FSM acquires two miles of Moosehead Lake shoreland

Contributed Article
    GREENVILLE — The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) has announced the acquisition of an important parcel of land on the north end of Moosehead Lake to be added to the adjacent Seboomook Unit Public Reserved Lands.
    Known locally as Little W Shoreline, this parcel was the largest undeveloped holding on the 41,000-acre Seboomook Unit that was acquired with Forest Legacy Program funds in 2003.
    Now thanks to the descendants of Blin W. Page of Skowhegan, 81 forested acres with two miles of shoreline will provide a connection between the state’s inland forests and Moosehead Lake.
    “In consideration of the conservation of the surrounding state-owned lands, we six cousins are pleased to rejoin the shoreline to the rest of the parcel to provide access and use for everyone,” Page family representative Deborah Sealey explained.

    This conservation outcome for these lands helps ensure that sustainable forest management and public access for recreational use will be maintained in this important area of Moosehead Lake.
    Under state ownership and management the parcel will provide an attractive area of respite for paddlers on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, as well as for boaters, campers, and fishermen exploring Moosehead Lake, and for snowmobilers on the Moosehead Lake Snowmobile Trail loop.
    This acquisition has garnered support from numerous businesses and organizations in the Moosehead Lake area as it helps conserve the outstanding qualities of Moosehead Lake and the many recreational activities that depend upon maintaining stable and abundant fish and wildlife populations and the camping opportunities that attract people to the region.
    “The Moosehead Lake region is supported economically by the many visitors that frequent the area in all seasons. We are pleased with this project as it opens another door to Moosehead Lake, while at the same time protects its natural beauty, which is the main draw for so many visitors,” states Robert Hamer, a former executive director of the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce.
    “In an area where the surrounding woods and waters are integral to the lives and livelihoods of community members, land conservation can help to create new opportunities for economic vitality while maintaining the character and traditions of Maine,” said Karin Tilberg, Forest Society of Maine deputy executive director.
    Successful conservation of this forestland on the shores of Moosehead Lake was made possible through a partnership between FSM and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.