ASHLAND – The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9 on the final draft of the Aroostook Hills Region Management Plan.
The meeting will be held at the DOC office, located at 45 Radar Road in Ashland.
The public is invited to attend the session, which will consider the final draft of a 15-year management plan for Public Reserved Lands in the Aroostook region, according to Amy Hudnor, BPL planner.
“Planning is an essential component of managing BPL Public Reserve Lands, which include a blend of exemplary forest management, motorized and non-motorized recreation and special protection of unique and important ecological features,” Hudnor said.
The Public Reserve Lands in the region total 36,717 acres and includes:
• Squapan Unit – close to Presque Isle, a destination for snowmobiles and ATVs;
• Scraggly Lake Unit – northeast of Baxter State Park in a remote setting ideal for boating, fishing, hunting and camping;
• and several small public lots.
Those who attend the July 9 meeting will be able to give feedback about the plan, Hudnor said. The session is the final in a series of meetings on the management plan, which she described as “a truly collaborative effort.”
“We’ve heard from landowners and residents of the region, guides, recreationists and others on various aspects of the plan,” she said. “We’ve worked hard to incorporate comments we’ve heard into the final draft, strike compromise when comments disagree, and adhere to the policies that govern management of land resources.”
Hudnor encourages residents to attend, saying the meeting would be the final one. The draft can be accessed at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/planning/aroostook/index.shtml.
Written comments will be accepted until July 20 and can be sent to: Amy Hudnor, BPL planner, 22 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or e-mailed to: amy.hudnor@maine.gov. For more information, contact at 287-2163.
