In the coming years, the national monument will take shape through public input and involvement. You are invited to join this effort.
Listening Sessions Update and Report
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument held a series of community listening sessions in Stacyville, Medway, Millinocket and Bangor during the fall of 2016. Over 550 interested citizens attended these sessions and numerous others shared written comments delivered by e-mail, mail and in person to the NPS welcome desks in Millinocket and Patten.
These listening sessions were an opportunity to hear directly from interested citizens in communities surrounding the monument. The goals of these sessions were to gain a greater understanding of the diverse perspectives held by the communities and interested groups about the future planning of the monument, and begin to identify the issues and opportunities that will inform additional public discussions for the management plan going forward.
A full report of the compilation of responses from the listening sessions and write-in comments (delivered by November 30, 2016) can be downloaded using the links below.
Listening Session Report: A compilation of comments shared through Listening Sessions and Write-in Comments (PDF 5.87 MB)
Printed copies of the report are also available at libraries and town offices in the communities surrounding the monument (including Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, Stacyville, Sherman and Patten) and at the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce.
Next Steps...
Over the next several months, we will continue to meet with organizations, state agencies, schools, towns and businesses to learn more about opportunities for the new monument. Starting later this winter and continuing throughout the coming year, we will host a series of discussions to further explore the topics identified in the listening sessions scoping process.
Announcements for those events will be shared through on this website and through e-news updates. Input received will be used to draft a management plan that will guide the long-term direction for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The National Park Service has committed to completing the management plan in three years. Management plans for new monuments establish the overarching vision for the public lands and guide the direction for future work and activities. The plan will also be available for public comment prior to its finalization.
If at any time you would like to share additional comments with us, please send them to: kaww_superintendent@nps.gov.