In Maine, 2006 was a busy year for FFLA. Our biggest accomplishment was the tower survey that ran from January to the end of September. The last full survey was conducted by Dave Hilton 10 years ago. There are lots of changes, discoveries and updates since that last survey. The findings are below -

Tower Survey
Data as of 9/20/2006

Summary:
Total Known Tower Sites - 143
Total Towers Still Standing - 67
Total Towers Gone or Removed - 76

Of the 67 Standing Towers:
Standing Steel Only, No Cab - 21
Standing Steel Converted to Observation Deck - 7
Standing Steel and Cab - 39

Average Condition of the 39 Standing Towers with Cabs:
Good Condition - 13
Fair Condition - 11
Poor Condition - 10
Bad Condition - 5

The full tower summary list can be found on the FFLA Web Site on the Towers page under the Maine section. FFLA will continue to update this as new information is found. All information found during the survey was added to the FFLA Maine Archives.

Membership
Current membership in ME is at 22 members, down 2 since the beginning of 2006.

Budget
Current Balance - $424.71

NHLR
10 Total Entries:
1 Addition - Deasey Mountain Lookout, T3, R7 (NHLR #662, ME#10)
1 Loss - Harris Mountain Lookout, Dixmont (NHLR #66, ME#2)

Activities

Harris Mountain Lookout
The first loss of a Maine NHLR tower occurred this year. On 7/26/2006, the Maine Forest Service removed the Harris Mountain Lookout. Its condition warranted removal as it was decided that it was too far gone to save. FFLA worked with the MFS to save some of the remains. The remains, a 6 foot section of stairway, one set of leg bolts and bushings, and one telephone line insulator, were delivered to the Pennsylvania Forest Fire Museum on 10/27/2006 by Henry Isenberg and Bill Cobb. The Harris lookout originated in the Allegheny National Forest and moved to ME in the 1940s. I would like to thank the MFS for performing this difficult but necessary removal while all along being sensitive to the historical significance of Harris Mountain Tower.

Squaw Mountain Project
FFLA has gained traction on its proposed Squaw Mountain Fire Tower restoration project. Over the summer and into the fall we have managed to find enough interest in this project to pull some resources together. We now have approval from the Maine Forest Service to proceed with this project. A local group will assist FFLA and the MFS with this project. In early 2007, we will attempt to pull all of this together into a viable plan and hopefully we can get this lookout restored in 2007.

Stockholm Mountain Project
FFLA worked over the summer with the Town of Stockholm. The town has formed a Tower Preservation Committee to lead the Stockholm Mountain Tower restoration effort. The Town received support from the community when it voted to save the tower. FFLA has been working with the town on this project. In addition, Maine Preservation announced in June that Stockholm Mountain is now on the list of Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties.

Deasey Mountain Project
The Deasey Mountain Lookout restoration project, which began in 2004 and was headed up by the International Appalachian Trail (IAT), completed their work in October. On August 19, 2006, the FFLA presented the NHLR certificate for Deasey Mountain Lookout in a small ceremony in Stacyville, Maine. Honored at the ceremony was Ed Werler. He was the fire watchman at Deasey lookout from 1947 to 1949. The IAT presented Ed with a laminated copy of the Deasey Mountain Map Table map.

Other Projects
The ME Parks and Lands proposed a rehab project for Allagash, Round Pond, and Deboullie towers this year. Bids for the work came in much higher than expected and the scope of the project will be re-examined for Spring 2007. FFLA has been in contact with BPL and may work with them on some of these future projects.

FFLA has been working with the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association (SJVARA) to discuss any possible help FFLA can provide to their organization. The St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association has been the caretaker of Rocky Mountain Fire Tower since 1998.

In July, the Natural Resource Education Center in Greenville hosted a Fire Tower Talk with John Boydston, former forest fire watchman at Big Spencer Mtn. FFLA members Bill Spach and Bill Cobb attended and contributed displays, photos, and materials for the program. The talk was well attended with 80+ on hand.

Southern Maine Activities and Status
All 3 volunteer towers in York County (Aggie, Ossipee, and Hope) have continued to operate during 2006. The towers were most active during the dry spring and the summer and fall were fairly inactive other than some sporadic dry periods.

The Mount Agamenticus tower began its fire season in April and spotted 20 fires the first week. All towers were generally staffed with volunteers during class 3 or higher days. The York Fire Department and Southern Maine Notification continue to play critical roles in the staffing and maintenance of the Mount Agamenticus tower. The Maine Forest Service has also assisted with providing materials for maintenance when needed.

Ossipee Hill continues to be staffed and maintained by at least one primary volunteer. Mount Hope continues to be staffed by a pool of 5 volunteers. These volunteers are also handling maintenance with a little help from the local fire department.

Respectfully Submited,
Bill Cobb