The Maine Mountain Conference

Saddleback Base Lodge

Rangeley Lakes Region, Maine

Saturday, October 21, 2006

The first "Maine Mountain Conference" was held at the University of Maine, Augusta on April 29, 1972 for the purpose of "discussing the nature of the Maine mountain environment and the present and future uses of these areas"

The presentations at this first Conference ranged from Mountain Geology and Groundwater Supply to Timber Management; from the Ecology of the Maine Mountains to Outdoor Recreation. Elmer Violette, Chairman of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) at that time emphasized "The task is to reconcile the use and development of the mountains with our needs and the environmental needs of the mountains themselves"

In his opening remarks, T. Tarpy Schulten, then

Chairman of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, made a strong statement that is worth repeating today, "This unthinking and undisciplined mass movement of humanity (referring to hordes of hikers, campers, snowmobilers, homeowners, land developers and speculators) must be molded into a resemblance of order and control so that future generation of Americans will have the

opportunity to enjoy the priceless fruits of our heritage easily available to us today, but easily destroyed beyond enjoyment, if we do not act to preserve them."

In 1972 the Conference planners were concerned about development of portions of the Maine Mountains. They were also keenly aware that the Maine Legislature,

recognizing the sensitivity of Maine’s wildlands, had given a mandate to LURC to prepare a comprehensive plan for the unorganized townships. With this in mind they hoped the Conference would collect a body of

information on the Maine Mountains "which would prove useful to all participants".

Over 30 years later, these same concerns and

opportunities resonate with eerie familiarity. The time is right for a second Maine Mountain

Conference to remind policy makers, legislators,

industry, public interest groups, and the general public why Maine’s mountains were given

protection in the 1970s; to review and assess the value and usefulness of the protections now in place; to present and weigh new concerns and threats to Maine’s mountains; and to explore new

opportunities for preserving, conserving and

protecting the mountains.

The Conference is hosted by Saddleback, Maine

SPONSORS:

Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Chapter

Appalachian Mountain Club

Friends of Baxter State Park

Friends of Bigelow

Friends of the Boundary Mountains

Maine Appalachian Trail Club

Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust

Sierra Club, Maine Chapter

Tumbledown Conservation Alliance

Western Maine Audubon Society

The Wilderness Society

**Additional sponsors are welcome.**

QUOTES

"I look forward to the conference and I applaud you all for coordinating it!"

Julie Hart, Conservation Biologist

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

"Thank you for your efforts to organize this very important meeting."

Dan Lambert, Northeast Bird Monitoring

Coordinator American Bird Conservancy

"I wish you the best in this important endeavor for Maine’s Mountain Region."

Roy Van Til, Ph.D, Campus Economic Impact

Services LLP

Saturday, October 21, 2006 - Maine Mountain Conference at Saddleback Base Lodge

8:00 –8:45 Registration and Check-In

8:45 Welcome and Review of Conference Agenda and Goals - Bob Cummings, Maine Journalist

9:00 Keynote Address - Neil Rolde, Maine Historian

9:30 – 11:00 Panel 1 - What Have We Learned About the Maine Mountains Since 1972? Moderator: Pam Prodan

Tracking the Biodiversity of Maine’s Mountains, Brooke Wilkerson, Maine Natural Areas Program Soils and Hydrology of the Mountains, Dave Rocque, Maine Department of Agriculture

Maine’s Alpine Plant Communities: What’s Most at Risk with Climate Change? Kenneth Kimball and Doug Weihrauch, Appalachian Mountain Club

Where Did 2700’ Come From? Thomas Saviello, Maine House of Representatives

11:00 Break

11:10 – 12:20 Panel 2 - The Conservation Imperative for the Maine Mountains Moderator: Bill Plouffe

Latest Trends and Challenges with Large Scale Conservation Easements in the North Woods and their Long-term Stewardship, Alan Hutchinson, Forest Society of Maine

Appalachian Trail Vital Signs, Pam Underhill, Park Manager, Appalachian National Scenic Trail Ecology of the Western High Peaks Region of Maine, Peter S. McKinley, Conservation Biology and Planning

12:20 – 2:00 Lunch, View Poster Displays and Exhibits, Meet Other Participants

2:00 – 3:45 Afternoon Workshops

Workshop A- Understanding the Mountains of Maine - Moderator: Dain Trafton

Aquatic Biodiversity Of The Maine Mountains, Catherine Schmitt, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research

High-elevation Bird Monitoring: Mountain Birdwatch, Julie Hart, Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Potential Effects Of Climate Change On Bicknell’s Thrush Habitat In Maine, Dan Lambert,

American Bird Conservancy and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Acid Rain In Maine: High Elevation Lakes As ‘Sentinels’ Of Pollution, Steve Kahl, Plymouth State

University

The Odyssey of Maine’s Appalachian Bedrock, Douglas Reusch, University of Maine at Farmington

Workshop B - Community Voices of the Maine Mountains - Moderator: Bob Kimber

View from the Tower, Scott Planting, Mission at the Eastward, Presbyterian Church, USA

A Contextual Atlas for the Maine Mountain Region, Roy Van Til, CEIS: Campus Economic Impact

Services, LLP

A Community-Based Conservation Strategy for the Mahoosuc Region, Marcel Polak, Spruce Mountain, Inc.

Workshop C - Future Visions for Maine’s Mountains - Moderator: Lance Tapley

Adirondack Maine, Christopher S. Beach, Unity College

Balancing Windpower Development and Open Space Conservation in the Mountains of Maine: an

Analytical Approach, David Publicover, Appalachian Mountain Club

Mountains and Meanings: An Approach to Incorporating Cultural and Spiritual Perspectives into

Mountain Park Programs, Jonah Steinberg, The Mountain Institute and University of Vermont

3:45 Break

4:00 – 4:30 Closing Remarks: Where Do We Go From Here? - Steve Kahl, Plymouth State University

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Friday, October 20, 2006:

Celebrating the Mountains of Maine ($35.00/ person)

6:00 PM Poetry Reading by Kristen Lindquist, Coastal Mountains Land Trust, "The

Poetry of Bald & Ragged Mountains"

6:30 PM Dinner

7:30 PM Jym St. Pierre, RESTORE: The North Woods, "If Baxter Was Governor, Muir Was Conservation Commissioner,and

Thoreau Was Head of Fish and Wildlife"

Sunday, October 22, 2006:

Guided Hikes - Indicate your interest on the registration form, more information will follow.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Conference Website: www.matlt.org/conference.asp

Lodging Information: www.rangeleymaine.com

Directions: www.saddlebackmaine.com/directions.asp

If you have questions about the conference or

registration please contact:

Phone: Richard Fecteau - 207-778-0870

Email: rfecteau@midmaine.com

Register online: www.regonline.com/104385

REGISTRATION FORM

2006 Maine Mountain Conference

Registration Deadline: October 7, 2006

Register online: www.regonline.com/104385

Name (First, Last)______________________________________________________Phone_____________________

Mailing Address_________________________________ City___________________State______Zip Code________

Email Address___________________________________________________________________________________

We will use email to keep you updated before and after the Conference

Limited scholarships are available. If you are interested in being considered please indicate here.______

Are you interested in a Guided Hike on Sunday, October 22, 2006? _____YES ______NO

Please indicate your choice of workshop (1st Choice, 2nd Choice & 3rd Choice)

_____Workshop A _____Workshop B _____Workshop C

CELEBRATING THE MOUNTAINS DINNER (Friday, Oct. 20, 2006): Persons #___@ $35.00 each $_________

REGISTRATION FEE (Saturday, October 21, 2006) $35.00 each +$_________

ADDITIONAL DONATION TO MAINE MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE +$_________

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED =$_________

Method of Payment _____Check _____VISA _____Mastercard

Name on Card (Print) _______________________________________Signature_______________________________

#________-________-________-________ Exp. Date ____/_____

Make all checks payable to "Maine Mountain Conference".

Please detach registration form and mail/fax with payment to:

Elsa Sanborn, P.O. Box 8087, Bangor, ME. 04402

Fax: 207-945-6050

Join us for the first conference in 34 years devoted to the special problems and opportunities facing Maine’s mountains. Scientists will report on what has been learned about the unique nature of

mountain soils, hydrology, geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife. Historians, land managers,

residents and planners will explore the significance of our mountains and what the future may hold.

October 21, 2006 - Saddleback Ski Area Lodge

Maine Mountains: Special places. Special challenges.

MAINE MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE 2006

Maine Appalachian Trail Club

P.O. Box 1256

Auburn, Me. 04211

 

To learn more…

Maine Mountain

Conference 2006

Saddleback Base Lodge

October 20 - 21, 2006

First time in 34 years!!