Plum Creek Plan Newsletter

Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine

Coalition Newsletter - Issue Number 8
Greenville, Maine
September 23, 2005

Weekly FACT
When Plum Creek first arrived in Maine in 1998, one of the first things they did was to make a conservation sale to the state of Maine that helped to conserve 29 miles of shorefront on the east side of Moosehead Lake.

In addition to the Moosehead shoreline, Plum Creek has been instrumental in conserving the following lands:

  • 7.5 miles of riverfront property on the Kennebec River
  • 14 miles along the shoreline of Flagstaff Lake
  • 4,000 acres on Mount Abram
Thanks to Plum Creek’s efforts, the wild beauty and habitat value in these areas has been preserved forever.

In addition to these conservation efforts, it is important to remember that 98% of the land within the Plum Creek Plan area for the Moosehead Lake region is dedicated to conservation and working forest – a total of 417,000 acres.

Words of Support
From written testimony delivered to LURC during the Scoping Sessions from Millinocket Town Manager, Eugene J. Conlogue:

“In a recent newspaper column, the writer noted that the great north woods of Maine are without lights compared to all the areas around it, when viewed from space. And he further claimed that this area is the last great “wilderness” left. Let me correct his impression. While the area is certainly a large forested area, it is, and has been for 400 years, a working forest that provides for the livelihoods of thousands of people and recreational opportunities for thousands more.

The tradition of private land ownership in Maine is an enigma to those who would prefer to have the government own and lock up these areas from all but the most hale among us. That is not the Maine tradition and I urge the Commission to support our way of life by approving the Plum Creek proposal.”

Upcoming Presentation on the Plum Creek Plan
Jim Lehner and Luke Muzzy of Plum Creek Timber Company will be making a presentation about the Plum Creek Plan in Bangor next Friday. Members of the public are invited to attend. Details are as follows:
Friday, September 30
12 Noon – 1:00 PM
Memorial Union at the University of Maine Orono (the Bangor Room)
This public forum will be a good opportunity to hear the latest details of the Plum Creek Plan and to ask any questions you may have.

Coalition Telephone Number
Frances Turner at the Coalition Information Center in Greenville is available to answer questions about the Coalition. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to request a speaker to provide more information about the Coalition, please call Frances at one of the following numbers:

  • Local (207) 695-2264
  • Toll Free 1-888-702-7466
You can also send questions via e-mail at the new Coalition website at www.preservegrowme.org.

The Fermata Study
The study on tourism conducted by FERMATA, Inc. for the state of Maine was unveiled last week. As reported in the Moosehead Messenger:

“Maine has the natural resources necessary to bring in visitors and their expendable income, but officials locally and statewide must highlight the most attractive offerings and develop new ones in order to see success in nature-based tourism, says a state-sponsored study conducted by Fermata, Inc.”
The Plum Creek Plan will help the State to achieve that goal of developing new offerings.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Please forward this email to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and organizations you belong to and help us spread the word. Any questions or comments may be directed to Edie Leary eleary@eatonpeabody.com or Will Gardiner wgardiner@eatonpeabody.com or by calling The Coalition Information Center at 1-888-702-7466 or (207) 695-2264.

BACK