BDN - Maine Woods Forever seeking nominations for new Teddy Roosevelt conservation award

Here we have the father of the conservation movement's experience in Maine credited with his becoming the father of the conservation movement. Yet the very place he stayed at - Island Falls, has been slated for massive scarring from the Oakfield wind factory and transmission, just so an Enronesque group of slippery investment type insider-bribers can line their pockets while helping drain the U.S. Treasury....and shamelessly doing all of this defrauding under the guise of saving the planet.

What would Teddy Roosevelt say?

EXCERPTS:

“Many credit [Roosevelt’s] rugged sojourns in Maine during the late 1800s with shaping his determination to conserve our natural world,” stated Rust in a press release about the new award.

Andrew Vietze, author of “Becoming Teddy Roosevelt,” agrees. In the book, he wrote: “It’s fair to say that Maine was a crucible of sorts for Roosevelt and that many of the seeds of conservation that he would go on to plant – establishing our national parks system, monuments, wildlife and recreation preserves – were sown right here when he was an impressionable young man.”

http://actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com/2014/12/05/recreation/...

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May 19, 2003

Mattawamkeag Lake Region Protected in State Land Deal

“Through this purchase, we have assured that Lower Mattawamkeag Lake will forever retain its wild character and guaranteed future public access to these lands for fishing, hunting, boating, and camping,” stated Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan. Over seven miles of undeveloped lakeshore shoreline is included in the purchase along with three miles of frontage on the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River.

The acquisition was funded through a combination of state and federal funds. State funding came through the Land for Maine’s Future Board. 

Mattawamkeag Lake is ranked by the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission as a lake of statewide significance--its highest ranking--due to its significant scenic, wildlife, fishery, and cultural values.

The property abuts the State’s 27-acre Bible Point ownership, made famous by Teddy Roosevelt who visited the area beginning in 1878. Roosevelt camped at the southern end of Mattawamkeag Lake and hunted and fished throughout the area. It was reported that, each day, Roosevelt would take his bible and hike to a beautiful point of land at the confluence of the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River and First Brook where he would read the bible. A plaque at the site commemorates Roosevelt's love for the area with the following inscription:

"This place to which a great man in his youth liked to come to commune with God and with the wonder and beauty of the visible world is dedicated to the happy memory of Theodore Roosevelt."

Conservation Commissioner McGowan commented that, “It is only fitting that the State has taken action to protect these lands that were an inspiration to one of our nation’s foremost conservationists.”

http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=DOC+News&id...

Today:

In addition to the views from Pleasant Lake, the turbines will also be visible from
approximately 80% of Mattawamkeag Lake...

http://www.maine.gov/dep/ftp/WindPowerProjectFiles/BowersMountain/p...