
Moosehead region update from Forest Society of Maine
Recently a request was submitted to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) by Weyerhaeuser, a forestland owner in the Moosehead area, to dissolve the terms of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan. The concept plan, which was approved by LUPC’s predecessor agency in 2009, re-zoned approximately 17,000 acres around Moosehead Lake for commercial, industrial, residential and resort development. To date, no development has occurred.
As a result of the plan a working forest conservation easement was placed on more than 360,000 acres around Moosehead Lake. The Moosehead Region Conservation Easement (MRCE), finalized in 2009, permanently restricts development, sets standards for forest management and other uses of the land, and provides for permanent recreational opportunities. While the MRCE grew out of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan process, any termination or modification of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan does not change the terms of the conservation easement.
In addition to the MRCE, the plan helped add to and improve the region’s motorized and non-motorized trail systems. For example, 121 acres of hiking trail easements and 81 miles of ITS snowmobile trail easements were established. Like the MRCE, these trail easements are permanent. Moving forward, LUPC has indicated its interest in involving the community in planning for the future of areas proposed to be rezoned. The Forest Society of Maine, with strong ties to the Moosehead region, will continue its partnership with the people of nearby communities as they assess the appropriate development and conservation opportunities into the future.
If you have any questions or concerns about how these changes might affect the Moosehead Region Conservation Easement, please contact Karin Tilberg, executive director of the Forest Society of Maine, at karin@fsmaine.org.