tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31071032.post-47204696704351693832008-02-15T09:25:00.002-05:002008-02-15T09:44:14.835-05:00Each year the District Supervisors travel around the county and visit selected farms and landowners to choose one for the District’s conservation award. At the operations we look at conservation practices that have been installed over the years. We speak with the landowners about their operation, their past successes and their future plans to protect natural resources.T<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WkU3PYj0I/AAAAAAAACIE/H1WjvizBZm4/s1600-h/Penobscot23_edited.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WkU3PYj0I/AAAAAAAACIE/H1WjvizBZm4/s200/Penobscot23_edited.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167216825810325314" border="0" /></a>his year the Supervisors recognized the Penobscot Indian Nation’s Department of Natural Resources. Through the District’s partnership with the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service, the agencies have been working together since 1997 when the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) were introduced.<br /><p>The Department’s mission is to “manage, develop and protect the Penobscot Nation’s natural resources in a sustainable manner that protects the cultural integrity of the tribe.” The Department of Natural Resources is a collective division of programs. The programs the District works with include Forestry, Water Quality and Wildlife. The other program areas are Air Quality, Conservation Law and Enforcement, Fisheries, and GIS Mapping.</p>There are four natural resource areas that the District and the Nation have in common. They are wildlife, water resources, fisheries and forestry. To that end the Department is charged with addressing these concerns on over 128,000 acres of land scattered over 4 counties in central Maine<p>Over that past 11 years the Department has received 10 EQIP contracts and 2 WHIP contracts. In total over $800,000 has been obligated for conservation practice implementation cost-share on tribal lands.</p>Identified resource concerns have been treated on tribal lands in Mattamisco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WlBnPYj2I/AAAAAAAACIU/dsKWypEupu8/s1600-h/PA090035_edited.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WlBnPYj2I/AAAAAAAACIU/dsKWypEupu8/s200/PA090035_edited.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167217594609471330" border="0" /></a>ntis, Alton, Lakeville, Argyle, Mattagammon and Grindstone. Access roads are essential on these properties for the Penobscot Nation’s sustainable forestry program, access for wildlife management and enjoyment and recreation. Many practices were installed to stabilize these access roads, and reduce erosion and siltation, to water bodies and lessening any impact of concentrated runoff. Many timber bridges were designed and constructed, culverts were installed and miles of road ditching and road banks were improved and stabilized.<br /><p>While forestry revenue is important to the tribe this goal is superseded by the directive to create top quality wildlife habitat. Because of this importance the Forestry and Wildlife programs work closely to ensure that forested areas ensure healthy deer and moose populations. An example of the divisions working together is the creation of a 30 acre habitat in Alton, which will result in young hardwood regeneration which creates excellent habit for deer, moose and other upland wildlife.</p>Other wildlife management improvements included a major project. Theconstruction of a water control structure and fish passage on the Sam Ayers Deadwater in Mattamiscontis. As a result of age and vandalism the original dam failed and drained a 50-ac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WkX3PYj1I/AAAAAAAACIM/4xQbx4dT8ZQ/s1600-h/Duck+Box2_edited.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_jhcYj-dKz6A/R7WkX3PYj1I/AAAAAAAACIM/4xQbx4dT8ZQ/s200/Duck+Box2_edited.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167216877349932882" border="0" /></a>re reservoir that was excellent habitat for waterfowl, wading birds and moose. In addition, the loss of water volume and depth in the reservoir greatly reduced the quality of the trout habitat. To restore this tribal and ecological area the tribe installed a new dam, which included a fish passage and beaver deceiver, which prevents beaver from plugging the passage. Restoration of this wetland has shown a great benefit in a wide array of wetland species.Another wildlife practice that was installed was wood duck nesting boxes on the Penobscot River. In total over 100 boxes were installed to improve and increase the amount of nesting waterfowl. The boxes were made from large cedar trees that developed heart rot. It was easy to cut them into two-foot logs and hollow them out with a chain saw. With the addition of a roof, floor and entry hole, these boxes created a natural habit for the ducks rather than ones created from dimensional lumber. Data collected from previous breeding seasons indicated a larger number of nesting ducks choosing the natural cedar duck box.<br /><p>All of these conservation practices are an integral part of the management system that the Department needs to manage wildlife areas, implement timber stand improvement, timber harvesting, and provide access for hunting and recreation.</p>Chris Brewer - MACD Web Masternoreply@blogger.com