keepmebeautiful

What's New

Information on current and planned EPI activities, events, and programs are provided below:

New Acquisitions. In August 2011, EPI purchased nearly 1,000 acres in Elliottsville along Little Wilson and Big Wilson streams. The property includes spectacular views of Little Wilson Falls and Big Wilson Cliffs, several ledge outcrops, and prime snowshoe hare habitat. The property provides recreational opportunities as well as an additional buffer for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridor.

In September 2011, EPI purchased 11,500 acres in T4 R7 WELS and T5 R7 WELS, which protects the east side of the Seboeis River for nearly 8 miles and the west side of the river for an additional 4 miles. The property provides foraging and wintering habitat for lynx and deer, and includes a zoned deer wintering area along the river. The property also affords several scenic views of Mount Katahdin.

In early January 2012, EPI purchased over 10,400 acres in Barnard and Williamsburg townships. The purchase was the final of three phases of acquisition in this region totaling nearly 30,000 acres. The property is characterized by early successional habitat, which provides browse for many species, including bear, moose, deer, partridge, and turkeys.  

Animal Tracking. The winter of 2011, and particularly the late-season snowfall in northern Maine, provided EPI staff with excellent opportunities for track surveys with a focus on Canada lynx. This is the third winter EPI has conducted these surveys. In addition to Canada lynx, common tracks encountered include moose, deer, coyote, fisher, ruffed grouse, as well as several others.

In July 2011, EPI conducted a study to document fish species in the headwater streams of the East Branch Sanctuary. A total of eight streams were sampled with a total of eight species detected overall.

Recreation: In an effort to provide low-impact users with recreational opportunities in line with EPI’s goals, a new trail, the Lunksoos Connector, was blazed from the banks of the East Branch Penobscot River to the Old Eagle Lake Tote Road in the summer of 2011. The trailhead is visible from the landing at Lunksoos Camps, and a short paddle upstream leads hikers to their starting destination. The trail follows the natural contours of the landscape, weaving through softwood stands and floodplains and provides access to the Old Eagle Lake Tote Road, which leads hikers to the Deasey Mountain Trail, or to the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands’ Wassataquoik Public Reserve Land. The trail was tested by a group of hardy artists during the event “Painting the Unknown.”

In response to several requests for recreation maps to use in exploring the property, EPI plans to release a set on this web site during the winter of 2012 and will be adding several signs to trails throughout the year to assist visitors with their travels.

Art: In September 2011, a group of 14 artists was guided from North Light Gallery in Millinocket to Lunksoos Camps for the event “Painting the Unknown.” Half of the participants used the inspiration of Lunksoos Camps and the banks of the East Branch Penobscot River to create works of art throughout the day. The other half loaded their gear into canoes and paddled to the Lunksoos Connector trail, where they hiked to the Old Eagle Lake Tote Road and then on to Wassataquoik Stream. At the end of the day, they packed up their gear and the art they had created and headed back to the gallery to finish their work for display at the gallery.