The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently announced the protection of the 3,586-acre South Branch Forest, at the headwaters of the Kennebec River watershed in northwest Maine. The parcel was protected through a collaborative effort led by TPL in partnership with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Forest Service and a private landowner.

Located just outside the town of Rangeley, South Branch Forest comprises 580 acres of wetlands, 80 acres of lakes, and a 7-mile section of the Dead River’s South Branch. It provides critical habitat for wild brook trout, moose, deer, beaver, lynx, bobcat, bear, and myriad bird species.

The public will be allowed to access the land on foot and via paddlecraft, as well as via designated trails for motorized recreation (ATV, snowmobile. Approximately half of the protected land will be dedicated to preserving the mature forests, sensitive habitats, and rare species, while the rest will continue to be sustainably harvested for timber and other forest products.