Larry Balchen, a Jonesboro resident and president emeritus of the Pleasant River Fish and Game Conservation Association, believes Downeast could lose its luster should its natural landscape continue to be developed. He has written a letter to conservation groups with the idea to form a 50 plus mile hiking trail that would begin in East Machias, share portions of the Down East Sunrise Trail (DEST), link into Machias, travel up along the Machias River to a number of lakes and ultimately end at Grand Lake Stream. He calls it the Sea to the Lakes Trail.
      "Last autumn I went to Third Machias Lake with some friends and decided to come back sometime and walk some of the roads," says Balchen. "That's when it hit me that a riverside trail would be a cool idea."
      "I hear a lot of people say, 'There's nothing here, we have to build stuff to attract people.' What they are missing is the fact that this 'nothing' is exactly what attracts people Downeast who enjoy outdoor recreation and increasingly have the ability to work remotely. The more venues we have for outdoor recreation, the more attractive the area becomes for them. We can grow our economy without destroying our sense of place," he says.
      Balchen says the trail would incorporate established trail systems such as the DEST, Maine Coast Heritage Trust's (MCHT) riverfront park, the proposed river walk in Machias, the Downeast Coastal Conservancy's (DCC) Machias River Preserve, as well as numerous smaller individual trails. Balchen believes that most if not all of this is protected by conservation easements or held as Maine public lands and industrial forests.
      A number of people are expressing support for the proposal. "A long distance riverfront trail offers a fantastic way to experience our forests, the river, several lakes and the Machias River estuary," says Rich Bard, who served 11 years as regional wildlife biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and as past director of the DCC. "Linking the Grand Lake Stream region with the coast is something that hasn't been done and could offer tourism and economic development for both areas."
      "A longer trail system not only opens up a bevy of economic opportunities for the towns it passes through but would reverse some of the overcrowded trailheads already being seen Downeast," says outdoor writer Carey Kish. He points out there are not many long trails in Maine. "A trail of this length -- 50 plus miles -- now opens the door to backpackers, campers, etc. That gets the trail listed in magazines and exposes it significantly to more hiking enthusiasts."
      It's what happens in support of the trail where the economic benefits are realized, Kish says. "Once the trail is established, the food and accommodation establishments see more business," he says. "Then new businesses migrate into the area to fill gaps in the services needed to sustain the growing number of people. The dollars are always spent directly in the communities the trail touches."
      Dwayne Shaw from Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) believes the proposed trail would have a substantial impact and be of great benefit to the area. "I believe the concept is great and achievable," says Shaw. "It would help diversify the quality of experiences that visitors and residents of the region have as choices. This is not unlike the expansive ATV and snowmobile systems already in place, where landowners have agreed to participate."
      Rails-to-Trails Conservancy cites a number of studies showing the economic impact trails and greenways have on areas across the U.S. For instance, a 1999 study of Ohio's 72 mile Little Miami Scenic Trail found an estimated 150,000 people used the trail annually. Trail users spent approximately $2 million on trip related expenditures in one year.
      The most recent economic analysis of the Eastern Trail in Maine was completed by Camoin Associates. It highlights a total annual economic impact of $44.6 million associated with Eastern Trail use between its northern terminus in South Portland and the state border in Kittery. The report's analysis considers both the impact of current trail usage and impacts of a hypothetical trail expansion scenario that results in new construction spending and trail usage. It is estimated roughly 250,000 people use the trail annually based on recent trail counts, and each user spends an average of $118 per day. The trail also supports 364 jobs across the state, $12.5 million in earnings and $32.1 million in sales, with most sales coming from overnight lodging, food and drink and retail items.

Local support a must
      Presently, there is no conservation group committed to Balchen's project. A few groups have indicated a willingness to perhaps collaborate on the project in the future. All of the conservation groups, though, are in agreement that a project of this nature would absolutely need local "buy in" from businesses, landowners and residents to succeed.
      "This is an interesting proposal and would require at a minimum three to five years to become reality," says Jacob van de Sande of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. "Though the Machias River is not in our purview, we would consider collaborating should this project receive the necessary support to become reality."
      DCC Executive Director Colin Brown indicates that the organization is always happy to explore and expand new options for public access and would be a willing partner on this project should it come to fruition.
      "Clearly it will take economic resources to pay landowners for access by purchasing land or easements," says Bard. "There is always opposition if public money is used, but we have a long history through Land for Maine's Future and other programs of supporting big ideas like this. No one would be forced to provide access -- as far as I can tell -- so the trail would simply have to go around those lands."
      Balchen admits it's a lengthy process and that landowners impacted by something like this certainly should have a say in it, but he feels the challenges are not insurmountable. "I look to examples like the Georges Highland Path and Hills to Sea trail in the midcoast region," says Balchen. "These trails wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the generosity of landowners who granted easements across their lands. I'd like to think that community spirit exists here as well."
      Tom Reeves, a member of the leadership committee for the Maine Trails Coalition (MTC), believes Balchen's proposal is somewhat similar to another project. The four year old organization is a statewide voice for trail users, supporters and advocates. "A project that mirrors this proposal would be what was achieved in Belfast," says Reeves. "The harbor walk linked to a rail trail and then to a much longer trail is a great example of something done really well involving conservation groups, private landowners and the town of Belfast all working together."
      In discussion for a long time is the Machias Riverwalk project. Not only could a lengthy trail such as the one Balchen is suggesting be linked, but support services along a prominent stretch of the Machias River would be a magnet for visitors to explore. "These are exciting times for Machias and Washington County," says Machias Town Manager Bill Kitchen.
      In 2009 the Machias Revitalization Committee (MRC), working with Coplon Associates, an architectural planning firm based in Bar Harbor, obtained a small grant to provide funds for a "revitalization master plan" of sorts to be created. This 17 page blueprint outlined a series of steps and projects that would improve the downtown area and would also feature an impressive riverfront development.
      Slowed down but not deterred by a pandemic, the MRC and town kept the project moving forward. The project today incorporates both a floodwall and a stormwater management system. "All of this is alive and well with teams of people from a variety of companies and organizations actively working on it," says Kitchen. "We continue the work with funding being provided by Maine Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Policy Innovation and Future created by Governor Mills in 2019."
      Kitchen says MRC meetings will continue this fall, and he is confident a draft of the design will soon be available for public discussion. He believes that the project will position the town for future economic growth while containing the rising ocean levels, ensuring Machias remains a safe and beautiful place to work, live and visit. "Construction is still years away, but looking at Larry's proposed Sea to the Lakes Trail melding with the riverwalk, it would be a win win for the entire community," Kitchen says.

Initiatives already in play
      With the trail bond bill -- LD 1156 on the legislature's agenda in 2024 -- $30 million would be available for new trails. The bill has bipartisan sponsorship and is supported by over 260 groups ranging from towns, retail businesses and sporting enthusiasts. Already there are initiatives being planned.
      In Calais, residents hope to extend the Down East Sunrise Trail to their town, and a number of other communities are recognizing and incorporating outdoor recreation - including trails, camping, accessibility and beautification projects - into their comprehensive plans.
      The funds provided by the bond issue would require matching money and be awarded on a competitive basis for public multi use trails that emphasize sustainability and accessibility. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands would steward the bond program.

Future potential
      When asked if he foresees any longer term potential or impact for a trail such as this, Balchen says, "Looking ahead, the possibility of linking this trail to the International Appalachian Trail at Houlton exists, potentially adding over 60 more miles to the trail. Recently a significant property on East Grand Lake was conserved, and there are others that could provide links in the chain. For some, the terminus of an Appalachian Trail hike could become Machias. The opportunity for a nexus with the Maine Island Trail network exists as well. This could truly be an extremely significant trail."
      Bard agrees but cautions that the project will need a full collaboration to succeed. "I really believe the only way for something like this to get off the ground is for the main conservation groups as well as Bureau of Parks and Land and maybe MDIFW to adopt the proposal," says Bard. "They each have criteria for choosing how to use their resources, and if this long distance trail is not explicitly included there is no way for it to gain traction in a meaningful way."
      Besides this trail idea, Balchen believes the more important point for all to consider is that protecting the environs of what makes Downeast unique will pay dividends in the end. As other areas across the country are depleted, deforested and overdeveloped, Downeast should protect what it has while creatively drawing people and economic resources to its doorstep.
      "Getting control of development is urgent," says Balchen. "As I often point out, this is the last 100 miles or so of relatively undeveloped land on the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. We have an obligation to future generations not to mess it up, and we only get one chance."