A Summary of  University Forest Office Lands The following information regarding outlying lands under the jurisdiction of the University Forests Office of the School of Forest Resources is provided for your information. It represents a summary of the lands available for possible use by the College in conjunction with the objectives and characteristics of the individual parcels. If you have questions regarding this information, contact the person whose name is listed with the parcel in question or contact Al Kimball, Forest Manager, at 581-2849.

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Dwight B. Demeritt Forest

History: This land was leased and then deeded to the University to be managed by the Forestry Department in 1939. It is the closest of all holdings to campus. It is used as a demonstration, educational, and research facility, and is also heavily used for recreation.

General Description: This lot is comprised of mixed forest stands, fields, and water. It has been under management for over 40 years and extensive records are maintained regarding it's history.

Current Uses: The Demeritt Forest is currently used for education, demonstrations, research, and recreation.

Potential Uses: Uses that are in line with the stated objectives of the Demeritt Forest are encouraged.

Holt Research Forest

History: The forest belongs to the Holt Research Foundation. The University's involvement began in 1981 when the foundation contracted with the College of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agriculture to begin a long-term forest ecosystem study.

General Description: Three hundred acres of the property comprise of a mixed oak/pine forest with an additional 50 acres of salt marsh. It is bounded on the east by the Back River and on the west by Sewall Pond. Facilities include a log house to provide working and living quarters for a research associate and a field station where students and guests are housed during the summer.

Current Uses: The site is currently used for research, management, and education.

Potential Uses: Additional research and educational projects are encouraged.

Website: http://www.umaine.edu/holtforest/

Contact Person: Dr. M.L. Hunter

Huff Hill Property

History: This property was acquired by the University in 1962 from the Rupert H. Baxter heirs. It is the site of an old farmstead. Originally, the site was used by the Plant and Soil Science Department, but they stopped using it and turned over responsibility of the property to the Forest Management Department.

General Description: The property is located on a north-facing slope on Huff Hill. It is comprised of a mixture of overgrown fields, orchards, and woods. Access to the lot is via a gravel road which is gated and locked. There is a camp lot leased on the lot.

Current Uses: This lot is managed for multiple uses with primary emphasis on timber production.

Potential Uses: This property may be suitable for educational use or for research but is restricted by its distance from campus and the access to the property. It is somewhat hard to find and good directions need to be given to locate it. Any proposed uses will be considered on an individual basis.

Fay Hyland Bog

History: This property was donated to the University by International Paper Company.

General Description: This property is a bog. It is a Registered National Landmark by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Current Uses: This property has been used for research and timber production.

Potential Uses: Uses of this property are restricted by the terms of the National Landmark designation.

Nathaniel G. Whittier Woodlot

History: This woodlot was given to the University in 1985, to be managed by the University Forests Office. It has been under management of the Maine Forest Service since the 1950's with cultural operations carried out each decade since that time.

General Description: The woodlot comprises of approximately 50 acres of pole-sized white pine and 20 acres of sawtimber-sized white pine. All stands have been thinned in the 1980's. There have been previous cultural operations on the lot dating to the 1950's. The lot is very accessible, bordering Route 156 and the Sandy River.

Current Uses: This woodlot is managed for multiple use; primarily timber production. Harvesting operations are conducted by the forestry program at Foster Technical Center, in Farmington. The lot is also used for Certified Logging Professional training.

Potential Uses: This woodlot has potential as a study site for research in white pine growth and management.

The Worthen Woodland

History: The Worthern Woodland was donated to the University by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Worthen in 1965. Proceeds from management operations on the forest go to support the Worthen Scholarships offered to students within the College of Natural Resources, Forestry, and Agriculture.

General Description: The Worthen Woodland consists of mixed stands of wood, wetlands, and the headwaters of Hemlock Stream. The lot has been divided in to 10-acre blocks similar to the Demeritt Forest, and records are kept by block.

Current Uses: The property is managed for timber. There is a camp located on the property that has been used for several summers by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to house personnel involved in the Black Bear Project. A trapping and tagging program for bear is ongoing.

Potential Uses: The Worthen Woodland is available for uses in line with the objectives of the University Forests with the primary emphasis on timber management for support of the Worthen Scholarships.

Patten Woodlot

History: The Patten Woodlot was a combination purchase/donation from Patten Corporation in 1989.

General Description: This property contains old fields which have grown over to woods. It also contains large areas of wetlands. A gravel road transects the woodlot but is gated to control access.

Current Uses: This woodlot is managed for multiple uses including timber production and wildlife habitat enhancement. Research projects in forestry and wildlife have been conducted.

Potential uses: The Patten Woodlot is available for uses in line with the College of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agriculture programs.

Merrill Woodlot

History: This woodlot was donated to the University by Wayne H. Merrill in 1988.

General Description: This lot is entirely wood consisting of second growth mixed species. It was previously pastured with no evidence of cutting for the last 60 or so years.

Current Uses: The Merrill lot is currently managed for timber production. Any proceeds from the sale of products must go to a scholarship for the College of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agriculture.

Potential Uses: This lot has potential research value, but its distance from campus limits uses to low intensity. Timber production will remain dominant to support its named scholarship.

Collins Woodlot

History: This land was given to the University of Maine at Augusta by Frances Collins in 1987. It is managed by the University Forests Office under agreement between the Augusta and Orono campuses.

General Description: The Collins woodlot is a mixed species forest comprised of white pine and upland hardwoods. It was extensively cut over prior to its donation to UMA. It is a good example of a forest which has been high graded. There is still a good stocking of trees throughout.

Current Uses: This woodlot has had annual timber harvesting on it over the last 15 years. It is managed to generate income for UMA.

Potential Uses: This is available for research uses by the College of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agriculture

Gardiner Woodlot

History: This woodlot was donated to the University by Margaret Gardiner in 1995.

General Description: This is a mixed species woodlot that has over 1,500' frontage on salt water. It has a system of horse trails traversing it. A salvage of hemlock trees killed by the Hemlock looper was conducted in 1993.

Current Uses: The woodlot is used for horseback riding by a local club. It will be managed for multiple uses with recreational use and timber production as the primary objectives.

Potential Uses: This woodlot is available for research uses if compatible with the the above-mentioned objectives.

Houston Woodlot

History: This woodlot was given to the University by George Houston in 1995, to be managed by the University Forests Office.

General Description: The Houston woodlot is an old family farm of some 250 acres, about 30 of which are fields. The old homestead is located on the property. The lot consists of varied woodland and wet areas. It also includes some old fields which are growing back into woods.

Current Uses: This woodlot just came to the University.

Potential Uses: The land will be managed for forest products, wildlife habitat and recreation. The fields will be kept as such if a local farmer can be found to trade cutting hay for fertilizing the soil. A portion of the fields will be available for planting to Christmas trees, or trail tree plantings.

Crowley Lot

History: This lot was donated to the University by Dr. Charles Crowley in 1995. It has substantial frontage in the west side of the Machias River between Whitneyville and Machias.

General Description: This woodlot was heavily affected by the spruce budworm, and was also logged prior to Dr. Crowley owning it. It has 2,500' of frontage on the Machias River.

Current Uses: No active management of this woodlot is planned over the next ten years. The lot provides valuable protection to the river by providing a significant section of undeveloped shoreline. Management activities will be planned around wildlife habitat objectives.

Potential Uses: This lot is available for appropriate research, education or demonstrative uses.

MAFES/FARM Holdings

History: Since the combining of the College of Forestry and the College of Agriculture; all woodlands within the college have been put under the management of the University Forests Office.

Description: The various research facilities within the Maine Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station have woodlot ranging in size from 900 acres at Aroostook Farms, to 25 acres at the Jonesboro facility. These woodlots remain in control of their primary managers, with the woodlands manager available to advise them on forest management issues.

Current Uses: Because each of the different facilities has a specific research objective, the woodland areas are of secondary importance. However, the College believes that all natural resources available should be properly utilized and managed.

Potential Uses: These individual woodlot could be available for use by the College for various purposes, at the discretion of the unit manager.

Penobscot Experimental Forest

History: This forest was donated to the University by a consortium of industrial forest landowners in 1994. The forest had previously been leased to the US Forest Service for conducting research in spruce/fir forest types.

General Description: This forest contains a variety of forest types. A good interior road system provides excellent access for all uses. The US Forest Service has conducted research on this forest for several decades. Although owned now by the University, the US Forest Service continues their research under a memorandum of agreement with the University.

Current Uses: The US Forest Service continues its research program today. The College has several research initiatives underway as well. The University Forests Office will be developing a forest management plan for this forest over the next two years.

Potential Uses: The primary objective of this forest is to provide research opportunities. Proposed uses are subject to review and approval by a forest research operations team composed of members from the College, the Experiment Station, and the US Forest Service research unit in Orono.