Maine Wilderness Watershed Trust Inc

TO PROTECT THE WILD CHARACTER, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF PIERCE POND WATERSHED AND PRESERVE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE OF THE AREA.

LAND PROTECTION MWWT WORKS COOPERATIVELY WITH OTHER WATERSHED LANDOWNERS TO CONSERVE THE WILDLIFE, WATER QUALITY, AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE PIERCE POND WATERSHED. MWWT HAS CONSERVED 10,500 ACRES AND OVER 30 MILES OF SHORELINE, THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND LAND. MWWT HAS ESTABLISHED AGREEMENTS WITH TWO SPORTING CAMPS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED TRADITIONAL OPERATION OF THESE HISTORIC CAMPS. IN 2021 MWWT CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF ACQUISITION OF THE 6,800 ACRES OF WATERSHED LANDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER COMMERCIAL TIMBER MANAGEMENT - THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS LONG-TERM GOAL OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTING AND PROVIDING EXEMPLARY MANAGEMENT OF ALL WATERSHED LANDS. IN 2021 MWWT ENGAGED IN VITAL CONSERVATION-EASEMENT MONITORING, IN THE CASE OF A FIRE THAT BURNED DOWN A CABIN ON ONE OF THE TRUST'S EASEMENT PROPERTIES. THE OWNER WANTED TO REBUILD, AND MWWT WORKED WITH THE OWNER AND MAINE'S LAND USE PLANNING COMMISSION TO COME UP WITH A DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND STATE REGULATIONS. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL CAMP WAS A GRANDFATHERED STRUCTURE THAT HAD BEEN BUILT LONG BEFORE THE STATE-IMPOSED REGULATIONS ON SHORELAND DEVELOPMENT. MWWT HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION ON THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL BY CENTRAL MAINE POWER (CMP) TO BUILD A 53-MILE-LONG TRANSMISSION LINE THROUGH THE MAINE WOODS. BUT IN 2021 MWWT STEPPED UP WHEN A COURT DECISION NEGATING CMP'S LEASE ACROSS A PARCEL OF STATE LAND LED CMP TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO RE- ROUTE THE TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR. ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE POWER-LINE ROUTES CMP SUGGESTED CROSSED LANDS ALONG THE DEAD AND KENNEBEC RIVERS WHERE MWWT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ALONG THE CORRIDORS OF THE TWO RIVERS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TRUST SUBMITTED TESTIMONY TO THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STATING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE WOULD VIOLATE THE TERMS OF THE TRUST'S CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

STEWARDSHIP MWWT BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVERSEES A STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM THAT HELPS ENSURE THE CONTINUED RESPONSIBLE USE OF WATERSHED LANDS. THIS INCLUDES REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF EASEMENT PROPERTIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH EASEMENT TERMS, AND PURCHASE OF INSURANCE TO COVER ANY NECESSARY ENFORCEMENT OF EASEMENT VIOLATIONS. IN 2021 MWWT CONTINUED WORK ON THE PIERCE POND WATERSHED TRAILS PLAN, WITH THE SUPPORT OF GRANT FUNDING AS WELL AS TRAIL VOLUNTEERS. 2021 EFFORT FOCUSED ON REHABILITATION OF THE TRADITIONAL BURNHAM TRAIL FROM LINDSAY COVE TO HIGH AND HELEN PONDS, INCLUDING THE SPUR TRAIL TO THE LANDSLIDE OVERLOOK ON PIERCE POND MOUNTAIN. THE TRAIL HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BY A TIMBER HARVEST, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW, AND IT FELL INTO DISUSE. MWWT RE-ROUTED THE TRAIL AROUND AND THROUGH A CLEAR-CUT, CLEARED THE TRAIL CORRIDOR OF FALLEN TREES AND ENCROACHING BRUSH, BLAZED THE TRAIL, AND INSTALLED NEW SIGNS. NOW, HIKERS CAN ONCE AGAIN MAKE THEIR WAY FROM COBB'S CAMPS OR LINDSAY COVE TO TWO BEAUTIFUL PONDS AND THE SPECTACULAR VIEW FROM PIERCE POND MOUNTAIN. THE TRUST'S MISSION CALLS FOR MAINTAINING TRADITIONAL PUBLIC RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO PIERCE POND. THANKS TO LAST YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, IN 2021 MWWT COLLABORATED WITH COBB'S CAMPS TO REPLACE THE DOCK AT LINDSAY COVE. THE LINDSAY COVE DOCK PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE POND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING DAY-USERS AND CAMPERS, IN ADDITION TO SERVING GUESTS STAYING AT COBB'S CAMPS. A HARDY GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM MWWT AND COBB'S CAMPS BRAVED LATE FALL WEATHER TO CONSTRUCT THE RUGGEDLY BUILT NEW DOCK, WHICH SHOULD ENSURE READY ACCESS TO THE WATERS OF PIERCE POND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

EDUCATION BUILDING ON THE TRUST'S 2020 FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE FOR AN OUTDOOR- EDUCATION PROGRAMMING PLANNING STUDY, MWWT'S EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT HAD PRESENTED A REPORT ON OUTDOOR-EDUCATION PROGRAMMING OPTIONS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN OCTOBER 2020, WITH STUDY COMPLETION TARGETED FOR MARCH 2021. THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN MARCH 2021, AND RECEIVED BOARD APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH SELECTED OPTIONS. THE TRUST THEN IDENTIFIED AND CONTRACTED WITH A SECONDARY-SCHOOL SCIENCE EDUCATOR AND MASTER NATURALIST TO DESIGN AND COORDINATE THE PROGRAM'S INITIAL STEPS. A COVID RESURGENCE CAUSED THE PROJECT TO BE PUT ON HOLD, BUT IT IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME IN 2022. MWWT'S 2021 ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD ONLINE USING THE ZOOM PLATFORM, AND THE TRUST TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE MEMBERSHIP USING VIDEOS AND SLIDESHOWS. THE TRUST HAD LOST ITS FOUNDING MEMBER AS WELL AS AN IMPORTANT BENEFACTOR LATE IN 2020, AND IN THE PROCESS OF EULOGIZING THOSE WE LOST, WAS ABLE TO RECOUNT SOME IMPORTANT TRUST HISTORY AND GOALS. THE PROCESS WAS CONTINUED IN THE TRUST NEWSLETTER ALONG WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST'S NEW TRAILS.