Tract Record
The Northeastern Area (NA) is accelerating the rate of land protected through the Forest Legacy Program in direct correlation to the rise in program appropriations a few years ago. Accomplishments that were not reported in the second quarter update and reported accomplishments for the third quarter amount to 16,908 acres. Forest uses will continue on this land, which is important for watershed, wildlife, recreation opportunities, and cultural values. Critical Open Space Link Protected in Massachusetts Wildlife can continue to roam in western Massachusetts now that the Forest Service has acquired a conservation easement on a 467-acre forested property in Petersham that provides a corridor between two pieces of protected land. On March 8, 2003, the Forest Service paid Barbara and John Kenneth Maniha, and son John C. Maniha, owners of 2-mile Landbridge property, $330,000 for a conservation easement. The property connects Petersham State Forest and Harvard Forest to the west with the Popple Camp State Wildlife Management Area and the Phillipston Wildlife Management Area to the east. Indiana's Jack's Defeat Creek to Remain a Legacy Jack's Defeat Creek, once an excellent smallmouth bass and rock bass stream, has recently seen declines in water quality associated with urban runoff. The town of Ellettsville has begun the process of restoring the aquatic community, and a Forest Legacy project provides permanent protection to nearly ¾ mile of the stream. The Forest Legacy parcel includes 225 acres of central hardwood forests, an abandoned railroad grade, and a 1-acre limestone block quarry hole abandoned during the Great Depression. Its proximity to Ellettsville and Bloomington make this area subject to increasing development pressure. The property is in the heart of limestone and karst country, and is dotted with several small sink holes and cave openings. On March 19, 2003, landowners Harmon Crone and Jerry Kinser were paid $338,000 for the conservation easement, a bargain sale at $59,500 below true value. Largest Contiguous Managed Forest Ownership in Southern Maine Will Remain Forested The largest contiguous ownership of sustainably managed forest in southern Maine was permanently protected by Forest Legacy on April 29, 2003. The 8,603-acre Leavitt Plantation Forest covers 20 percent of the town of Parsonsfield, and the conservation easement project was enthusiastically supported by local residents. Maine worked closely with the town, The Nature Conservancy, and the landowner, Renewable Resources, LLC, to ensure forest sustainability and provide for traditional public recreational use on the property. The Forest Legacy grant of $596,000 was the capstone of the project, which also received funding from North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Land for Maine's Future Program, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and a large number of private individuals and foundations to make up the total $2,735,000 value. Teddy Roosevelt's Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Area Protected The Forest Legacy Program protected some of President Teddy Roosevelt's favorite hunting and fishing grounds. On April 30, 2003, 3,338 acres of land surrounding the southern end of Maine's Mattawamkeag Lake was protected by a combination of a conservation easement and fee purchase from Wayne and Maxine Farrar of Tavares, Florida. The $894,700 appraised value of both fee and conservation easement was acquired by the State of Maine with a Forest Legacy grant of $500,000 and a Land For Maine's Future Program grant of $256,200. The remaining value was covered through a bargain sale by the landowners. Over 7 miles of undeveloped lake shoreline is included in the purchase, along with 3 miles of frontage on the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River. Maine Continues Adding to Beloved State Park In the Northeastern Area Forest Legacy FY2003 First Quarter Update it was noted that Maine added protected area to the Mt. Blue State Park and Tumbledown Mountain Forest Legacy Project. The addition of conservation easements to this popular recreational area continues into the third quarter of FY2003. On May 16, 2003, Maine acquired conservation easements on 4,198 acres of land on three different parcels. The goal of protecting over 30,000 acres in this project area continues to be the objective of this Forest Legacy project. Riparian Areas Protected by River's Edge in Indiana The River's Edge property, a 77-acre hardwood forest with frontage along the Little Calumet River, lies within the Lake Michigan watershed and is representative of the ecosystems found in the moraine area of northwestern Indiana. Landowners Keith and Mary Ellen Laken were paid $167,000 for the conservation easement on June 23, 2003. The cost-share portion of the project will be made through State purchases. Dotted with vernal and riverine wetland communities and mixed hardwood forests, the parcel includes 18 acres of forest recently restored from farmland. Protecting this land in rapidly developing Porter County adds to the sustainability of the Little Calumet watershed.
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