This is the nineteenth diary in my "Expanding the National Parks' series.
My previous Diaries are linked below, starting with Alabama
1.Alabama
http://www.dailykos.com/...
2 Alaska
http://www.dailykos.com/...
3 Arizona
http://www.dailykos.com/...
4 Arkansas
http://www.dailykos.com/...
5 California
http://www.dailykos.com/...
6 Colorado
http://www.dailykos.com/...
7 Connecticut
http://www.dailykos.com/...
8 Delaware
http://www.dailykos.com/...
9 Florida
http://www.dailykos.com/...
10 Georgia
http://www.dailykos.com/...
11 Hawaii
http://www.dailykos.com/...
12 Idaho
http://www.dailykos.com/...
13 Illinois
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14 Indiana
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15 Iowa
http://www.dailykos.com/...
16 Kansas
http://www.dailykos.com/...
17 Kentucky
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18 Louisiana
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This week I'm in Maine, checking out the North Woods and trying the local lobster. Maine doesn't have much federally protected land, at 1.1% it ranks near the bottom, 46th in the country. Currently Maine has one national park, one national forest, 11 Wildlife Refuges, and two historic sites/ other NPS Units. I will be proposing giving Maine its first national monuments. Starting with this diary, I will be posting links to pictures of each site, so that folks who read this diary can get a visual idea of each location.
This is the nineteenth diary in my "Expanding the National Parks' series. This week I'm in Maine, checking out the North Woods and trying the local lobster. Maine doesn't have much federally protected land, at 1.1% it ranks near the bottom, 46th in the country. Currently Maine has one national park, one national forest, 11 wildlife Refuges, and two historic sites/ other NPS Units. I will be proposing giving Maine its first national monuments. Starting with this diary, I will be posting links to pictures of each site, so that folks who read this diary can get a visual idea of each location.
ADDITIONAL MONUMENTS-3
* Maine North Woods Estimated Area 10,000,000 acres- 15000 sq miles
http://content.sierraclub.org/...
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/...
In the first picture a moose swims in a stream in the North Woods, one of the wood's many residents. the second image shows the state-run Allagash Wilderness Waterway, set against the scale of the North Woods. The North Woods is the largest intact forest east of the Mississippi and deserves the strongest federal protections. While there is an effort to set aside 3.2 million acres as a national park, I think that is too small an area, the woods covers 10.5 million acres and my proposal would set aside 95% of it as a monument and preserve, with allowances made for fishing, hunting snowmobiling and other uses. While monument status normally restricts these uses, grandfathering them in in this case is a compromise I'd be willing to make. the monument would be larger than Death Valley and Denali NPs combined, and would be the largest in the lower 48.
* Maine Coastal Estimated Area 4,400,000 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
would set aside open spaces along Maine's coastline up to 10 miles inland, and protect the outcroppings, islands, and offshore waters out to the Canadian border or a maximum of 20 miles. this monument would be co-managed by the local communities in a manner similar to Adirondack Park in New York State.
* White Mountains Estimated Area 50000 acres
would upgrade the existing forest area to monument status, and slightly expand the areas covered by the existing forest. currently less than 6% of the forest lies in Maine, for an acreage of roughly 47000 acres.
EXISTING UNITS
NATIONAL PARKS-1
* Acadia Established 1916 Covers 47 453 acres
The oldest national park east of the Mississippi, Acadia was first designated as a monument in 1916, its original name was Sieur De Monts. it was renamed and upgraded in 1919 to Lafayette NP, in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette who was an important ally to the colonies in the Revolution. It received its current name in 1929 as a tribute to the former French colony of Acadia which included Maine.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
the above link shows the layout of the park, spread out over several islands along the Maine coast.
NATIONAL FORESTS-1
* White Mountain Established 1918 Covers 750852 acres(in ME and NH)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
Lying mostly in New Hampshire, the National Forest stretches only slightly into Maine, less than 50000 of the forests 750000 acres are in Maine. Created as a result of the 1911 Weeks Act, the forest is the largest public land area in New Hampshire. The forest contains 6 wilderness areas, totaling roughly 150000 acres. It is one of the most visited NFs in the eastern US drawing millions each year.
WILDLIFE REFUGES-11
* Aroostook Established 1998 Covers 5252 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
The Above image shows a moose wandering through the refuge. Aroostook was created from lands formerly occupied by the Loring air Force Base which served an important role during the Cold War as the site of the Air Force's Strategic Air Command from 1950 until the bases closure in 1994. In additional to the acreage within the refuge itself, Aroostook also manages more than 2000 acres in conservation easements.
* Carlton Pond WPA Established 1966 Covers 1055 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
A black tern, one of the resident birds, flies through a meadow in the Carlton Pond WPA in the above photo. the WPA is mostly water(Carlton Pond), with areas of forests and wetlands.The pond was originally dammed in the 1850s with a rock structure. it was used to provide water to a nearby sawmill. the dam was constructed in the 1970s to maintain the wetlands the original dam had created along with a modern water control structure, which was itself renovated in the 1990s. Over 30 species of birds have been sighted within the refuge.
* Cross Island Established 1980 Covers 1700 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
The cliffside of Cross Island is shown in the above picture. Cross Island is one of five refuges within the Maine Coastal Islands WR Complex. the refuge consists of six islands (Cross, Scott, Outer and Inner Double Head Shot,Mink and Old Man) which contain bald eagles and razorbills, Old Man island is one of just six nesting sites for razorbills in the state.
* Franklin Island Established 1973 Covers 12 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
In the above picture,a sign lists the island as a nesting sanctuary for birds. Species who nest here range from ospreys to black crowned night herons. the refuge is closed to the public from April 1 - July 31st each year to protect the birds and their nests.
* Moosehorn Established 1937 Covers 28751 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
The above image shows a sign marking the Baring division of the refuge. Moosehorn is the oldest and largest refuge in the state. Located in the far northeastern part of the state, near the border with Canada. the refuge is divided into two sections, the larger Baring, which covers over 20000 acres and the smaller Edmunds , which covers 8800 acres. both districts contain wilderness areas, which total about a third of the refuges area. The Edmunds section has coastline that see tides of over 20 feet regularly. local wildlife include Osprey and bald eagles, and the refuge is located on the Atlantic Flyway, one of the last stops for birds migrating to Canada.
* Petit Manan Established 1972 covers 6367 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
Seabirds fly around a lighthouse within Petit Manin WR in the above picture. Part of the Maine coastal Islands Complex, Petit Manan contains both onshore sections as well as numerous offshore islands, which straddle the entire coastline of Maine. these islands ae closed to the public during nesting season9April1-July 31st) to protect the birds and their habitat.
* Pond Island Established 1980 Covers 10 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
a lighthouse stands out from its surroundings on Pond Island in the above picture. The smallest refuge in the Maine Coastal Islands Complex, and the smallest in the state, Pond Island is a habitat for common, Arctic and Roseate terns. The terns were reintroduced to the island in 1999 and island closed to the public from April-September each year during nesting season.
* Rachel Carson Established 1966 Covers 5400 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
A Boardwalk abuts a salt marsh in Rachel Carson WR in the above photo. The refuge, named after 'Silent Spring' author and environmentalist Rachel Carson, is comprised of 11 distinct sections stretching over 50 miles of coastline. The refuge is currently expanding, it will cover nearly 15000 acres once land purchases are complete, making it one of only four refuges over 10000 acres in size in the state, alongside Moosehorn, Sunkhaze Meadows, and Umbagog.
* Seal Island Established 1972 Covers 65 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
Part of the maine Coastal Islands Complex, the island was used as a bombing target by the navy from the 1940s to the 1960s and is closed to the public due to the presence of unexploded ordinance . the island is a nesting site for dozens of birds, including Atlantic puffins.
* Sunkhaze Meadows Established 1988 Covers 11435 acres
http://www.fws.gov/...
A stream winds its way through the Sunkhaze Meadows peat bog in the above photo. The Refuge protects the bog, which is the second-largest such bog in the state. it is divode into three units, Sunkhaze Meadows, which is by far the largest,Benton, and Sandy Stream. Sunkhaze is managed by the Maine Coastal Islands WR Complex.
* Umbagog Established 1992 Covers 20500 acres (in ME and NH)
http://www.fws.gov/...
credit to the above pic goes to Tom Meredith of the USFWS)
A kayaker rows in Lake Umbagog ,part of the Umbagog WR, in the above picture. The newest of the WRs in the state, most of the refuges area lies in New Hampshire. plans call for the refuge to expand to 70000 acres, 30000 of which will be in Maine, making it the largest refuge in the state.
HISTORIC SITES AND OTHER NPS UNITS-2
* Saint Croix Island International HS Established 1949 Covers 45 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
The sign in the above picture welcomes visitors to the site. Originally declared a national monument, in 1949, the site was redesignated and given a unique title as an international site in 1984. St Croix was the site of the first French attempt to colonize the New World, an 1604 expedition, led by Pierre Dugua,Sieur De Mons and which included Samuel Champlain. the settlement lasted less than a year, due to the location and scurvy, and today nothing remains of the settlement. the island was judged to be US territory in 1797, and was neutral ground during the war of 1812. in recognition of its importance in American Colonial history, the site was designated a monument then redesignated to mark both the US and Canada's acceptance of the site as important to both countries histories. to protect the island visitation is limited to 1000 a year, and both the NPS and Parks Canada maintain exhibits and trials onshore so visitors can learn about the site without damaging the fragile island.
*Wells ERR Established 1984 Covers 2250 acres
http://upload.wikimedia.org/...
The main Laudholm Farmhouse, shown in the picture above, holds the Wells Reserve Visitor Center. one of 28 Estuarine Reserves in the nation, and five in New England, Wells provides protection for coastline and estuaries as well as public education about those areas.Each site is managed by a state agency in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration (NOAA).
Well folks this concludes my tour of Maine Next time, I'll be in Maryland, examining that states important places. As Always, Comments, Concerns and Imput are welcome, and I look forward to the discussion in the comments.