Best of Maine: Acadia National Park
Our national parks have been called “America’s best idea,” and Acadia is living proof. Yet nearly 1,000 acres of land within Acadia National Park are privately owned and so vulnerable to development — and when the land comes up for sale, the park lacks the resources to purchase it. Our staff and members are working to ensure Acadia has the funding it needs to protect all of the land within its boundaries.
1,000 acres in Acadia at risk of development
At Acadia, families and friends have a unique opportunity to experience Maine’s most striking natural beauty — from taking in the views of Frenchman’s Bay atop Cadillac Mountain to biking on the 45 miles of carriage roads to exploring trails like the Precipice and Beehive.
Yet, Acadia is scattered with more than 1,000 acres of “holes” — about 130 tracts of land within the park that are privately owned and at risk of being developed. When people who own this land want to sell it to the park so it’s permanently protected, they can’t — because the park doesn’t have the resources to purchase it.
As a result, iconic places like Burnt Porcupine Island and Rum Key are not permanently protected. These gorgeous undeveloped islands are covered with shingle beaches, steep cliffs, and forests that support an array of coastal species, including the bald eagle. If houses were built on the islands, they would threaten these unique ecosystems and be highly visible from the park.
We need to protect every acre of Acadia for future generations.
Unfortunately, with Acadia suffering from chronic budget shortfalls, it’s too easy to picture treasured pieces of Maine’s natural heritage being sold off to the highest bidder.
Campaign for Acadia reached 1 in 10 Mainers
Our staff and members are tackling the threat.
Environment Maine staff have spoken to more than one out of every 10 Mainers about the threat and mobilized thousands of people to urge the federal government to protect Acadia from development.
With our activism and advocacy, we can protect Acadia
Your activism and our advocacy are a powerful combination. With your help, in 2011, President Obama called for fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the federal program that provides resources for land acquisition at Acadia.
But Congress is standing in the way — and so we can’t give up the fight.
As Congress battles over the federal budget for this fiscal year, Republicans in the House of Representatives slashed the Land and Water Conservation Fund — dealing a huge blow to Acadia National Park and many other special places around the country.
Environment Maine and our allies are fighting the threatened funding cuts to Acadia. Here in Maine, our staff is organizing Mainers to speak out and pressing Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins not to allow the cuts.
Meanwhile, our colleagues at Environment America have been working to convince lawmakers from other states to maintain funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
If enough of us speak out, we can ensure Acadia is protected. Join our campaign by sending Maine’s senators a message today.
Urge Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to stand up for Acadia.
Key Facts
- More than 1,000 acres of land within Acadia National Park are at risk of being developed.
- Burnt Porcupine Island and Rum Key — home to Bald Eagles and other endangered wildlife — are not permanently protected.
- Our staff spoke to more than 1 in 10 Mainers about the threat to Acadia.