The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Quimby Buying Big Tract Near Baxter State Park

December 12, 2007 - BANGOR -- Conservationist Roxanne Quimby is buying 8,900 acres of land near Baxter State Park as part of a deal that will open up additional lands in the Millinocket region to hunters, snowmobilers and other sportsmen, state officials said.

The deal calls for Quimby to acquire a remote parcel known as the Valley Lands just east of Katahdin Lake that had been on the state's wish list in recent years, the Bangor Daily News reported. In turn, Quimby has given the state a two-year option to buy 5,000 acres that she owns closer to Millinocket in the southern part of a parcel known as the Sandy Stream property. The deed also grants a working forest easement with guaranteed public access to an additional 6,600 nearby acres located in portions of the Three Rivers and Mud Book sanctuaries owned by Quimby's nonprofit foimdation.

When the deal is completed, it will ensure wood supplies to local mills while allowing public access to popular recreational lands. It also appears to signal a thawing of relations between Quimby and groups that have criticized her for buying large tracts ofthe North Woods and then banning hunting, mechanized recreation and timber harvesting on those lands.

"What is wonderful here is the town of Millinocket, the state... Roxanne and local groups have all sat down and figured out what makes sense" for everybody, Karin Tilberg, a senior policy adviser to Gov. John Baldacci, told the newspaper.

"This is a huge tribute to people working together and valuing everyone's needs."

The arrangement comes after months of closed negotiations between Quimby and Millinocket-area leaders, sportsmen's groups, state officials and the Trust for Public Land.

SOURCE: SUN JOURNAL

DATE: 12-02-2007


Lakes: Katahdin Lake
Regions: Katahdin


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News