Bond Links Nature-based Assets with State’s Economic Future

Old Town, Maine — Standing on the banks of the Penobscot River, supporters of a natural resources bond Tuesday encouraged voters to invest in the bedrock infrastructure on which Maine’s economy is founded. Old Town’s Riverfront Park was an appropriate site as advocates for state parks, land conservation, riverfront communities, and farm and working waterfront protection described natural areas that support our tourism industry, quality of life and working families. Question #4 on the November 6 ballot seeks $35.5 million for closely related programs.

The largest portion at $17 million will allow the 20-year-old Land for Maine’s Future Program to continue to secure public access to recreational sites in all sixteen Maine counties, while $7.5 million will upgrade state parks throughout Maine. A $5 million component is aimed at providing competitive grants to Maine’s riverfront towns to spur economic development that links river access and municipal goals. The successful Working Waterfronts program will be extended by $3 million helping commercial fishermen compete in a market where they are losing key waterfront properties.

Elaine Clark, speaking for Friends of Maine State Parks, said Maine’s 47 State parks and historic sites generate more than $100 million per year in economic activity.  “Maine boasts some of the most beautiful parks in the nation,” said Clark. “They offer mountain trails, campsites and beaches on the ocean and on the shores of our spectacular lakes, but we have a backlog of maintenance needs we can not afford to ignore. We need to be sure that Maine residents of all ages as well as out of state visitors have the best possible experiences at places like Cobscook Bay and Peaks-Kenny State Parks and on state-owned snowmobile and ATV trails.”

Neil Crane, co-owner of a 5,000-acre farm in Exeter and a longtime supporter of the Land for Maine’s Future Program, said that prospects for Maine farming are looking up but development pressures are eating away at farmland itself.  “We’ve been able to use one out of every ten Land for Maine’s Future dollars to keep Maine farmers on the farm,” said Crane. “Everyone who cares about rural Maine and everyone who cares about working families whether farming or fishing, needs to get out and vote for Question 4.”

Gayle Zydlewski, a faculty member in the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine, leads the Lower Penobscot Watershed Coalition. Zydlewski said the Riverfront Community Development program comes at the right time.  “Maine communities are turning back to our rivers, said Zydlewski. “Three-quarters of our population lives in these riverfront cities and towns and programs that promote healthy rivers and healthy communities just make good sense. You couldn’t say that for many years, but today we are ready to restore our river-based heritage.”

John Burrows represented Citizens to Save Maine’s Heritage, the broad coalition supporting the Vote Yes on 4 campaign.  “When we vote for the $35.5 million natural resources bond, we’ll be investing in programs that protect what is special about our lands and waters,” said Burrows. “So many of our family traditions, recreational activities and livelihoods are tied to Maine’s landscape - our farmlands, coast, islands, lakes, mountains, forests and rivers. Our pride as Maine people relates to these connections, whether as farmers, guides, business people, hikers, hunters, snowmobilers, campers or fishermen.”

A second news conference was held several hours later at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal at which Patrick McGowan, Commissioner, Department of Conservation, Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobsterman's Association and Andy LeMaistre of Mitchell Ledge Farm in Freeport offered similar perspectives.  McCarron spoke about the Working Waterfront component of the bond.  “We need to work with commercial fishermen so they can hold onto the coastal access land sales have been stripping away,” said McCarron “Today working waterfronts cover a mere 20 miles along Maine's 5,300-mile coastline yet they supply the lifeblood of many coastal communities.”

Nearly half the funds will provide new funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Programwhich has helped towns, citizens groups and state agencies conserve land for water access, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat and productive forests and farms. Since its inception in 1987, the Land for Maine’s Future Program has leveraged nearly $100 million dollars of federal and private matching funds; conserved 445,000 acres distributed across every county in Maine; and protected over 973 miles of shorefront, 158 miles of rail-trails and over 5,800 acres of farmland.

Question 4 on the November 6 ballot reads: Do you favor a $35,500,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation, water access, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, farmland and working waterfront and to invest in state parks, historic sites and riverfront, community and farm infrastructure to be matched by at least $21,875,000 in private and public contributions?

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