Acadia National Park in Maine was established to protect the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area. It has diverse ecosystems including beaches, forests, mountains and wetlands that are home to over 50% of Maine's plant species as well as various mammals and birds. The park offers many recreational activities for visitors such as hiking, cycling, swimming and scenic drives. Park management focuses on conservation, providing access for recreation, and planning for future usage while protecting resources and wildlife like nesting seabirds.

1. Harold Sowards
PLS 301
Acadia National Park

2. History
• Wabanaki Indians
• George B. Dorr “Father of Acadia”
• Charles W. Eliot
• Waldron Bates

3. Legislature
• June 8, 1906
• Sieur de Monts National Monument
• February 26,1919
• Lafayette National Park
• January 19, 1929
• Acadia
• Extra legislation

4. Management Philosphies
• Advisory Comission
• Protect
• Provide
• For the future: Maintain, rehabilitate, development, usage of areas

5. Natural Resources
• Beaches
• Forests
• Glacial erractics
• Intertidal zones
• 14 big and 10 small ponds
• Mountains
• Wetlands

6. Flora and Fauna
• 40 species of mammals
• Mountain lion and gray wolf no longer inhabit the area
• 50% of all the vascular plants in Maine

7. Cultural
• Native Americans
• 17-19th century
• Park development

8. Recreational
• Bicycling
• Birdwatching
• Boating
• Climbing
• Earth cache
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Leaf peeping
• Picnicking
• Scenic drives
• Swimming
• Tidepooling
• Winter activities

9. Top Attractions include

10. Mount Desert Island
• They want to build a visitor center in Trenton
• Cadillac Mountain which at 1530 is the highest mountain in the
North Atlantic Seaboard

11. Baker Island
• Has a 43 foot high Baker Light Station overlooking Frenchman
Bay
• “Dance Floor”
• 4 cruises

12. Sheep Porcupine Island
• Near Agemont Park
• 22 acres
• Shore Path
• Nesting area for American Eagle and Sea birds
• Only accessible by boat
• Closed February 15-August 31

13. Little Moose Island
• Nesting birds
• Southern Coast of Maine
• Coastal bogs, exposed heath lands
• Spruce/pine
• Tall red granite cliffs
• Low tide = land bridge

14. Cadillac Mountain
• Has the South Ridge Trail (7.4 Miles)

15. Bar Harbor
• 60 ft snowfall annually
• Only fjord on the Atlantic Coast of America
• 120 miles of hiking trails
• Beehive and Great Head Trail

16. Great Head Trail
• East of Sand Beach
• 520 ft summit with
• 104 miles long
• Pink Granite cliffs
• Has a view of Otter Cliff, Thunder Hole and Gorham Mountain
• Grey birch trees

17. Other Attractions
• Gorham Mountain
• Otter Cliff
• Thunder Hole
• Sand Beach
• Park Loop Road

18. Bird Watching
• Can take part in the Down East Nature Tours
• See these birds across the park

19. Management Challenges
• Fires
• Air Pollution
• Mercury
• Invasive Species/Pests
• Climbing New areas
• Bird Protection

20. Fire Management
• Tactics include: Fire prevention, education, preparedness,
suppression, prescribed fire, hazard fuel management, reduction of
wildland/urban interface hazards, monitoring and respect
• This is mainly due to the fire in October of 1947 that lasted till
November 14th and set 10,000 acres ablaze

21. Air pollution
• Monitor and research the amount of pollution in the air

22. Mercury
• Monitor and research the amount in the water and in the
surrounding area

23. Invasive Species/Pests
• Integrated Pest Management

24. Climbing
• They had to begin closing certain areas to protect birds since 1988
• No climbing on boulders on carriage road bridges
• They use an advising groups that require climbers to register annually
and they must have registration cards
• Also they have to sign a climbing log each day
• Max group size: 12
• These policies are updated every 3 years

25. Protecting the Birds
• Birds require peace when they start trying to hatch their eggs and
raise them during the nesting period
• Sheep Porcupine Island is closed down for nesting of sea birds and
eagles during February 15 through August 31st every year
• Precipice Trial is also closed between March 15th through August 15th
every year

26. • Remember to Leave No Trace