The creation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters comes as the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary.
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The designation “will reinforce the need to continue protecting our great outdoors as we enter the second century of the National Park Service”, the White House said in a statement. Combining the value of the land ($60 million), an operations and maintenance endowment ($20 million), and a pledge to raise another $20 million, Quimby is effectively donating $100 million to the government.
In kind, President Barack Obama declared the lands to be the country’s latest National Monument. The boundaries of the new national monument also include 4,426 acres of private land owned by the Baskahegan Company, which requested inclusion should the company in the future decide to convey its lands to the United States or a conservation buyer, on a willing seller basis, for incorporation into the monument. Locals expressed concern that a National Park designation would further threaten their livelihoods through increased regulations and restrictions. St. Clair, raised in ME and dedicated to preserving the landscape and access for recreational activities, and a small EPI staff, have been operating the lands as a recreation area for several years. “It’s sad that rich, out-of-state liberals can team up with President Obama to force a national monument on rural Mainers who do not want it”, said Governor LePage (R). It is already open to the public for recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, camping and paddling. Mount Katahdin, the state’s highest peak, can be seen in the background as a rainstorm passes through Baxter State Park. The Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks were also first federally protected as monuments.
“There were about 295,000 jobs directly supported by visitor spending within communities that are near national parks”, said Olson.
It will be the only national monument that allows hunting, though not of bears, which was a provision in the foundation’s deed to the government.
“This is something that is enduring – it will last forever”, Farmer said.
National Park Service staff will hold a series of public listening sessions throughout the Katahdin region starting the week of September 12 to begin work on the management plan that will be developed during the first three years.
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“The president’s action today will conserve some of Maine’s most cherished forest lands and waters”, said Jeremy Sheaffer, Maine director for the Wilderness Society, according to The Hill. President Obama maneuvered around this opposition by using the authority granted by the Antiquities Act of 1906, which allows the President to create National Monuments without Congressional approval. And many Americans seem to agree: past year, for the first time in history, Yellowstone received more than 4 million visits.
