visit websites to see the latest information on closures or conditions. Please respect all property closures, including any roads or trails that are posted for mud season.
  • Have a plan B: If the parking lot is full, the destination is too crowded. If your first destination has a busy parking lot, go to the next spot on your list!
  • Avoid peak times: Get out earlier or later in the day.
  • Recharge in your backyard and neighborhood!: Spring in Maine means there is a lot to see and explore right in our own yards.

Be Prepared Before Heading Out

  • Expect limited services: Facilities like public restrooms are likely closed, so plan accordingly.
  • Pack snacks and water: Do what you can to avoid having to make stops along the way.
  • Dress for success: It is spring in Maine, so trails are likely to be wet, muddy, slippery, or icy; bring appropriate gear to match the conditions. Local outdoor brands are open for online sales and are available to give advice on appropriate gear and equipment.
  • Don’t take risks: Stick to easier terrain to avoid injuries, which add stress for first responders and medical resources.
  • Watch out for ticks: Wear light-colored pants, closed-toe shoes, and apply EPA-approved bug repellent.

Heed All COVID-19 Health Warnings

  • Practice social distancing: Stay at least six feet away from other people who do not live in your household. If necessary, step aside when passing other people on the trail. And remember that groups of 10 or more are prohibited.
  • Don’t linger: Shorten your stay when visiting natural stopping points such as waterfalls, summits, and viewpoints so everyone can enjoy them while maintaining a safe distance.
  • Don’t touch: Avoid touching signs, kiosks, buildings, and benches to minimize the potent spread of the virus.
  • If you’re sick, stay home: It puts others at risk when you leave home while exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19, or if you have recently been exposed to the virus.

If we all follow these guidelines and put public health first, we can enjoy Maine’s natural resources in safe and responsible ways as we work through this difficult time together.

Appalachian Mountain Club
Center for Community GIS
Forest Society of Maine
Maine Audubon
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Maine Land Trust Network
Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
Maine Outdoor Brands
Maine Trails Coalition
The Nature Conservancy in Maine

 

Read the original press release here.

Thank You 2019 Business Supporters!

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The Forest Society of Maine thanks the many businesses whose contributions play a key role in helping FSM continue conserving forestland. The thank you ad, below, was printed in the Bangor Daily News this February.

A big thank you to our 2019 business supporters!

 

Picture of ad thanking FSM business supporters that appeared in the 2020 Bangor Daily News

Swan Intern, 2019: My Time at FSM

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This summer FSM launched the Swan Internship Program, funded by the generous bequests of Hank and Freda Swan. The goal is that one college student each summer will have a chance to experience the breadth of FSM’s work as a land trust. Carlton was our first intern under this program.

By Carlton Scott

Before this summer, my knowledge of how land conservation works was limited, but I was eager to gain experience. I’m interested in a career in conservation and an internship at FSM was a great opportunity to learn more about what it would be like to work at a land trust.

2019 Swan Intern in the woods holding a moose shed he found with a black dog standing next to him.
Found a moose shed!

In the office, I worked on a variety of projects. I used ArcGIS, a type of mapping software, to make maps of new project lands, wetlands, and other significant land features and trails. I read over conservation easements familiarizing myself with the language to get a better understanding of how an easement can be written to conserve different values of land. I also read various land trust magazines and literature, which gave me a deeper understanding of how the land trust community balances their objectives. Some organizations are more policy-oriented and others are more focused on direct on-the-ground action.

On field days, I participated in annual monitoring trips. I even got to fly over the Attean Pond conservation lands as part of FSM’s aerial monitoring. Other days, I rode to different parts of the Moosehead Region Conservation Easement and to areas in western Maine. While hiking around Violette Brook Reservoir I saw an area where some beavers had turned a once small stream into a decent-sized pond, flooding nearby trails and attracting great blue heron. I was able to see new and developing projects, such as the soon to be completed Fish River Chain of Lakes easement land.

Another part of my time this summer was spent attending meetings, the biggest of which was the FSM annual board meeting, where I met many of FSM’s board members. At these different meetings I sat in on some very interesting and productive discussions about current issues facing Maine’s North Woods.

View from the window of a small plane looking down over the Moose River, near Attean, Maine. It's spring so the leaveas are bright green and you can see mountains in the distance, beneath the wing of the plane.
View from the plane of the Moose River while aerially monitoring near Attean Pond.

One of my major work assignments this summer was writing the first draft of a Baseline Documentation Report. I started by making maps and identifying points of interest, followed by a two-day field trip to the site, and eventually creating the written report. This was a great chance to use what I’ve learned in my studies as well as skills I picked up at FSM.

It’s hard to believe my time here has come to an end, but I feel as though I have done so much and I appreciated the opportunity to learn and grow.

 

Originally published in the FSM biannual newsletter, Forest View, in fall 2019.

The Power of Connectivity

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Looking south across Arnold Pond at Coburn Gore Forest in western Maine, near the Quebec border.
Looking south across Arnold Pond at Coburn Gore Forest.

 

Have you ever experienced the solitude of hiking for miles without seeing any buildings? On the other hand, have you ever watched wildlife try to cross a busy road? Experiences like this highlight how meaningful an interconnected landscape is for people and animals. That’s why the Forest Society of Maine (FSM) is thrilled to announce that two of our newest conservation projects in western Maine add to a continuous corridor of conserved land stretching across the western edge of Maine from New Hampshire to Canada. The Grafton Forest project and Coburn Gore Forest project encompass working forestlands that provide employment and raw materials for a variety of workers and businesses. Connected landscapes benefit forest management, enhance wildlife habitat, and provide resilience in the face of climate change.

Coburn Gore Forest Project

The 8,300-acre project area in Coburn Gore Township has been owned by the same family for decades. It boasts an exceptionally well-managed forest. The lands encompass the headwaters of the Dead River and Kennebec River; a grove of old growth trees, a unique bog ecosystem, and two state-designated Heritage brook trout ponds. Lands to the west and north of the Coburn Gore property, in Québec, are conserved provincial forest and recreation lands. To the south is the Boundary Headwaters Conservation Easement, conserved by FSM more than a decade ago.

Map showing corridor of conserved lands stretching from New Hampshire border to Quebec that these projects will help complete.
Click to enlarge.

In addition to the vast array of natural resource features, it has historical significance because the route Benedict Arnold took to Québec during the Revolutionary War traverses the property. Several important Arnold-related archaeological sites have been documented by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Arnold Expedition Historical Society. While remote, the property is adjacent to a transnational border crossing. Bringing conservation to Coburn Gore Forest will conserve its many habitats, natural resources, and scenic values in perpetuity and ensure that forest management can continue.

Grafton Forest Project

The Grafton Forest Project is located in Grafton, Riley, and Andover North Surplus Townships. Comprised of 21,300 acres this forest lies in a spectacular valley setting that showcases the surrounding mountain ranges and is highly visible from numerous mountain peaks such as Old Speck. It is frequented by people who hike, ski, snowshoe, and run dogsleds on the property. Local ATV and snowmobile clubs have also created an extensive network of trails that run through the property to adjacent trails in New Hampshire. To the east lies Grafton Notch State Park/the Mahoosuc Unit and a long stretch of the Appalachian Trail (AT) known for some of the most difficult terrain in the state. Within the project boundaries, there are two side trails that hikers use to access the AT. The easement will ensure the permanence of the trails, as well as continued public access to them. The easement is designed to permit sustainable forest management and will prohibit commercial and residential development. The project is widely supported by surrounding communities as it will sustain recreational activities on the property and buffer subdivision and development pressures from the south.

FSM will be working over the next few years to secure funding for these exceptional forest conservation easement projects. These projects present a wonderful chance to conserve and connect, forever, the ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural values across the western Maine mountains.

Forest Society of Maine

209 State St, 2nd Floor
Bangor, Maine 04401
(207) 945-9200
info@fsmaine.org

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