The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Moosehead Area Deserves a Break

July 02, 2008 - I recently received a call from my son, a fly-fishing guide who works in the Moosehead area. He was telling me what a great week he was having with his sporting clients, fishing the beautiful Moosehead waterways. He recounted how his clients were struck by the beauty of this wonderful wilderness area.

After we spoke, I remembered knocking on doors last fall for my legislative campaign in District 83. I often had people ask me about my stance and tell me that they did not want Plum Creek's Moosehead development proposal to go through.

Many I spoke with have cabins there that their families have shared for generations. They could not imagine the introduction of new large housing developments, dictated by an out-of-state corporation. The message was strong: Do not allow Plum Creek. Save Moosehead.

I have read in news reports that most Mainers seem to agree with the message I heard going door-to-door: The Land Use Regulation Commission received a record number of letters in opposition to Plum Creek's proposal and hardly any in support. I believe that the majority of Maine people don't want this development as it is currently proposed.

Unfortunately, even as a legislator, I do not have much say over this development. It is now in the hands of LURC.

As of late, I have been very concerned about the news stories I have been reading, which make it sound like the commission is leaning towards allowing hundreds of houses around the Lily Bay area. My heart shudders at the thought of this.

My husband and I spent many wonderful days in the area with our two sons as they were growing up. We especially loved camping on Lily Bay.

This place was so cherished by one son that he has made a life's career of guiding in this area. This is one young Mainer who did not leave our state because of his love for it.

While we camped at Lily Bay and the Moosehead area, my son learned to kayak and became a whitewater-champion kyaker. We so enjoyed the wilderness' peace and quiet, which is so rare in today's busy world. What would become of it?

Will power boats from Plum Creek's development zip through the narrow channel between Lily Bay State Park and Sugar Island to get to Greenville? Will lights from 400 houses, a resort, a marina and more diminish those dark, starry nights?

Will noise from mowing 400 lawns and a large golf course drown out the peace and quiet? Will traffic heading up the east side of Moosehead Lake to Lily Bay become more congested than ever?

I understand that the Lily Bay area has been identified as critical habitat for the threatened Canada lynx, and that Maine is the only home to this stately animal in the East. What is to become of them?

I come from a working-class Maine family who worked in mills and carried lunchboxes to work. I am not some "starry-eyed environmentalist from away."

I regret the loss of our beautiful coast that has now been taken away by extensive housing development and commercialization. Now the Plum Creek development brings on deja vu about the loss of our beautiful coast and how we did too little to prevent the runaway development.

I hardly go to the coast any longer because it breaks my heart to see what has happened.

What can little people like us do to stop the stampede to develop and change our beautiful Moosehead?

Does it have to be just another same-old, same-old American place that has lost all of the unique Maine character that many Maine families have cherished for so long?

I strongly encourage you to take action and contact LURC and ask them to give back the Moosehead area to Maine people by significantly cutting the total number of house lots and by saying "no" to development at Lily Bay once and for all.

Monday June 30th, 2008, by Rep. Pat Jones
Portland Press Herald op-ed


Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News