I wonder just what the naysayers will accept?

The Natural Resources Council of Maine and Maine Audubon have denounced the latest Plum Creek development plan for the Moosehead Lake region as still too big and including "too much development in natural areas and sensitive wildlife habitats."

Surprise, surprise.

Actually, that the NRCM is still kicking up its heels doesn't surprise me. But Maine Audubon's continued opposition does.

So I must ask you both: what exactly will you support?

How many house lots? How big the resorts? Spell it out for me and everyone else.

Or are you just plain anti? Anti-timber harvesting. Anti-development. Anti-Plum Creek.

Because if you are, well, what to do? There's no where to go from that position. No room to maneuver.

Plum Creek has put its facts and figures out there (again) for all to see.

Will your organizations do that? If not, why not? What will you accept?

Now to you my dear Trail Head friends: We talked about the revised Plum Creek plan here nearly two months ago.

Have you read up on it? Given it more thought? Figured out where you stand?

I'm done thinking it over. It's time to support this plan.

That's right. I've decided... in favor of it. Solidly.

The Plum Creek plan will help create a nearly continuous swath of conservation lands from Baxter State Park west to Canada. Isn't that a good thing?
Thumb's up by Carey Kish

Why?

Just look at the map.

I see a continuous swath of conservation lands from Baxter State Park all the way to the Canadian border, ringing Moosehead Lake (with the exception of the town of Greenville).

Yes, that's right.

Baxter State Park to the Katahdin Forest Project lands to the Nahmakanta Reserve to the Roach Ponds acquisition to the AMC Katahdin Iron Works property to Plum Creek conservation framework and conservation easement lands to the West Branch Project lands.

I don't know how many tens of thousands of acres this massive conglomeration of conservation efforts--of which Plum Creek plays a key role--totals, but it's huge.

Huge spaces for all to enjoy for a wide variety outdoor pursuits. Hike, bike, bird watch, fish, hunt, ride your snowmobile, canoe and kayak and boat, watch moose, ski downhill, ski cross-country, sit on your porch and take in the view.

There are trade-offs, of course.

There will be development at Lily Bay, Big Moose Mountain and Rockwood. More people in the area, more jobs, a bit more hustle and bustle than there is now. But an economic uptick in a region sorely in need of it. Are not the people there deserving of a better life, more employment opportunities, a bigger paycheck?

Will there be problems? Yes, but managing for growth is a far different thing than reacting to it.

And there will continue to be timber harvesting on Plum Creek lands. Trees will die. And help to feed the families of loggers and truckers and sawmill owners and on down the food chain. But fortunately through the miracle of nature, trees are a renewable resource and will grow back for the next cycle.

So there you have it. My two cents.

On Plum Creek, I'm in. Big thumb's up.

How about you all? What do you say? Thoughts?