Northern Aroostook Region Management Plan – 5 Year Review Public Meeting

ASHLAND, Maine - The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will hold a meeting on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the Bureau’s Northern Region Office (45 Radar Road, Ashland), from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, to receive comments on proposed amendments to the Northern Aroostook Region Public Reserved Lands Management Plan adopted in 2007. These amendments resulted from a scheduled 5-year Plan review conducted over the past few months. Written comments will be accepted until May 23, two weeks after the Public Meeting.

The 15-year multiple-use Management Plan adopted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands for the Northern Aroostook Region in 2007 is subject to reviews at the 5 and 10 year intervals, and a full revision at 15 years. The purpose of the 5-year review is to document progress on addressing the Plan recommendations, and to assess whether any conditions have changed that would warrant amendments to the Plan prior to the 15-year revision. This review is conducted first with the Plan Advisory Committee (AC), and if any amendments are proposed, a public meeting is required to receive comments prior to adoption of the amendments.

The Bureau has corresponded with the AC regarding two proposals developed by the Bureau and requested comments. The proposals are for developing one or more camper trailer campsites at the Deboullie Unit, and for making an existing water-access campsite at Eagle Lake accessible to ATVs, and possibly to other vehicles in the future. The potential for these types of recreation improvements was discussed in the Plan; the Bureau has determined that the proposed amendments are now warranted due to ongoing demand for the enhancements.

The proposed amendments and the management have been posted on the Department website at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/n_aroostook.

After the comment period, the Final plan amendments will be prepared for review and adoption by the Commissioner and will become part of the Northern Aroostook Region Management Plan.

For more information, contact:

Jim Vogel, Management Plan Coordinator (jim.vogel@maine.gov)Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands22 State House StationAugusta, Maine 04333(207) 287-2163(207) 287-6170 (fax)