CROSS LAKE, Maine — The Maine Forest Service has reached an agreement with a Cross Lake logger who allegedly caused damage to a stream in New Sweden.
While crossing a stream to harvest timber in New Sweden earlier this year, Jay Plourde caused damage to the stream’s channel and stream, which led to sedimentation of surface waters, according to Dan Jacobs, Maine Forest Service’s northern regional enforcement coordinator.
The sedimentation disrupted the normal flow of water and prevented fish from passing through easily, Jacobs said.
Plourde agreed to pay $1,000 in civil penalties and complete remediation of the stream. Remediation included removing brush and wood from the stream and revegetating the stream banks with grass.
Plourde is the owner of Forest Diversity Services in Cross Lake, which provides forestry operations planning and harvest supervision, according to the business’ website.
Maine law requires that timber harvesters take “reasonable measures” to avoid damaging the shorelines and soil of ponds, rivers, streams and other wetlands.
As part of their “Best Management Practices for Forestry,” the Maine Forest Service recommends that loggers identify streams and other potentially affected wetlands on maps and on the ground and understand the waterway’s typical flow prior to harvesting.
“Proper planning and a thorough understanding of [Maine’s] forestry regulations are crucial to have before starting forestry operations,” Jacobs said. “[Plourde] was cooperative and took responsibility for the violations, [but] had he planned appropriately, the issues could have easily been avoided.”
Plourde was not immediately available for comment Monday afternoon.
