RANGELEY – The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, has acquired more than one half-mile of shoreline on Rangeley Lake as part of a recent acquisition of land for Rangeley Lake State Park, located in the town of Rangeley.

The 29-acre parcel, acquired at a price of $595,000, previously had been surrounded by the state park land and now is a part of a continuously protected shoreline, according to BPL officials. Funding for the acquisition came through the Land for Maine’s Future Program.

The parcel, which includes sensitive wildlife habitat, adds to the total acreage set aside in conservation under the administration of Gov. John E. Baldacci.

“The state park system is indebted to the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust for making this acquisition possible,” MDOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan said Monday. “We could not have pulled this off without them. Enlisting the partnership and support of private groups such as Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust is an absolutely necessary part of Maine’s conservation strategy during tough budget times.”

“Rangeley Lake State Park is an important tourism asset that helps sustain Rangeley’s economy,” Alan Stearns, BPL deputy director, said. “Four miles of uninterrupted shoreline protection will keep Rangeley attractive for visitors, paddlers, campers, hunters, and fishermen for generations to come. This acquisition is part of western Maine’s tourism future.”

“The successful completion of this exciting conservation acquisition strongly demonstrates the value of public/private partnerships in achieving shared conservation goals,” Nancy Perlson, RLHT executive director, said. “RLHT is committed to conservation and community and the addition of this important parcel supports our continuing effort to protect wildlife habitat and scenic shoreline while enhancing recreational opportunities that support the regional economy.”

Rangeley Lake State Park consists of 898 acres on 10-square mile Rangeley Lake. The area is famous for landlocked salmon and trout fishing, as well as water sports, hiking, picnicking, camping, wildlife watching, and photography.

The park has a popular campground, with 50 campsites, some with water access. As of October 2009, the campground had a 2.7 percent increase in usage over the same time period last year. The campground and day-use areas offer picnicking, swimming, and a concrete boat launching ramp with floats.

After years of negotiations, the new 29-acre parcel was acquired early 2009 by the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust at BPL’s urging. BPL acquired the parcel at its appraised value, Stearns said.

The parcel – including portions of Black Point and South Bog on the shores of Rangeley Lake – includes sensitive wildlife habitat.

“The parcel is 200 feet from an eagle’s nest in the park which fledged chicks in 2004,” Stearns said, adding that the parcel abuts key protected deer wintering areas.

“Widely recognized as one of Maine’s gems, the Rangeley Lakes region has benefited from several investments by the Land for Maine’s Future Program over the years,” Tim Glidden, LMF director, said. “The Height of Land, Bald Mountain, the Rangeley River, the Cupsuptic Lake campground projects - and now the addition to the park - are all examples of the ongoing, successful partnership with Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust. The LMF board is extremely appreciative of the key role the trust has played in protecting the quality of the Rangeley Lakes region for the benefit of all Maine citizens.”

In total, state and RLHT conservation lands on Rangeley Lake now include 4 miles of continuously conserved lake frontage and 1,800 acres of contiguous park and conservation lands, including public reserve lands. The conserved shore frontage and state park camping is a key part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, created nine years ago, Stearns noted. The paddling trail now runs from New York state through Vermont, Quebec, and New Hampshire to Maine passing through Rangeley.

“Rangeley is one of the bright gems along the multi-state necklace of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT),” Kate Williams, NFCT executive director, said. “This state park acquisition secures and expands public access and safeguards the natural beauty of an area whose peaceful vistas have attracted paddlers, anglers, birders, and other visitors for decades.”

For more information about Rangeley Lake State Park, go to: http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/search_name.pl?state_park=25&historic_site=&public_reserved_land=&shared_use_trails=&option=search

For more information about Rangeley Lake Heritage Trust, go to: http://www.rlht.org/

For more information about Lands for Maine’s Future, go to: http://www.maine.gov/spo/lmf/

For more information about Northern Forest Canoe Trail, go to: http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/