Everybody seems to think Baxter is managed as a wilderness preserve. Some of it is not managed that way, though. According to the park website, the northwest quadrant of the park, north of the perimiter road and west of Matagamon lake, about 14% of the land area, is a designated "scientific forest management area" where logging is practiced. So far so good--this "scientific forestry" zone is in accordance with the terms of Baxter's bequest, and that still leaves 86% of the park managed as wilderness. Or does it? Aerial photos show some fairly fresh-looking logging road networks in other parts of the park. Consider
this area north of Abol pond and south of Katahdin, or this area just north of the Abol bridge. (the river here is the park boundary). This stuff doesn't look that old. fifteen years, maybe? Baxter started accumulating land in 1930, and bought the last bits in 1962, over forty years ago, according to the website.
So what's going on? Was some logging activity grandfathered when the land was bought? Did the "Scientific forest management area" shrink?
this area north of Abol pond and south of Katahdin, or this area just north of the Abol bridge. (the river here is the park boundary). This stuff doesn't look that old. fifteen years, maybe? Baxter started accumulating land in 1930, and bought the last bits in 1962, over forty years ago, according to the website.
So what's going on? Was some logging activity grandfathered when the land was bought? Did the "Scientific forest management area" shrink?