WESTERN MOUNTAINS — It’s full steam ahead now that Congress has awarded the Maine Department of Conservation $8.3 million through a Forestry Legacy Program to conserve 11,800 acres on Crocker Mountain and 5,808 acres of family-owned timber lands in Orbeton Stream in Madrid Township.

FLP is a federally funded program, funds up to 75 percent of the cost, allowing states to acquire conservation easements or outright ownership of forestland —$7 million out of a total cost of $8.82 million for Crocker Mountain, and $1.73 million, out of a total project cost of $2.42 for Orbeton Stream.

A lot of work has already been done, according to Wolfe Tone, Maine State Director of Trust for Public Lands, including the Lands for Future funds commitment of $650,000 to the Crocker project and another $150,279 for Orbeton Stream.

There’s about $1 million more that needs to be raised to complete the purchase of the easements for the two projects, $200,000 for Orbeton Stream and $800,000 for Crocker Mountain, Tone said. He’s confident the land exchange will happen this year.

The Maine Bureau of Public Lands, a part of MDOC, will take ownership of these properties, which will ensure they remain undeveloped, open for recreational trail use, continue as working forests, and in the case of the Crocker Mountain project, preserve some ecologically sensitive areas.

“We are very excited about the opportunity that these projects provide to ensure public access, continue sustainable timber harvesting, and enhance economic opportunities for local communities,” Tone said.

With that hurdle of uncertainty surrounding Congressional funding gone, Tone is confident they can obtain support from private foundations and individual donors to complete their fundraising goals, complete the purchase, and start working on the specifics for trail development, and in the case of the Crocker Mountain project, define the ecological sensitive areas.

During preliminary public hearings in Carrabassett Valley, J.T. Horne, executive director for the Trust for Public Land, explained many of the uses will be mapped out in the project and be outlined in the Best Management Plan to be drafted by the TPL once the transaction is complete, the designated ecological preservation areas (40 percent of the area) will be pretty much cast in stone. These areas, designed to protect sub alpine balsam fir, heartleaf birch forest, Bicknell Thrush habitat, and other rare species, will take in up to 5,000 acres.

TPL will be working with the Appalachian Land Trust, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, and others to pursue funding for the projects. “It’s not just us. We can’t do it alone. Collaboration and partnerships are the recipe for success,” Tone said.

Tone pointed out that private organizations and individuals are reluctant to invest in trail infrastructure, when there’s insecurity about land possibly being sold for development and lots. There’re not going to build a trail if it could be taken out from underneath them soon.

The two projects were the state’s top priorities for the FY 2012 Forest Legacy Program funding, submitted for consideration in the fall of 2010. The LePage Administration strongly supported the projects, which were submitted by the MDOC last July to the Land for Maine’s Future Board and were awarded more than $800,000 toward the required federal match. The projects also were strongly supported by Maine’s Congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Rep. Michael Michaud. In addition to the federal funds, project partners are securing $1 million in matching funds from other sources, including the Land for Maine’s Future program.

This most recent news received a welcome reception from the High Peaks Alliance and the town of Carrabassett Valley, both supporters of the projects. Chris Beech, of the High Peaks Alliance, said this opens up access from the southern part of the county to the northern more remote areas. This will be a huge benefit to the trails, snowmobile clubs and All Terrain Vehicles.

Carrabassett Valley Town Manager David Cota pointed out that the Board of Selectmen unanimously recommended that the town vote $10,000 from the it’s Recreation Reserve Account (to be voted upon at the March 14 annual town meeting) to assist TPL with their fundraising efforts providing some of matching funds needed for the $1.5 million that TPL needs to raise.

He explained that 11,798 acres of land, now owned by Plum Creek Timber Co., will be purchased by TPL and then donated to the State of Maine. Cota pointed out the town, state and TPL have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the parties’ interests in the eventual development of a management plan that will include conservation, including sustainable forestry, Appalachian Trail viewshed protection, creation of new hiking, mountain biking and cross cross-country ski trails, maintenance of existing and the development of potential new ATV and snowmobile trails, protection of certain natural communities found on the property as well as hunting and fishing.

Although the town will see a loss of property taxes, currently estimated to be $13,500 from a $3.2 million tax commitment, Cota said there has been a lot of support for this project throughout the public hearing process.

Crocker Mountain project, which buffers a 10-mile section of the Appalachian Trail, and includes about three miles on snowmobile Route 115 of Maine’s Interconnected Trail System, along with four miles of the state-sanctioned all-terrain vehicle trail system, was ranked third nationally. It’s part of a working forest owned by Plum Creek.

The Orbeton Stream project with a total cost of $2.4 million was ranked 12th nationally. The property, owned by Linkletter Timberlands LLC of Athens, supplies wood fiber to Linkletter’s pellet mill in Athens. The total project cost is $2.4 million. According to a press release issued to TPL, “Our family is excited about this announcement,” said Robert Linkletter of Linkletter Timberlands LLC. “This conservation easement will help keep our employees working while guaranteeing a land base for future forest products. As commercial forest landowners, we appreciate how the State of Maine, the U.S. Forest Service, and Maine’s congressional delegation worked together to ensure a conservation solution that works for everyone.”

This spring, TPL will be devoting a lot of effort towards carving out the details of the BMP, including mapping exactly where the ecological reserve will go. Planning for motorized and non-motorized trails will also begin.

“It’s amazing with the right players, putting in the time and energy, what can become possible.” Tone said.