MOUNT ABRAM TOWNSHIP — A total of 2,706 acres have been added to the Mount Abraham Maine Public Reserved Land in northern Franklin County, conserving areas between Saddleback Mountain in Sandy River Plantation and Mount Abraham in Mount Abram Township. “The total purchase cost for the parcels was approximately $3.8 million,” Jim Britt, communication director for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, wrote in an email Tuesday.
The 21 parcels included seven owners and were acquired as part of the Keystones project, a collaboration between the state and conservation partners to protect over 2,700 acres of critical wildlife habitat in the High Peaks region. The High Peaks includes 10 mountain peaks over 4,000 feet, the Appalachian Trail, and the largest expanse of high-elevation forest in the state. The region is bordered by state Route 4 to the southwest, state Route 16 to the northwest, state Route 16/27 to the northeast, and state Route 142 to the southeast.
“Completing the Keystones project marks an important milestone in our enduring efforts to safeguard Maine’s natural heritage and longstanding tradition of public access,” Bill Patterson, deputy director of the bureau, said in a release. “These protected lands preserve critical wildlife habitats and ensure public access to outdoor recreation, further enriching the lives of Mainers and our visitors. We sincerely thank all the partners, donors, and landowners whose dedication and collab.
