State, Quimby reach land deal
The state has finalized a deal three years in the works to buy or conserve more than 7,700 acres of land in northern Maine to conservationist Roxanne Quimby for $2.6 million.
Quimby sold 5,061 acres north of Millinocket Lake to the state for $2.1 million and gave the state conservation easements on 2,849 acres near Baxter State Park for $500,000, according to the Bangor Daily News. The 5,000 acres will be used as working forest, and easements will allow access for hunting and recreation, as well as help maintain two snowmobile trails that sportsmen have urged the state to preserve. The deal is being funded by $760,000 from the Land for Maine's Future program, and the remainder will come from grants from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The state has been working with Quimby since 2007 on land ownership matters, and agreed to allow her to purchase property near Wassataquoik Valley Lands in exchange for selling the state land or easements near Millinocket. The land deal is expected to smooth relations among Quimby, founder of Burt's Bees, the state and sportsmen who have opposed some of her conservation efforts, according to the paper.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments