The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Plum Creek's Plan Would Rob Moosehead of Its Character

November 28, 2007 - The region needs an economic stimulus, but not at the cost of what makes it special.

I live year-round on the northwest side of Moosehead Lake in Tomhegan Township at a place called Toe of the Boot. What do I think of Plum Creek's development plans? There are a lot of us who live in the Moosehead region who are deeply concerned, and I am one.

Seattle-based Plum Creek Real Estate Investment Corp. wants to change the zoning on more than 400,000 acres it bought in 1998 for less than $200 an acre zoned as forestland.

The company, which at first said it had no development plans, now seeks to place more than 2,300 house lots and other dwelling units and commercial areas on about 20,000 acres of this land, sprawled across the landscape. If you know the Moosehead region's small communities and natural areas, you probably recognize that this would be far too much development.

In addition, these developments have been proposed in too many of the most special places around Moosehead. Recent changes to the company's plan did not address these problems in any significant way.

Among those special places is Lily Bay, about halfway up the eastern shore of Moosehead Lake. The Lily Bay area is now peaceful and quiet -- home to one of Maine's most popular state parks, a few old-fashioned Maine camps, and many threatened Canada lynx, moose, loons and other wildlife.

Plum Creek's plans for Lily Bay include 154 house lots as well as an additional 250 house lots, condos or other accommodations that would be part of a 777-acre exclusive resort. There would be related roads, power lines, possibly a golf course and other commercial developments.

This construction would occur about a half hour drive north of Greenville, pushing development along the largely untouched eastern shore of Moosehead Lake. Furthermore, the added boat traffic on the lake could destroy the camping experience enjoyed by many Maine families who do not have the means to own a piece of the lake or stay at a fancy resort, or would prefer to commune with nature and camp instead.

About halfway up the western shore of Moosehead Lake the Moose River empties into Brassua Lake, a large, shallow body of water. The 250 lots proposed for this gem would overwhelm the lake.

Farther west along the Moose River toward Jackman is Long Pond. Long Pond's north shore is a frontier -- the border where Maine's vast North Woods begins to the north, and civilization is left behind to the south. Plum Creek proposes selling 110 house lots along this shore.

These developments along the Moose River, Long Pond and Brassua would destroy the stretch of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Jackman to Moosehead Lake. One of the trail's most beautiful passages on its journey from Old Fort, N.Y., to Fort Kent would never to be the same again.

In addition, the company has proposed to allow activities on the so-called "conservation lands" that would destroy the remote character for fishermen, paddlers, campers and others. These are forest lands the company says they intend to continue to log, but sell an easement on, as part of a $35 million deal. The company is also trading an easement to offset the harm caused by its sprawling developments, as required by law. This offset easement is far too small.

Within these easements too much commercial and industrial development is allowed. Cell phone towers, water extraction facilities, gravel mines and septic waste spreading could dot the landscape. Roads and utility lines would spread for miles.

Six commercial backcountry "huts" could be built on these lands, each with a 5,000-square- foot footprint, and roads and powerlines could follow. A three-story version would total 15,000 square feet. Would these be sited in the most special places, such as the shores of the Moose River? Along the East Outlet? In remote Big W Township? On moose-lovers Prong Pond? No one knows. Plum Creek has not specified.

Maine people deserve to understand what they are being asked to sacrifice for the profits of a large corporation.

A good plan for Moosehead Lake would help the region's economy and protect what's here. This plan would ruin the very things that make Moosehead special.

I encourage Mainers to write to urge the Land Use Regulation Commission to reject Plum Creek's proposal and urge Plum Creek to change it.

I also urge people to attend one of the four public hearings scheduled in Portland, Augusta and Greenville next month.

As the saying goes, once it is gone, it is gone forever.

by Diane Guethlen, Maine Sunday Telegram op-ed
SOURCE: Natural Resources Council of Maine

DATE: 11-25-2007


Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News