By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Eight camp sites on Baskahegan Lake in Brookton, including Long Island, Ant Island, Ship Island and Round Island (three sites), Norway and Abraquidassat Points were upgraded last summer. Feedback was just released in the Baskahegan Lake Project Report.
Kenneth Winiarski, 16, was hired to clean up and work on the campsites, as a joint recipient of grants awarded to Dave Conley’s “Maine Wilderness Trips with Canoe the Wild” guide service.
The project was made possible by grants from the Stetson Mountain fund and a nature-based tourism fund by the Washington County Unorganized Territory tax increment fund (TIF) program established through a cooperative agreement between First Wind and the Washington County government. Sunrise County Economic Council administered the funds.
Winiarski completed rebuilding rock fire pits, grading ground surfaces for picnic tables and tenting, installing heavy duty cedar picnic tables, fiberglass outboxes and signage. He did biweekly maintenance of lake camp sites, weekly cleaning of the landing in Brookton, including cutting the grass, picking up trash and maintaining a trash can.
“High-quality signs with a map of the lake showing campsite locations and trip distances by canoe or kayak were placed at the Brookton Landing and launch location on the White Farm Road in Kossuth,” added Conley.
The East Grand Outdoor students had cleaned up around the campsites, but Winiarski was able to make more needed improvements.
“Baskahegan Lake is a great spot to fish for white perch and small mouth bass,” explained Conley. “Camping is available on several island sites. The lake can be used as a multi-day canoeing or kayak trip beginning in Kossuth near Topsfield, off Route 6, to Brookton-Danforth-Bancroft, which is about 10-33 miles, for a day to three days. The lake is best run in high water during the spring, early summer and in the fall.”
Conley said the 2013 goal, with landowner permission, is to build four sites along the stream sections of the 33 miles from Kossuth to Bancroft.
“Sites available will make longer paddle trips by canoe or kayak more desirable,” said Conley.