Baxter State Park Scientific Forest Management Area What is the Scientific Forest Management Area (SFMA)? To Hikers: part of the Park where one can walk for miles over gently rolling terrain seeing only wildlife and trees along the Freezeout, Wadleigh Mt, or Hudson Pond trails taking breaks to rest or camp in the Hudson Pond or Frost Pond lean-tos. To Hunters: a place where large spruce trees provide sheltered deer wintering areas and grouse abound. To Park Managers: 30,000 acres where we develop and hone techniques of managing multiple uses on the same ground, as well as provide revenue and produce necessities for the Park like firewood, bog bridging, and lean-to stock. To the forestry community of Maine: a model forest and a place to learn from and discuss decades of thoughtful, forward-thinking forest management. Finally, to Governor Baxter: the fulfillment of his dream for a “a showplace for those interested in forestry, a place where a continuing timber crop can be cultivated, harvested, and sold, where reforestation and scientific cutting will be employed, an example and an inspiration to others.” Thanks to his gift, the SFMA will always be a place where we can try to balance human values and ecology in perpetuity. A great deal of information Wildnotes is available at: www.baxterstatepark.org 207-723-4636 207-723-5140 Preservation and Protection of a Special Gift! Baxter State Park Rules & Regulations Welcome to a Maine tradition! Visitors to Baxter State Park are important stewards of all that they see and enjoy during their visit! Governor Baxter’s wish was for the Park to be maintained in its natural and wild state and to be used in the “right unspoiled way”. Our rules and regulations focus on preserving and protecting the natural aspects of the Park, as well as preserving the wilderness experience and promoting public safety. Especially important regulations you should know before heading into the Park: No domestic animals of any kind are allowed in Baxter State Park No motorcycles are permitted inside Park gates Vehicle size restrictions are in place due to narrow, winding gravel roads and overhanging branches. Vehicles over 9 feet high, 7 feet wide and 22 feet long for a single vehicle, or 44 feet long for a combined vehicle, are prohibited in Baxter State Park. Dual wheeled vehicles are usually oversized. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with all of the rules and regulations of the Park. Additional regulations are in place for the following categories; please obtain the official Baxter State Park Rules and Regulations brochure from Park Headquarters, gatehouses or ranger stations for details: Camping Reservations and Registration Hiking and Day Use (New in 2013: Includes Hiking Group Size Limits) Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Resource Protection and Wilderness Preservation Vehicles and Transportation Administration of the Park Leave No Trace Principle #1: Plan Ahead and Prepare - Learn about BSP rules & Regulations Leave No Trace Principle #2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces - Camping in Baxter State Park is Restricted to authorized sites. Leave No Trace Principle #6: Respect Wildlife - Per BSP Regulation, leave pets at home to protect your pet and the wildlife. What is Leave No Trace? Leave No Trace refers to a set of outdoor ethics promoting conservation in the outdoors. It teaches people of all ages how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, and is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used on public lands. Throughout this edition of Wildnotes, you will be seeing examples of the Seven Principles that make up Leave No Trace, and how they relate to Baxter State Park. 1. Plan ahead and prepare 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces 3. Dispose of waste properly 4. Leave what you find 5. Minimize campfire impacts 6. Respect wildlife 7. Be considerate of other visitors. You are one of the Park’s most important stewards! Check our website, www.baxterstatepark.org or lnt.org for more information. Thank you for making a difference and being a steward of the Park! Make a Difference in the Park And Become a Volunteer! Baxter State Park’s Volunteer Program is an important part of the maintenance and preservation of Park resources. Individual volunteers, couples, families, and small and large groups have all contributed their time over the years, whether it be to help with the opening and closing of campgrounds, painting and staining structures, tending to needed grounds work, stacking firewood, assisting with the loon survey, putting together the Junior Ranger booklets, maintaining trails and participating in the Adopt-a-Trail Program, or taking part in the annual Earth Day Litter Patrol from Millinocket to the south entrance of the Park each spring. In 2016, dedicated Baxter State Park Volunteers contributed over 3,500 hours of service! Anyone 18 years or older who enjoys the wilderness environment, especially anyone with a love for Baxter State Park, is offered an opportunity to assist the Park staff. Those under 18 years of age may participate under the direct supervision of an adult family member, or as a member of an organized group with adult leadership. Tools and equipment necessary to perform the volunteer project are provided. Volunteer projects are listed on the BSP website and updated periodically. If you would like to complete an application or learn more about the Volunteer Program please go online at www.baxtertstatepark.org/employment-opportunities/volunteer/. Park staff would like to say a collective and heart-felt THANK YOU to its dedicated volunteers. This successful and long-term partnership for the benefit of Baxter State Park and the enjoyment of its visitors is most certainly a remarkable part of its story - and one that would make Percival Baxter proud. 2
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