This spring, Maine’s legislature passed a symbolic bill saying the legislature doesn’t consent to the federal government acquiring land for a monument.
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With surging streams, views of Maine’s highest mountain Katahdin, and iconic wildlife, it’s a hiker and canoer’s dream.
In the intervening years, philanthropist Roxanne Quimby quietly bought nearly 90,000 acres east of Baxter State Park through her family foundation, with the plan of donating the land to the people of the United States.
If the deeds transfer does signal the monument designation, the president’s announcement would be the culmination of a campaign that began at least as far back as April 2015, when a lobbyist employed by Lucas St. Clair, Quimby’s son, began working with National Park Service and White House officials.
Quimby’s personal fortune-she’s said to be the third-wealthiest person in ME, after L.L. Bean chairman Leon Gorman and famous Mainer Stephen King-was highlighted in an ongoing series of protests by campers, foresters, and hunters who claimed Quimby used her wealth to take land from its traditional uses. 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. So Obama, who has conserved more land and water than any other US president, used his executive authority to designate it a national monument. Angus King, independent US Senator and former governor of ME, said that “the benefits of the designation will far outweigh any detriment” and a National Park site “will provide much-needed diversity to the region’s economy”. More Designated national monuments to reflect the diverse stories of Americans including the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument, the Pullman National Monument, the Honouliuli National Monument and most recently, the Stonewall National Monument, the nation’s first National Monument honoring LGBT rights. Susan Collins and Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin last fall wrote a letter to Obama outlining “serious reservations” about the proposal. The gift, made by Quimby’s foundation, Elliotsville Plantation, Inc., is valued at approximately $100 million and includes $20 million to supplement federal funds for initial park operational needs and infrastructure development, and a pledge of another $20 million in future philanthropic support. “This isn’t either-or, it’s both, and will provide much-needed diversity to the region’s economy”, King said. Many national parks like Maine’s Acadia National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park started with monument status.
The brochures for the monument are printed and signs are going up. Other locals don’t want to see activities like hunting and snowmobiling curbed. Another $20 million would be raised within three years.
The creation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters comes as the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary.
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August 25, 2016, marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the United States’ National Park Service, which now oversees 413 sites encompassing more than 84 million acres.
