St. John Uplands Region - Management Plan

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has adopted a 15-year management plan for approximately 63,000 acres of lands known as the St. John Uplands Region. The region roughly encompasses the western part of Aroostook County as well as northernmost Somerset and Piscataquis Counties. The St. John and Allagash Rivers, renowned for their wilderness settings and paddling opportunities, flow through the region. Chamberlain, Allagash and Eagle Lakes are among the major lakes in the region.

This plan will guide the Bureau’s management of the Telos, Chamberlain and Round Pond Public Lands, as well as Gero Island/Chesuncook lands on Chesuncook Lake and several smaller lots near the Allagash River and the town of Allagash.

Most of the public lands addressed by this plan are adjacent to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW), the management of which is guided by a Management Plan adopted in December 2012. The St. John Uplands Plan does not directly address the AWW or alter the 2012 AWW plan, but addresses issues whereby management of adjacent public lands may affect the AWW.

The St. John Uplands Region Plan is posted below. To read these files, you will need a copy of the free Adobe Reader software.

The Public Planning Process

A public scoping meeting was held August 30, 2017 in Ashland, where the public had an opportunity to provide input on the region’s resources, and on issues and concerns related to management and use of the public lands to be addressed in the Plan. Meeting minutes and written comments are posted below.

An Advisory Committee (AC) was formed and is comprised of individuals who know the resources of the area or can provide specific guidance on the needs and desires of certain user groups. AC meetings were held in November 2017 and November 2019 to further discuss management issues and to review a Plan draft prepared by BPL staff. AC meeting minutes are posted below.

BPL staff prepared a Final Draft Plan for review, which reflected the contributions of the AC members and other public participants, as well as the contributions of specialists and field staff within the Department. A virtual public meeting was held to receive comments; meeting minutes are posted below. Comments were accepted for 3 weeks after the meeting; four written comments were received.

Public Meetings

No meetings currently scheduled.

Date and Time	Headline	Location	Additional Information

 

Management Plan Documents

• Final Plan - March, 2021
  • Part 1 - St John Uplands Management Plan (PDF 2.5MB)
  • Part 2 - St John Uplands Management Plan (PDF 5MB)
  • Part 3 - St John Uplands Management Plan (PDF 4MB)
  • Part 4 - St John Uplands Management Plan (PDF 2.5MB)
  • Appendices - St John Uplands Management Plan (PDF 3.4MB)
• Maps of the Region
  
  • St. John Uplands Region, North (PDF 598KB)
  • St. John Uplands Region, South (PDF 954KB)
• Scoping Meeting Minutes and Written Comments
  • Meeting Minutes with Attachments, August 30, 2017 (PDF 600KB)
  • Written Scoping Comments 8/30 to 9/20/2017 (PDF 445KB)
• First Advisory Committee Meeting
  • Meeting Minutes with Attachments, November 29, 2017 (PDF 803KB)
  • Attachment B - Meeting Slide Presentation (PDF 1.6MB)
• Second Advisory Committee Meeting
  • Meeting Minutes with Attachments, November 21, 2019 (PDF 2MB)
• Public Meeting to Present FInal Draft Plan
  • Meeting Minutes with Attachments, January 27, 2021 (PDF 1.4MB)

For more information:

Jim Vogel
Senior Planner
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
22 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0022
(207) 287-2163