The Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (MBPL) is planning to make the Allagash Wilderness Waterway a little less wild, a move that is drawing opposition from many people who love this “Wild & Scenic” River System and state-administered wilderness area.

The MBPL’s plans include the construction of storage buildings, the purchase of an outboard-powered boat, and the installation of several Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant stations along the edge of the waterway. The money used for these projects is being provided by the Federal Government.

Opponents, including Citizens for Keeping the Wild in Allagash and many Maine guides, argue that these additions will compromise the character of the waterway, which is very different from a state park. Some prophecy that it could lead to greater development of the area.