With little public notice, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is about to commence an enormous forestry project at Jamie’s Pond Wildlife Management Area in the next few weeks. This extensive wood harvesting will change the nature of the place forever. In addition to cutting extensive areas in the preserve, they will be using heavy equipment necessitating construction of roads to haul out the trees they have cut, and those roads will remain evident for along time and lead to washouts and erosion.

While this property is called a wildlife management area, it is also a major destination for hikers, skiers and those who enjoy fishing. Certainly while the operation is being carried out, the peace and quiet of the area will be disturbed. But in the long term, it will completely lose the appeal it has had to multitudes of area residents who believe the area should remain as it has been. It seems to some of us that the state’s drive to derive revenue from the land it owns has taken over any other goals.

If you agree that this should remain more of a park, with its close proximity to a fairly urban area, and not managed for timber or supposedly for wildlife, please contact Rep. Charlotte Warren to express your opinion. There has been very little public input or notice and it is critical that this proposed plan for timber harvesting be reconsidered and approached more thoughtfully.

Joan Sturmthal

Hallowell