BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 23, 2021
Five years ago, then-President Barack Obama signed an executive order creating the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. His action came after years of rancor. “Katahdin Woods and Waters is an exceptional example of the rich and storied Maine Woods, enhanced by its location in a larger protected landscape, and thus would be a valuable addition to the Nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage conserved and enjoyed in the National Park System,” the Aug. 24, 2016 executive order said. Last year, the monument attracted 41,000 visitors, who spent $2.7 million in the local economy. One of the strongest endorsements of the monument has come from local elected officials, many of whom opposed its creation. That’s a ringing local endorsement as the monument marks its first five years.