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4.20.07
The State of Green (cont.)
The Threats
Endangered Places
Sweet Success
ENDANGERED
PLACES
1. Long Island Sound – Off the Connecticut shoreline,
Long Island Sound faces a multitude of threats from development,
pollution, industrialization and overfishing.
Connecticut Surfrider’s Andrew Krupa says the Sound has seen the destruction
of shellfishing, a decimated lobster industry, and increased
levels of toxins. Fertilizer runoff has created huge algae
blooms that kill sealife. Meanwhile, Broadwater Energy has
proposed building a liquefied natural gas facility in the middle
of the Sound, which has people like Krupa worried about the
potential for an explosion, for leaks, and how pollution from it
could affect fisheries. And other liquefied natural gas
terminals are proposed up and down the New England coastline. As
one respondent said, “Kayaks, wildlife and explosive
supertankers don’t mix.”
2. Moosehead Lake – Mainers are losing access to
woodlands, lakes and trails in the North Woods as real estate
developers carve up the area. The squeeze is especially being
felt around the gateway to the North Woods — Moosehead Lake —
where one real estate developer wants to build the largest
development in the history of the state. The developer, Plum
Creek, wants to rezone 426,000 acres around Moosehead Lake and
develop nearly 1,000 house lots spread over thousands of acres
in multiple subdivisions and two resorts spreading over 3,100
acres with numerous rental properties, hotels, golf courses and
commercial development. Matthew Davis says the proposal flies in
the face of the area’s tradition. For centuries, Maine has
struck a balance in the North Woods between private ownership,
public access, and preservation of Maine’s special places. He
says Plum Creek has tried to greenwash its image with hollow
promises about conservation. But, he says, you can kiss the
North Woods goodbye if Plum Creek builds a sprawling development
and resorts across New England’s only really wild expanse of
forests. NEXT
The Threats
Endangered Places
Sweet Success
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