|
More than 210 miles of Machias River shoreline in Maine and portions of six key tributaries have been permanently conserved. "The Machias River project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect an entire river corridor," said Kent Wommack, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Maine.
The Machias River is one of the premier wild rivers in the eastern United States with exceptional recreational and scenic values. It is known as one of the top two wilderness canoeing rivers in the East. "Ask any river guide to name Maine's best wilderness rivers and the Machias River will always come up," said Wommack.
A mix of conservation easement and outright purchase will conserve nearly 25,000 acres, protecting this land from development. The agreement also ensures sustainable forestry, guarantees public access to the backcountry and protects important wildlife habitat. The Machias River Project continues a leading conservation trend taking shape across the Northern Forest. The trend blends sustainably managed working forests with ecological reserves. Beginning in 1998 with The Nature Conservancy's St. John River project, some 14 separate conservation projects across the four-state Northern Forest region have contained these elements.
Machias Lake
© Bill Sillker, Jr. |
Ecological Importance
The project ensures habitat for a wide variety of land and water species, such as moose, black bear, bobcat and migratory songbirds. Moreover, the agreement permanently protects 86 percent of the Atlantic salmon habitat within the Machias river system, which represents a full 20 percent of the remaining wild Atlantic salmon—a federally recognized endangered species—spawning and nursery habitat in the entire country.
Plans
Under the terms of the agreement, the conservation easement encompasses some 18,443 acres and covers 1,000 feet on each side of the Machias and six major tributaries. New construction and development activities will be prohibited within the easement area. Public access for traditional backcountry recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, canoeing, camping and hiking, as currently provided by International Paper, is guaranteed forever. Sustainable timber management designed to enhance wildlife habitat will be managed under the guidelines pioneered by International Paper. The State's Atlantic Salmon Commission will hold and monitor the easement. As the landowner, International Paper will continue to own and manage both the forestland and the lease lots under the conservation easement, which are unaffected by the deal.
Threats
Threats to Atlantic salmon include habitat degradation and loss, water quality changes, increased predation, disease, and excessive commercial harvesting at sea. Threats to the Northern Forest are also considerable. In Maine, the nation's most forested state, roughly 25 percent of the state—about 5.0 million acres—has been sold in just the last four years. |
 |
Moose
© Ross Geredien |
Facts
-
Size: 24,483 acres
-
Location: Maine
-
Animal Species: Atlantic salmon, moose, black bear, bobcat, wild turkey, osprey and migratory songbirds.
-
Plant Species: Pine, fir and spruce forests
Learn More
Partners
The partners in Phase I of the Machias River Project include International Paper, the Atlantic Salmon Commission, the Maine Department of Conservation, the Machias River Watershed Council and Maine's Congressional delegation.
Donate Now
The Nature Conservancy works around the world to protect great places like the Machias River. Help support our efforts around the world.
Machias Lake
© Bill Sillker, Jr. |
Quotes about the Project
"The Machias River Project is a demonstration of what state, federal, community and private groups can achieve working in concert with each other."
— U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
"The Machias River project is a once in a generation opportunity to conserve an entire river system."
— U.S. Representative Tom Allen
"The completion of phase I of this important project protects significant Atlantic salmon habitat along one of Maine's most wild and remote rivers."
— Joan Trial, Acting Director of Atlantic Salmon Commission
"Future generations will thank us for keeping the Machias undeveloped and accessible for hunting, fishing, canoeing, camping, and other recreation."
— George Smith, Executive Director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine |
