Acres: 329,000
Year Conserved: 2003
The open policy of public access I have taken for granted all my life is uncertain for our children… The West Branch conservation easement is the tool to keep a tremendous tract of land intact, ensuring all of us and future generations continued access and traditional uses of these lands.”
–Dan Legere, Maine outfitter, guide, and Greenville resident
About the Property: At the time the West Branch of the Penobscot River project was completed, it was the largest contiguous block of land ever protected in Maine. The precedent-setting project included several conservation components, allowing the state of Maine to acquire 47,000 acres of highly significant recreational and ecological lands, and FSM to acquire a 282,000-acre conservation easement that ensures sustainable forestry, ecological protections, and traditional recreational access. The project lands include the West, North, and South Branches of the Penobscot River, as well as Baker Lake and some of the St. John River’s headwater ponds.
Recreational Opportunities: Hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, and paddling.
Additional Information: North Maine Woods website.
