Ryan Robicheau at Frye Mountain
By Tom Seymour In 200 l, the Maine Legislature passed a statute creating Maine's new Lands Management Program (LMP). Increased demands upon Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists made this new program necessary. Now, with a central clearinghouse established, tasks such as road maintenance, mowing of fields, timber harvesting and similar activities on Department-owned wildlife management areas all fall under the auspices of the Land~ Management Program. Ryan Robicheau , Land Management Biologi t for MDTFW, cited the Frye Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) a~ an example of what the LMP has thus far accomplished. Robicheau began by list-
MAINE Fish and Wildlife
ing the top three goals of the LMP. These apply not only to Frye Mountain WMA, but also to all Maine WMAs, as well as other parcels managed by MDIFW.
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The prime goal, Robicheau aid, is to manage the land for the highest quality upland and wetland habitat possible. The next priority, Ryan continued, is to provide for bulk consumptive and non-consumptive recreational uses. He went on to say that more and more land , especially in southern and central Maine , is out of bounds to recreationalists from development and posting. This has led to increased use and pressure on WMAs and other public parcels by hunters, fishermen and trappers, as well as hikers, skiers, snowmobilers, horse-
Tom Seymour photo
back riders and other recreational users. The third aim of the LMP, Robicheau said, is to provide a visible opportunity for other public and private land managers to see what can be accomplished. "Our WMAs," he said, "are a model for what other private landowners can accomplish both commercially and to benefit wildlife."
B A tour of Frye Mountain WMA with Robicheau disclosed many changes. The improved condition of roads was immediately apparent. Wide, well graded, and with adequate ditching to allow for runoff, these roads are a far cry from what existed there in the past. Even better, Robicheau pointed out that in compliance with the second LMP goal of managing for all recreational
Spring 2007 Page 13