WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Mike Michaud announced that the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants Program has awarded a $950,000 grant for the Katahdin Forest Expansion project north of Millinocket, Maine. The Katahdin Region, with Baxter State Park, represents Maine’s largest block of contiguous conservation lands. This project is a collaborative effort between Maine’s Land for Maine’s Future Program, Forest Legacy Program and Trust for Public Lands. The project will add two significant tracts totaling about 7,300 acres to the conservation holdings in the Katahdin region. The Millinocket tract is a 4,956 acre parcel located southeast of Baxter State Park. In addition to its ecological values, this tract provides important recreation opportunities.  The Seboesis-Northwest Pond tract contains 2,343 acres south of Baxter State Park includes 16.8 miles of shore and island frontage. The NAWCA selected this project for the wetlands and uplands that these two tracts provide to waterfowl breeding and migration habitat.

"With changing patterns of land ownership and uses, Maine is at risk of losing many of its unique landscapes and its rural character that are so important to our heritage as well as to our economic vitality," said Michaud. "I have consistently called for strong federal funding for a variety of land conservation programs because Maine has been a demonstrated leader working collaboratively with conservation organizations, local communities and private landowners."

The state of Maine and its many partners have been working together to utilize a combination of federal, state, local, and private funding to protect over 1.2 million acres of working forests and important wildlife habitat that protect water quality and provide a wide variety of recreation opportunities and other public benefits.

Editor's Note: It is interesting to note that, despite the tough times Maine people are going through, our representatives are neverthless able to find the money necessary to destroy a way of life. Obviously, they can find the money to do the things that are really important to them. -- Ken Anderson