Mount A Starts a Use Permit System ; With Mount Agamenticus Getting More Use, Officials Want to Make Sure It Does Not Get Overcrowded.
Posted on: Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 15:09 CDT
By DEBORAH SAYER News Assistant
After years of seeking community support and awareness for opportunities afforded at picturesque Mount Agamenticus, a steering committee formed to oversee use of the space has a curious problem on its hands.
The spot has proved such a popular destination that special use permits now are required for large group visits there.
Each year, about 30,000 visitors take to the 40 miles of trails that weave their way though 8,000 pristine acres of conservation land in the Mount Agamemticus region. Trails are specifically designated for hiking, mountain biking, horseback and ATV riding. Most visitors head for the summit at first hill, where Mount Washington and the sea can be seen on a clear day.
An increase in large-group gatherings is resulting in overcrowding and putting a strain on resources. There is just one portable toilet and a small, spigot-tapped well, that, on occasion, has run dry. A lodge at the site doubles as office space and a rental facility for weddings and other functions. But, it is not open to the public.
"More and more groups are using the mountain and sometimes they all decide to show up at once," said Robin Stanley, Mount Agamenticus conservation coordinator. "We've had situations where there just were no facilities to handle all the people."
Stanley said that requiring permits will keep daily tabs on who's on the mountain, while educating those groups about facilities that are available to them. They will also help to curb off-summit activities of individuals who go against landowners' wishes, sometimes entering sensitive habitats, cutting trails and building structures without permission.
The summit is owned and managed by the town of York. It works with Stanley and a network of nearby landowners to define best public use and management of the land.
They work to maintain water quality and wildlife habitats a while offering sustainable forms of recreation that won't have a huge impact on natural resources. Hired and volunteer crews test, clear, plant and repair the natural landscape from erosion, removing invasive species, sowing native plants and rerouting old trails to protect sensitive habitats like vernal pools.
Stanley is hoping nature lovers will adopt the "leave no trace behind" concept of bringing out what they took in with them, including trash.
"This area is rich in natural resources," he said. "It is home to many rare plants and animals. So, respect that."
News Assistant Deborah Sayer can be reached at 282-8228 or e- mail
dsayer@pressherald.com.
[Sidebar]
ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN
The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region contains 10,000 acres of conservation land in the largest expanse of coastal forest between Acadia and New Jersey.
The Steering Committee includes: the towns of York and South Berwick, the York Water District, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Great Works Regional Land Trust, York Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy.
Brochures with maps of designated trails and rules for use are available at trail boxes at 10 main access points to the mountain. A Web site soon will be launched detailing more visitor information.
For more details on getting involved, call Robin Stanley at 361- 1102.
(c) 2007 Portland Press Herald. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Portland Press Herald
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