Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

 

Stop Trump-LePage’s Monumental Betrayal

In May 2017, President Trump issued an executive order to review over 20 years of national monuments, including Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. [Bizarrely, Gov. LePage testified at a Congressional hearing on the issue that "If it is land just put into preservation, it's dangerous."]

Since Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke will lead the review process, let's remind him that all national monuments, including Katahdin Woods and Water, were created with strong public support and must remain protected. The 60-day public comment period about the "review" starts May 12.  

TAKE ACTION

Let's tell Secretary Zinke that any attempt to revoke the Katahdin Woods and Waters and other National Monuments is an assault on our historical, cultural, and natural heritage, and that our public lands must be protected for generations to come.

After many years of local public outreach and discussion throughout the Maine Woods region, President Obama designated the land generously donated by the Quimby Family as our nation's newest monument. Already, the conserved land has had positive economic impacts in rural Maine communities, and Maine Senators King and Collins and Rep. Pingree continue to speak out in support of the monument.

Our public lands help define who we are as Mainers and as Americans. Instead of asking which parts of our history and heritage we could eliminate, the Trump administration should be asking how we can make our outdoors reflect the full story of our country.

Thanks for taking action to protect Maine's conservation legacy.

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A​ugust ​2​4​, 2016

SIERRA CLUB PRAISES DESIGNATION OF MAINE WOODS AND WATERS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Welcomes Addition on Centennial of National Park Service

In a fitting move ​on the eve of the centennial of the National Park Service,  the Obama administration today announced the designation of the country’s newest National Park Service unit— the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.  The national monument is supported by a $40 million private endowment and will guarantee public access to outdoor activities while protecting the wild area in Northern Maine.

In response, Glen Brand, Sierra Club's Maine Chapter Director, and Jim Frick, volunteer co-leader of the Sierra Club’s Maine Woods team issued the following statements:

"This historic victory is the culmination of decades of hard work to protect special places in the Maine Woods,” said Glen Brand, Sierra Club Maine Chapter Director.  “We are grateful for the Quimby family's extraordinary gift of this land to Maine and our country, and for all of the Sierra Club Maine members and supporters for making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality."

“We applaud President Obama for acting to safeguard this wild place and our traditional uses of it as a national monument. This monument comes with great economic, recreational, and environmental perks for Mainers, and world of opportunity for visitors,”said Jim Frick, volunteer co-leader of the Sierra Club’s Maine Woods team.

For more information on President Obama's action, see this White House fact sheet.  See here for the National Park Service webpage for the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.  Please thank President Obama by sending him a quick message HERE.


 

BACKGROUD: MAINE WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT

In December 2015, Sierra Club Maine gave its full endorsement to the proposal by Elliotsville Plantation Inc. to establish a national park and recreation area east of Baxter State Park in the Katahdin region of northern Maine. At the same time the Chapter also urged President Obama to designate the site as a national monument as an interim step toward establishing a national park.

A national park/monument in the Katahdin region would have substantial benefits both for the Maine economy and for the protection of a very special area of the Maine Woods. 

But the window of opportunity for establishing a national monument is closing fast. Sierra Club Maine will be doing everything possible to persuade Senators King and Collins to support the Elliotsville Plantation proposal. Part of that effort includes asking our members and friends to write or call the senators and let them know that Maine people want a Maine Woods National Park.

For more information and to get involved in our effort to establish a new Maine Woods National Park, contact maine.chapter@sierraclub.org or call 207-761-5616.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: Map HERE of the New Woods and Waters National Monument

LEARN MORE

The park and recreation area would be limited to no more than 150,00 acres—75,000 plus acres as a national park and an equal amount of acreage as a recreation area. Hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling would be allowed in the recreation area. The exact acreage of a possible national monument is yet to be determined but would likely be in the range of about 85,000 acres. In addition to the gift of land (estimated at $60 million), the Elliotsville Plantation proposal includes a gift of $40 million for maintenance and park operations.

Park vs. Monument

• A national park requires congressional approval. A national monument can be established by executive order of the President.

• A national monument provides the same protections as a national park.

• A national monument designation is often an important step to national park status.

Support for Park/Monument:

• Every poll indicates broad majority support for a national park; three to one support statewide and anywhere from 52 to 65 percent majority support in the second congressional district.

• While much has been made of the votes against the national park in Medway and Millinocket; the reality is that vote represented only 25 percent of eligible voters in those communities. Meanwhile, the park proposal has gained significant support in northern Maine. It’s been endorsed by the Houlton Chamber of Commerce, the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce, the Medway and East Millinocket Board of Selectman, and the Bangor City Council.

• While local residents should have a strong voice, they should not have veto power over a proposal which would benefit the entire state and has the overwhelming support of Maine people.

Economics

• It’s estimated that a national park would create between 450-1,000 new jobs in the Kathadin region. In addition a national park will bring needed investment to the area.

• An independent study indicated that the park proposal had no economic downside, including to the timber industry. If the 150,000 acres included in the park proposal were used for harvesting it would create a maximum of just 50 jobs.

• National parks attract businesses, visitors, and residents—all desperately needed in northern Maine. Acadia pumps well over $200 million into the Maine economy every year. A North Woods National Park will not come close to generating that amount, but it is guaranteed to give a significant boost to the Katahdin region and the state. This is why over 200 businesses in Maine have endorsed the park/monument proposal.

• A national park/monument would have no effect on the current wood products industry in northern Maine. The land owned by Elliotsville Plantation represents a miniscule percentage of the Maine Woods. Besides, the land is now and will remain off-limits to harvesting regardless of the park proposals fate.

Value

• The proposed park site is among the areas featured in the writings of Henry David Thoreau. While lower parts of the proposed park site have been harvested, the majority of the land remains pristine. There are rare plant species, seven pristine ponds, silver maple floodplains, stunning views of Mt. Katahdin, hiking trails to several summits, existing camping areas, and boat launches providing access to the East branch of the Penobscot River and its free-flowing tributaries. The variety of wildlife visitors could see includes moose, eagles, snowshoe hare, black bears, fisher cats, and Canadian lynx.. A long list of experts, including former Acadia superintendents Sheridan Steele and Paul Haertel, have declared the proposed park site to be “national park quality.”

• The proposed recreation area would provide excellent snowmobiling, fishing, and hunting opportunities.

• With recent dramatic, unpredictable shifts in land ownership, a park/monument could be an important part of an overall vision for protecting the Maine Woods.

 

RESOURCES

The Insider's Guide to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Backpacker, May 23, 2017.

Celebrate Acadia's Centennial with a New Monument in Maine, Bangor Daily News [editorial], July 7, 2016. 

They Say a Monument Will Drive a Stake Through the Heart of our Industry, I Disagree, Bangor Daily News, June 15, 2016. 

The Katahdin region needs investment, and that can start with a national monument, Bangor Daily News. June8, 2016.

Maine’s forest products industry is in freefall, but there’s another use for these woods, Bangor Daily News, May 31, 2016. 

Utah Congressman Wants To Block Proposed National Monument In Maine.  Think Progress, May 24, 2016.

5 lessons from Acadia for proposed Katahdin-area national monument, Bangor Daily News, May 24, 2016. 

Pride and preservation: Monument proposal improved with local input, Bangor Daily News, May 20, 2016.

Recording of Public Meeting hosted by Sen. Angus King and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, May 16, 2016. 

Creating a Public Lands Legacy in Northern Maine, Dan Chu, Director of Sierra Club's Our Wild America Campaign.

In the Katahdin region let's accept and shape the changes not fight them, Bangor Daily News, May 18, 2016.

Maine National Monument Up North Represents Opportunity, Portland Press Herald, May 16, 2016.

Don't Let Today's National Monument Debate Become a Missed Opportunity, Bangor Daily News, May 16, 2016.

Why Continuing Dialoque is Crucial to the National Park Debate [Editorial], Bangor Daily News, Feb. 18, 2016. 

National Park Service opens door to dialogue [Editorial], Kennebec Journal, Feb. 14, 2016.

Park director responds for Obama on North Woods monument effort, Bangor Daily News, Feb. 11, 2016.  

Get updates from the Maine Woods Team