Events & News
Motorized recreation is big business in Maine, and it’s one of many ways that Mainers and visitors explore our great outdoors. Our vast undeveloped landscape, a strong tradition of public access, and extensive trail network make our state a prime playground for all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
The Bureau recently collaborated with the University of Maine and the Maine Snowmobile Association to produce a report, The Economic Contribution of Snowmobiling in Maine, that documents an annual economic boost of more than $600 million to the state. As Joe Higgins, supervisor of the BPL’s Snowmobile Program, pointed out, “With 95% of the 14,000 miles of snowmobile trails on private property, it is so important that landowners are recognized and that their property is respected. None of this would be possible without their generosity.”
|
For the 6,000-mile ATV trail system, that same landowner generosity may be at risk. The steady increase in ATV popularity over the past decade has created considerable stewardship challenges, and the recently released ATV Task Force Report outlines a number of recommendations that are necessary to maintain our current trail network. Recommendations are related to ATV size limitations, trail maintenance standards, enforcement, outreach, and, perhaps most importantly, funding to sustain these vital efforts. The legislature is currently reviewing the report and is drafting a bill summarizing its recommendations to be heard later this session. The Bureau will continue to provide relevant information to the legislature, and our trail riders, rural communities, and landowners will all be paying close attention to the outcomes!
Top of page
|
Beginning March 1, 2020, the Reservations Center will accept two-night reservations for the family campground at Sebago Lake State Park. (This is the annual change from the 4-night reservation rule during February.)
Make your reservation now at www.CampWithME.com
Reminder, no pets are allowed at the Sebago Lake State Park campground. If you are planning to camp with your pet, please read Pets in the Parks and select another State Park campground; all of our other campgrounds allow pets.
Top of page
|
The public process has begun for the Tumbledown Public Land/Mount Blue State Park Management Plan. A well-attended Scoping Meeting took place at UM Farmington in late January. The meeting was attended by about 50 people, among them Senator Russell Black, Rep. Tom Skolfield, and Rep. Scott Landry. The purpose of the meeting was to outline the Bureau’s planning process; to describe the natural and recreational resources present at Tumbledown and Mount Blue; and to listen to the public regarding interests, issues and concerns related to those lands. In total, the 15-year Plan will address about 19,000 acres of public land.
An Advisory Committee is assisting the Bureau in developing the Plan. The committee includes local residents with particular interest in Tumbledown and Mount Blue, representatives of local and state conservation organizations, and state biologists.
For more information visit the Plan webpage.
Top of page
|
 |
|
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Parks and Lands purchased permanent trailhead parking, in the Town of Newport, to serve the Four Seasons Adventure Multi-Use Rail Trail, a 29-mile multi-use gravel-surfaced trail that connects the communities of Newport, Corinna, Dexter, Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft. After several years of leasing, it wasevident that this parking lot was receiving heavy use, as shown by these winter and summertime use photos.
This is the only publicly-owned parking lot on this rail trail. Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funding was key to this acquisition.
Top of page
|
Despite a relatively warm winter, harvests on Maine Public Lands are enhancing wildlife habitat, improving forest health, and generating revenue to support all of the resources that Public Lands provides to the people of the State of Maine.
These photos are from two of our operations this year at Dodge Point Public Land in Newcastle and Seboeis Public Land in T4 R9 TWP between Brownville and Millinocket.
Dodge Point Public Land - Harvested trees create space for the select trees to grow, for sunlight to reach the forest floor, and improved wildlife habitat.
Seboeis Public Land harvest showing treetops and limbs placed to protect trails from compaction by equipment, select trees left standing with space to mature, and harvested trees shown stacked for transport.
For those of you who are not familiar, Maine's Public Lands are managed to provide a variety of public benefits while stewarding lands and waters for future generations. These include:
- Protect and enhance vital wildlife habitats
- Protect unique plant communities
- Identify unique geologic features
- Protect historical and cultural sites
- Enhance forest health and provide economic benefits to Maine communities and the natural resource industry.
Scientifically-based timber harvests support land management activities and are planned in coordination with recreation, wildlife, forest health, and scenic considerations.
Multiple-uses are managed under a "dominant use" system, which ensures that sensitive resources such as rare plants and backcountry recreation areas are not disturbed by more intensive management activities.
Revenues from certified sustainable forestry timber sales help to pay for trails, campsites, roads, and other infrastructure and wildlife management projects. Harvesting is conducted by private contractors under the supervision of Public Lands Foresters.
The Bureau’s forest practices are third-party certified to two independent standards: the Forest Stewardship Council® and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.
 Revenues from these and other harvests have funded:
- a new ADA accessible boat launch at Seboeis Lake, and
- a new trailhead parking lot and an upgraded pier and float at Dodge Point, and
- ongoing recreational and wildlife projects on Public Lands throughout Maine.
New ADA accessible boat launch at Seboeis Lake, Seboeis Public Land.
New River-Link Trailhead at Dodge Point Public Land provides access to the River-Link Trail to the southwest and the eastern trails and shoreline.
Improved pier and float at Dodge Point Public Land includes a bench.
Find your Public Land recreation destination!
Top of page
Funded by LWCF: New Gloucester Fairgrounds Park project number 23-00865.
The grant cycle for the Land and Water Conservation Fund has been revised by the Bureau's Grants and Community Recreation Program to align the cycle with the typical municipal meeting schedule and to enable a more favorable project planning period.
Note that a rapid grant round opened February 1, 2020, to bridge the gap between the most recent application due date 11/22/19 and the next annual due date 5/28/21.
- Rapid round opened February 1, 2020.
- Grant application deadline: Friday, May 29, 2020.
- Maximum grant request is still $300,000.
While this rapid round is open to any interested applicants, it is particularly well suited to those who have applied recently and were not selected for funding. This is an excellent opportunity to update your previous application documents and to resubmit.
Please visit the LWCF website for grant application and information.
Top of page
|
 |
|
The Bureau is seeking applications for the Boating Facilities Fund Grant. A pre-application site inspection must be completed before an application is submitted. Requests for the site inspection must be submitted no later than April 15, 2020.
Top of page
|
|
The Bureau of Parks and Lands Boating Division tracks ice out on Maine's lakes each spring and the information is available through our Ice Out web page, where you can also:
- Sign up to receive the updates as a text or email message.
- View Maine lake webcams.
- Report your ice out observations.
- View previous years' ice out dates.
Top of page
|
|
 |
 |
|
Lily Bay State Park, Moosehead Lake, Greenville
Range Pond State Park, Poland
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport
|
Join us for a birdwatching and nature discovery weekend for all ages. Always the last weekend in April each year, it is co-hosted by Bradbury Mt. and Wolfe's Neck Woods State Parks.
View last year's lineup and photos.
Top of page
The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch was initiated by Jeannette and Derek Lovitch in 2007 to quantify the extent and duration of the northbound raptor flight over Bradbury Mountain State Park, 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal.
Daily counts of all raptor and vulture species are submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, and posted to the BirdHawk listserve. For daily counts and previous season's data from Bradbury Mountain visit Hawkcount.org
Read more about the bird sightings.
Top of page
 |
|
Celebrate Maine on May 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bicentennial Parade! There are several ways to get in on the fun. You can choose to:
All events listed at Maine200.org
Top of page
|
Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
|
