It seems like summer just began, and now we're already in the midst of many fall activities. In fact, with school just under way, we're excited to share with you a video story about how the Maine TREE Foundation partners with Plum Creek and other landowners to provide educators around the state with a first-hand look at the science, tradition and future of forestry in Maine.

Plum Creek has also been busy in the woods, partnering with the Greenville community to preserve a B-52 memorial site and working with the state to conserve more than 10,000 acres of land in Carrabassett Valley. We hope you find these updates interesting.

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Regards,
Mark Doty, Community Affairs Manager

Each year, the Maine TREE Foundation hosts a series of Teachers' Tours that provide educators from across the state with an opportunity to tour a working forest and learn what makes the industry important to Maine. The effort reaches more than 350 teachers, environmental leaders and more each year to show them how Maine's forests are one of our most valuable resources.

In 1963, a B-52 bomber crashed on Elephant Mountain near Greenville. Of the nine crewmen on board, seven were killed in the crash, leaving only two survivors. The site of the crash has served as a memorial for years, attracting thousands of visitors annually. However, the memorial is deteriorating due to harsh weather conditions on the mountain.

Plum Creek, along with the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club , the Air National Guard, the American Legion, Civil Air Patrol and the Maine Warden Service are working to preserve the crash site as a memorial. Plum Creek has established a no harvesting zone around the crash site. Additionally, this past summer Plum Creek dug a diversion trench above the crash site and installed several culverts to divert the groundwater. The trail leading to the site was rebuilt as well.

Organizers are considering whether to relocate the B-52's tail section from the eastern side of Elephant Mountain to be permanently displayed at the snowmobile clubhouse with other crash artifacts, including a jet engine and an ejection seat from the plain, or possibly to the main crash site on the western side of the mountain.

The project is expected to be completed by May 2013 to recognize the 50th anniversary of the crash. For more information or to donate to the project, please contact Pete Pratt with the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club at 695-8965.

Maine's vast tracts of working forest are part of what makes this state so unique and beautiful. Plum Creek sees value in this land not only for timber purposes, but for conservation and outdoor recreation as well. In fact, this summer Plum Creek worked with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) program and many others to sell 11,800 acres of its land in Carrabassett Valley for conservation.

The land is part of the largest, high-elevation forest in Maine and contains three mountains over 4,000 feet - North Crocker, South Crocker and Sugarloaf. This conservation sale will preserve popular outdoor recreation areas on this mountain terrain, including miles of snowmobile and ATV trails as well as a segment of the Appalachian Trail, for years to come.

In addition to keeping the future of these recreation areas protected, the project is also focused on conserving wildlife. In fact, about half of the property is proposed for an ecological reserve to protect habitat for the Bicknell Thrush and the endangered Roaring Brook mayfly. The LMF also plans to maintain the remaining land as working forest under the Department of Conservation's management.

Scott Henker - Senior Resource Manager

"The forest industry has always been a part of my life."

That's how Scott Henker describes his lifelong career. Since getting his start in 1986, Scott has worked for several forestry services and lumber companies. He found Plum Creek in 2003, where he held positions as a marketing forester, resource supervisor and finally senior resource manager for Plum Creek's Lake States region of Michigan and Wisconsin.

In June 2011, Scott picked up his life in Wisconsin and moved to Maine to become the senior resource manager for the New England Region. In his new role, Scott oversees all land management activities for Plum Creek's property in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Scott stays very busy between practicing sustainable forestry and road building to mapping, forest inventory and environmental compliance.

"I found a great fit in 1986 and never looked back," said Scott.

Scott graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry administration. He has played a leadership role in many industry groups in the Midwest and looks forward to taking on similar roles in New England.