Blackwoods Byway Corridor Committee
Downeast RC&D
10/8/2008
Minutes
Attending: John Brace, John Titus, Jim Fisher, Greg Burr, Gary Edwards, Rex Turner
Bureau of Parks and Lands – back country concept – John Titus and Rex Turner
- John is handing off this concept to Rex
Three day backpacking trails
- Including Donnell unit and possibly the Nature Conservancy
Internal funding is available, but limited
- Planning
- Improving facilities
- Seeking collaborations for funding
- Blackwoods byway grant - $90,000 federal, would require about $30,000 match – might work if the funds
Next steps
- Form a working group to work on planning
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Tunk Lake Facility
Greg Burr - IFW
- received MaineDOT funds to build privy
- MaineDOT provided fill to build up the parking lot across Route 182
- Need more fill – to raise area about a foot
- Larry Johannesman created a draft design for the facility (see hand out)
Rex Turner
- Hiking trail would cross Tunk Stream and go around the north side of Spring River Lake
- Work with Maine Conservation Corps on construction of trail and bridges as needed
- Engage volunteers in doing some of the work
- Gary noted that Frenchman Bay Conservancy may have volunteers
- Friends of Tunk (contact Ashby Bladen) may want to be involved
- Sunrise Trail Coalition
- Want to strike a balance between remote quality and safety
- Don’t want to put to many signs out there
-
John – this is going to require stewardship. If ATV’s are going to park and walk into Little Pond (Franklin, near Donnell Pond)
- Mountain bikes are using many of the hiking trails, sometimes causing erosion
- Many byway users are looking for smaller hikes, 30 minutes from their cars. Need to encourage
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Interpretation
- Jim pointed out the Schoodic byway interpretive signs
- Geocaching project
- Route 182 is zoned for interpretive panels
Greg Burr – Spring River Lake
- Working on a plan for lease property on Spring River Lake
- Most fishing is in the winter on ice, but equal access requires that the public has equal access to the water in the summer.
- IF&W hopes to build the road and turning area to Spring River Lake in the next few years. The water end
- Long Pond site has been selected for a parking area and boat launch
- Discussed a loop trail around Long Pond
John Titus – Bracie Mountain
- Hiked up Bracie Mountain
- Owned by Allen’s Blueberries
- May be possible to convey property for public use to DOC
- Might be able to connect this to Round Pond, Spring River Lake, Tunk and on..
Catherine Mountain / Black Mountain
- Hope to create a trail agreement with Bob Bryan
- Opportunities for hiking
- Tunk Lake
- Dynamite Brook
- Route 182
- Donnell Pond
- Need to speak with Tom Schaeffer – wildlife biologist
- An illegal trail was built for snowmobiles and ATVs to Rainbow Pond
Byway Extension
- Jim described extending the byway through Franklin and Cherryfield
- Committee voiced support for the concept
Directional Signage
Need to post signs – Boat Launch 1,500 feet ahead
- Follow model at Grafton Notch Scenic Byway
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Matt Steel – in charge of signage
May want to take a tour of the byway – identify signage and other needs
DE Corridor Plan
Route 9, Route 1, Route 182
Will send link to web page
Meeting adjourned 3:00 PM