Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan Halfmile Pond in the Amherst Mountains Community Forest Maine Department of Conservation Bureau of Parks and Lands December 2010 1 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................5 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT...........................................................................................................................................5 II. THE PLANNING PROCESS AND GUIDANCE................................................................................................6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND THE PLANNING PROCESS..............................................................................................6 STATUTORY AND POLICY GUIDANCE.........................................................................................................................7 SUMMARY OF THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYSTEM................................................................................................7 FOREST CERTIFICATION...........................................................................................................................................14 ECOLOGICAL RESERVES..........................................................................................................................................15 III. THE REGIONAL CONTEXT...........................................................................................................................16 EASTERN INTERIOR REGION PLAN AREA.................................................................................................................16 REGIONAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS.......................................................................................................................16 MAP 1: REGIONAL CONTEXT...................................................................................................................................16 IV. RESOURCES, ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION.....................................................19 VISION FOR THE AMHERST MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FOREST................................................................................19 CHARACTER OF THE LANDBASE..............................................................................................................................20 ACQUISITION HISTORY............................................................................................................................................20 NATURAL RESOURCES.............................................................................................................................................21 MAP 2: SPECIAL HABITAT AND NATURAL FEATURES..............................................................................................24 FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES....................................................................................................................25 RECREATION RESOURCES........................................................................................................................................28 VISUAL RESOURCES................................................................................................................................................32 TIMBER AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES...................................................................................................................32 TRANSPORTATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS..................................................................................34 RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................................36 MAP 3: DOMINANT RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS ........................................................................................................40 MAP 4: TIMBER MANAGEMENT AREAS ..................................................................................................................41 MAP 5: RECREATION AREAS, FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ...........................................................................42 V. MONITORING AND EVALUATION...............................................................................................................43 IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................................................43 RECREATION............................................................................................................................................................43 WILDLIFE................................................................................................................................................................43 TIMBER MANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................................................44 VI. APPENDICES APPENDIX A. ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPENDIX B. AMHERST MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FOREST CONCEPT PLAN APPENDIX C. TIMBER MANAGEMENT LEASE OF PUBLIC LOTS APPENDIX D. AMHERST MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FOREST AGREEMENT APPENDIX E. DEED PROVISION FOR BALD BLUFF MOUNTAIN PROTECTED AREA APPENDIX F. TEN YEAR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN APPENDIX G. SUMMARY OF PUBLIC PROCESS AND RESPONSES TO PUBLIC COMMENTS APPENDIX H. GLOSSARY APPENDIX I. REFERENCES 3 Acknowledgments The Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan was prepared through a collaborative effort involving contributions from the following Bureau of Parks and Lands staff: Misha Mytar – Management Plan Coordinator Will Harris – Director Kathy Eickenberg – Chief of Planning Chuck Simpson – Eastern Region Lands Manager Tom Charles – Chief of Silviculture Tyler McIntosh– Forest Technician Gena Denis – Geographic Information System (GIS) Coordinator Tom Dinsmore – Property Records Specialist Tom Desjardin – Historic Sites Specialist Scott Ramsay – Director, Off-Road Vehicle Program George Ritz – Forester Joe Wiley – IF&W Wildlife Biologist assigned to the Bureau of Parks and Lands Planning information related to natural resources, especially geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, natural communities, wetlands, ecological processes, and rare plant and animal species was provided by the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP). An extensive reference document which provides information on ecological, timber and recreation attributes was provided by the Forest Society of Maine. Information about archaeological and historic resources was provided by Art Spiess at the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. The Bureau also acknowledges the helpful participation of the Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan Advisory Committee (Appendix A), and the members of the public who participated in public meetings held during the preparation of this Plan. 4 I. Introduction About This Document This document constitutes a management plan (the Plan) for 4,974 acres of public land known as the Amherst Mountains Community Forest (AMCF). This parcel is managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (the Bureau) as part of the Eastern Interior management region. The Plan summarizes the planning process and character of the plan area, but its primary function is to 1) provide a description of the resources found on the property, 2) describe management issues identified by members of the public and Bureau staff, and 3) put forth management recommendations and resource allocations to be implemented over the management period. One objective of the Plan is to provide a balanced spectrum of opportunities in keeping with the opportunities and resources available in the region as a whole. In developing the management recommendations for this parcel, the Bureau has considered this broader perspective. In this region the state conservation ownership represents only a portion of the large-scale conservation efforts that have occurred in recent years; for many of these the Bureau is either a partner or is an abutter. Management of the Bureau’s lands now and in the future will need to consider the context of these projects and similar efforts anticipated in the near future. The Plan is also a commitment to the public that this property will be managed within prescribed legislative mandates and in accordance with the Bureau’s Integrated Resource Policy and its stated mission and goals. Future revisions to these commitments will occur only after providing opportunities for public comment. The Plan provides guidance to Bureau staff with responsibility for managing these properties, including a degree of flexibility in achieving the stated objectives. This document is not, however, a plan of operations. An important aspect of the management of public lands is monitoring and evaluation of proposed management activities in terms of stated objectives. This Plan describes monitoring and evaluation procedures for recreational use, wildlife management, and timber management. The Amherst Mountains Community Forest Management Plan will be in effect for the next 14 years – the remainder of the 15-year management period for the Eastern Interior Region Management Plan. The Bureau recognizes that some resources and management issues, most notably recreation, may undergo more rapid and unanticipated changes over time. Thus, a review of current issues and progress on implementing the Plan’s recommendations will be undertaken at five-year intervals, with a status report issued at that time to advisory committee members. If amendments to the Plan are proposed, there will be an opportunity for public review and comment prior to their adoption. At the end of fourteen years, the Bureau will undertake a full review and revision, integrating the Plan with the Eastern Interior Region Management Plan. It is recognized all recommendations may not be accomplished within the Plan period. 5 II. The Planning Process and Guidance This section describes the Bureau’s planning process for development of its management plans and the statutes and policies that guide its management decisions. The planning process includes a robust public participation effort, intended to provide input to the Bureau’s management. In addition, the Bureau is guided by statutes requiring and directing the Bureau to develop management plans, and authority directing the Bureau to also create a system of ecological reserves. Overall, management of Bureau lands is guided by the Integrated Resource Policy (IRP), which itself was developed with a significant public process. Finally, the Bureau’s forest management, where allowed under the multiple purpose management system defined by the IRP, is conducted sustainably, and is third party certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) programs. The following describes these important influences guiding the development of this Plan in further detail. Public Participation and the Planning Process Overall, the Bureau’s management planning process includes a series of steps, each involving interdisciplinary review and extensive efforts to solicit and consider public comment, in order to achieve a plan that integrates various perspectives and needs while protecting and conserving the resources of Bureau lands. Acquisition Planning: A number of management guidelines were laid out during acquisition process and articulated in the “Concept Plan” document, which was agreed to by the Bureau, the Town of Amherst, and the Forest Society of Maine (see Appendix B). Resource Assessments: Bureau staff undertook a review of the natural, geological, historic and cultural, fisheries and wildlife, recreation, and timber and renewable resources. Much of this information was compiled by the Forest Society of Maine in the “Amherst Mountains Community Forest Reference Report”. Resource professionals within the agency provided additional information. Bureau staff also participated in several field trips to the property. Advisory Committee Formation: A Public Advisory Committee was formed in February 2010 (see Appendix A). Members of this committee were selected on the basis of their resource expertise and local knowledge. This group serves as a subcommittee of the Eastern Interior Region Advisory Committee, with membership of the two groups overlapping when practical. In December 2009, the Town of Amherst also established a citizen’s Community Forest Committee to work with the Bureau and FSM and to oversee local management responsibilities. Four members of this local committee serve on the Public Advisory Committee. Issue Identification/Discussion::  A Public Advisory Committee meeting was held in Bangor on March 17, 2010 to identify additional resource information and to determine and discuss management issues needing to be addressed by the Plan.  A Public Scoping Session held in Bangor on March 17, 2010 to hear from the public regarding concerns for the future management of these properties. 6 Review of First Draft  A Public Advisory Committee meeting was held in Bangor on April 26, 2010 to discuss and receive comment on the First Draft of the Management Plan.  The First Draft of the Management Plan was circulated for broader public review and comment.  A two week comment period was provided following the Advisory Committee meeting to allow for additional written comments.  A focus group meeting and field trip was held in Amherst with representatives from the Town of Amherst’s Community Forest Committee. Review of Final Draft:  Comments on the First Draft from the Advisory Committee, general public, Amherst Community Forest Committee and resource professionals were considered in developing a Final Draft Plan.  The Final Draft was presented at a Public Meeting on July 13, 2010 in Bangor.  A two week comment period was provided following the Public Meeting to allow for additional written comments. Commissioner’s Review and Adoption: Following the Final Draft Public Meeting, the Bureau considered all comments received, made decisions and revised the Final Draft. The Plan was reviewed by the Department of Conservation’s Commissioner and adopted by the Commissioner and the Bureau of Parks and Lands Director. Statutory and Policy Guidance Multiple use management plans are statutorily required for Public Reserved Lands pursuant to Title 12 MRSA § 1847 (2), and must be prepared in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Integrated Resource Policy revised and adopted in December 2000 by the Bureau. These laws and policies direct the Bureau to identify and protect important natural, ecological, and historic attributes; enhance important fisheries and wildlife habitat; provide opportunities for a variety of quality outdoor recreation experiences; and provide a sustained yield of forest products by utilizing forest management techniques and silvicultural practices that enhance the forest environment. Summary of the Resource Allocation System The Resource Allocation System is a land management-planning tool developed in the 1980s, and formalized in the Integrated Resource Policy (IRP), adopted in December 2000. The Resource Allocation System, which assigns appropriate management based on resource characteristics and values, is based on a hierarchy of natural and cultural resource attributes found on the land base. The hierarchy ranks resources along a scale from those that are scarce and/or most sensitive to management activities, to those that are less so. The resource attributes are aggregated into seven categories or “allocations,” including (from most sensitive to least sensitive): special protection, backcountry recreation, wildlife management, remote recreation, visual consideration, developed recreation, and timber management. 7 This hierarchy defines the type of management that will be applied depending on the particular resource attributes present, with dominant and secondary use or management designations as appropriate to achieve an integrated, multi-use management. The following is a description of the Resource Allocation System categories and the management direction defined for each category. Not all of these allocations are applied in this Plan. Designation Criteria for Special Protection Areas 1. Natural Areas, or areas left in an undisturbed state as determined by deed, statute, or management plan; and areas containing rare and endangered species of wildlife and/or plants and their habitat, geological formations, or other notable natural features; 2. Ecological Reserves, established by Title 12, Section 1801: "an area owned or leased by the State and under the jurisdiction of the Bureau, designated by the Director, for the purpose of maintaining one or more natural community types or native ecosystem types in a natural condition and range of variation and contributing to the protection of Maine's biological diversity, and managed: A) as a benchmark against which biological and environmental change can be measured, B) to protect sufficient habitat for those species whose habitat needs are unlikely to be met on lands managed for other purposes; or C) as a site for ongoing scientific research, long-term environmental monitoring, and education." Most ecological reserves will encompass more than 1,000 contiguous acres. 3. Historic/Cultural Areas (above or below ground) containing valuable or important prehistoric, historic, and cultural features. Management Direction In general, uses allowed in special protection areas are carefully managed and limited to protect the significant resources and values that qualify the areas for this allocation. Because of their sensitivity, these areas can seldom accommodate active manipulation or intensive use of the resource. Recreation as a secondary use is allowed with emphasis on non-motorized, dispersed activities. Other direction provided in the IRP includes: Vegetative Management on ecological reserves, including salvage harvesting is also considered incompatible. Commercial timber harvesting is not allowed on either ecological reserves or special protection natural areas. Wildlife management within these areas must not manipulate vegetation or waters to create or enhance wildlife habitat. Management or public use roads are allowed under special circumstances, if the impact on the protected resources is minimal. Trails for non-motorized activities must be well designed and constructed, be situated in safe locations, and have minimal adverse impact on the values for which the area is being protected. Trail facilities and primitive campsites must be rustic in design and accessible only by foot from trailheads located adjacent to public use roads, or by water. 8 Carry-in boat access sites are allowed on water bodies where boating activity does not negatively impact the purposes for which the Special Protection Area was established. Hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed where they do not conflict with the management of historic or cultural areas or the safety of other users. Research, interpretive trails, habitat management for endangered or threatened species, are allowed in Special Protection natural areas unless limited by other management guidelines. Designation Criteria for Backcountry Recreation Areas Relatively large areas (usually 1,000 acres or more) are allocated for backcountry recreational use where a special combination of features is present, including:  Superior scenic quality  Remoteness  Wild and pristine character  Capacity to impart a sense of solitude Backcountry areas are comprised of two types: Non-mechanized Backcountry Areas – roadless areas with outstanding opportunities for solitude and a primitive and unconfined type of dispersed recreation where trails for non- mechanized travel are provided and no timber harvesting occurs. Motorized Backcountry Areas – multi-use areas with significant opportunities for dispersed recreation where trails for motorized activities and timber harvesting are allowed. Management Direction Trail facilities and campsites in all backcountry areas will be rustic in design and accessible from trailheads located outside the area, adjacent to management roads, or by water. All trails must be well designed and constructed, situated in safe locations, and have minimal adverse impact on the Backcountry values. Management roads and service roads will be allowed as a secondary use in those backcountry areas where timber harvesting is allowed. Timber management in Motorized Backcountry Areas will be an allowed secondary use, and will be designed to enhance vegetative and wildlife diversity. Salvage harvesting is allowed in motorized backcountry areas only. Wildlife management in non-mechanized Backcountry Areas will be non-extractive in nature. Designation Criteria for Wildlife Dominant Areas 1. Essential habitats are those regulated by law and currently consist of bald eagle, piping plover, and least tern nest sites (these will usually be categorized as special protection as well as wildlife dominant areas). 9