*Scroll down for links to all articles posted on this subject*

The Backcountry Group has now begun a list of proposed areas to be considered as wilderness. Now they begin asking a lot of questions and making suggestions of other areas. Ian Burns of the Northern Forest Alliance thinks this way.

lan- l;ets look for capital W wilderness areas and capture these, Big blocks, long trails. Use quasi wilderness areas (small segments, day use areas) as linkages and as opportunities to educate the public.

Cathy Johnson of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, thinks on a much different scale than does Mr. Burns.

Cathy: there are lots of rivers that are not on the (OIM) map. We may require more detail to capture “pin prick” wilderness campgrounds and access points.

I am just going to post here the entire minutes that involved thoughts and ideas. You take a look and decide for yourself.

Where is informal use on private land, de facto wilderness?

Ralph: Can we talk about scope and size of land needed for wilderness experience? How much of a buffer zone is required for the A.T. so that users have a wilderness experience?

Cathy: there are lots of rivers that are not on the (OIM) map. We may require more detail to capture “pin prick” wilderness campgrounds and access points.

Andy: Islands should be considered. IF&W considering putting Halifax and Bois Bubert for wilderness designation.

Ralph” The navy panel is closing the Navy site in Reddington, 9-10k acres. There is lots of community interest. BPL is interested in conservation, doesn’t have to have ownership or control.

Steve: Lengthy potential wilderness area several protected areas that could be linked, abuts saddleback ski area.

Steve- It looks like we already know most areas.
What are the linkages between these wilderness areas? Eg link w roach ponds

Kate: Campsites, portages needed for NFCT from Grand falls to Moosehead Spencer lake and Moose river Bow

Jensen: International AT should be considered.

Cathy: Lack of protection for the trail sets it apart.

Should this be considered? What is status? What if it became viable? Is there a sympathetic relationship with Wilderness?

Western Mountain Foundation, 180 mile commercial trail Rockwood to Bethel

Question about ‘industrialized wilderness such as WMF, rafting, what constitutes backcountry… Are we cutting out opportunities?

lan- l;ets look for capital W wilderness areas and capture these, Big blocks, long trails. Use quasi wilderness areas (small segments, day use areas) as linkages and as opportunities to educate the public.

Sandy: Seboomic property road is an example.

Steve: How do we treat popular defined but unmanaged routes? Eastern Maine Canoe trail an opportunity for management.

Garret: We should strongly consider segmenting areas into mechanized/non-mechanized areas. Motors are an intrusive presence in an otherwise natural area. Glacier Bay AK an example.

lan There is a difficulty in designating sections of wilderness that area surrounded by ATV use.

It is reported that the ATV enthusiasts want an ATV trail on every parcel of public land.

Steve- This process is focused on human powered experience.

Winter issues

Cathy Johnson; Difficulty with Winter use management of Allagash. Churchill Dam to Round Pond. Currently limited use by snowmobiles because of gasoline limits, but an entrepreneur has stashed a tank which will increase this use.

Steve: North Maine Woods makes a list of plowed woods roads is available annually.

How to link BC lands on Debsconeag Lake with TNC Debsconeag lakes

Need to create a statewide set of standards for non motorized wilderness management.

Fine tuning areas of public management: NFA recommendations to BPL should be reviewed and considered for incorporation in this project.

Dave P: WMNF planning nearing end of process, Is there a question/opportunity to expand Speckled Mountain area?

Dave P: Refocus on links between existing wilderness areas. We should look for larger areas, 25-40k acres.

Overlap. Instead of looking at the intersecting zones between ecological areas and recreational areas, we should consider the combined area – protect both instead of a smaller subset.

Cathy In winter only Baxter has opportunities for extended ski/snowshoe travel, and half of it is on snow machine roads.

lan: St John Valley and Allagash best opportunity for expanding wilderness Need to segregate user groups into motorized and non motorized.

What is minimum wilderness size?
• 24-40kac- Dave
• Baxter Park -Cathy
• 2-4 day loop trail to maximize trail miles -lan
• Maine a linear state, rivers long and narrow. Protect the corridor Garret

Jensen: BSP owes some of its attractiveness to its size- There is a demand for more protected areas of this size.

Steve: Need to protect both narrow corridors and Big Block areas.

Consider cross boarder opportunities for big block sections-Mahoosucs, St. Croix, St. John

Andy: Wassataquoik and East Branch Penobscot should be considered

Let me if I may, highlight one comment made that reflects on the attitude of at least some participants in this meeting.

lan There is a difficulty in designating sections of wilderness that area surrounded by ATV use.

It is reported that the ATV enthusiasts want an ATV trail on every parcel of public land.

I find a statement like this just totally bizarre. Here sits a group of individuals, most of whom are representing some organization, and at least one individual has the audacity to make a statement like this. A group sitting in a room, with the blessings of the governor, whose objective is to locate, list and find ways to acquire and protect lands to keep most users off and they feel justified in making this remark? Who is this person and just who do they think they are?

This is what epitomizes what is wrong with this intitiative. It has no interest in what’s good for Maine. It is all about them. They are an exclusive, elite group who obviously believe their ideas are superior to others. They believe their definition of recreation is better than anyone else’s and they are determined to use the resources of the state of Maine to achieve their goals. There is only one way that a group like this can believe this way. They would have to think they are operating under the leadership of the DOC and ultimately Governor Baldacci.

This group believes that what they are doing is for the better. Some of what they are doing is good for Maine. Most of it is not. Their approach is wrong and their attitudes are wrong. As we have seen, the Backcountry Project has set their sights on designating lands as tiny as a “pin prick” on a map as well as parcels as big or bigger than Baxter State Park. They know no limits. They talk of “cross boardering” into neighbor states and countries. No piece of land is too small nor too big, all for one purpose – label it wilderness and shut it down. Shut it down to any form of mechanized recreation AND logging operations.

What is most scary about the secret plans of this group is that they don’t really care whether you own that land they want. It’s immaterial to them. They want it and they’ll find a way to take it.

According to my sources, this was the first and last meeting of the Backcountry Project. The secrecy continues as nobody knows why they stopped. The next meeting was scheduled for early December. If it happened it totally got by a lot of people as did the formation of the group up until this first meeting. Noone in the Maine legislature was made aware of this initiative to my knowledge.

Where will it go from here?

*Previous Posts*

Maine Backcountry Project – Meeting Minutes Part III
Maine Backcountry Project – Meeting Minutes Part II
Maine Backcountry Project – Meeting Minutes Part I
Grant For BackCountry Project Approved
Question Five – Who’s Going To Pay?Question Four – Is $25,000 Enough Money?
Question Three – Peer-Review Group, Who Will It Be?
Job Description – Backcountry Project Director
Integrated Resources Policy Excerpts
Grant Application For Backcountry Project – Question One
The Five Questions – Maine Backcountry Project
Wilderness Planning Initiative For Kendall Foundation – Proposal
Wilderness Planning Initiative For Kendall Foundation – Need
Wilderness Planning Initiative – Backcountry Project

Tom Remington

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