Nicatous Lake Project Summary

Located in Hancock County, Maine within the “Downeast Lakes Region,” Nicatous Lake is a spectacular resource with tremendous conservation values. The Lake comprises nearly 100 small islands, prime forestland, and a spectacular shoreline which provide important scenic values and essential wildlife habitat and offers traditional recreational uses such as canoeing, camping, hiking, and fishing. This area of the State has long been a high priority for protection given its ecological, recreational, and forestland values and the continuing threat of development.

Jim and Jenness Robbins of Robbins Lumber Company own approximately 20,000 acres of prime forestland surrounding Nicatous Lake and adjacent to an existing state-owned property, “Duck Lake Unit.” In 1997, the family retained LTCCAS to assist in the conservation disposition of the property, specifically, advising on the options and limitations of the sale and conveyance of portions of the property. LTCCAS assisted in the design and drafting of a conservation easement; managing the appraisal process; pursuing (and securing) a grant from the US Forest Service Forest Legacy Program; and facilitating a unique conservation partnership between several organizations including the Trust for Public Land, Forest Society of Maine, (FSM), Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and International Paper Company. This collaborative effort among multiple partners was critical to conserving the land and the result was a “working forest conservation easement” (WFCE) granted in April 2000 by Robbins Lumber Inc., which at the time was the largest working forest conservation easement in Maine. Given the size of the property and the funding needs, it was critical to complete the conservation disposition in a series of phases rather than a single transaction thereby allowing the conservation partners sufficient time to secure the necessary funding to protect the property. Among others, funders included the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program which awarded $3 million and the Land for Maine’s Future Program which contributed $750,000.

This strategy allowed the economic, environmental, and recreational values of Nicatous Lake and the Robbins property to be protected forever. Specifically, the effort resulted in:

  • A conservation easement on 20,068 acres of Robbins Lumber Company land that guarantees ecological, economic and recreational benefits.
  • State ownership of 76 Nicatous islands and a 300-acre parcel connecting an existing state ownership with the lake.
  • Prohibition of development along 34 miles of shoreline.
  • Continuation of long-term forest management.
  • Shoreline protection for nesting bald eagles.
  • Permanent public recreational access to nearly 50,000 connected acres of state and private conservation land.

In 2001, the Nicatous Lake Project became the first Forest Legacy project to receive the Taking Wing Award presented by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. This award is given in recognition of significant efforts to conserve wetland ecosystems for waterfowl and other wildlife.