Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 12, § 12708 (2025)
1. Designation and classification of wildlife management areas The following areas are classified as wildlife management areas.
A. The following described territories are classified as wildlife management areas to be managed by the commissioner in accordance with the principles of wildlife management, as defined in section 10001, subsection 73, and subject to the commissioner's authority under section 12701:
(2) Colby College Area: The Mayflower Hill Campus of Colby College comprising approximately 640 acres of land. It is located west of the center of Waterville bounded in general as follows: From a stone marker on the west bank of Messalonskee Stream, said marker located across the stream from a point approximately 400 feet north of Riverview Avenue. Runs north along bank of Messalonskee Stream to a point approximately 2,000 feet north of Cedar Bridge (North Street), thence in a northeasterly direction to a cement marker on the Second Rangeway at a point approximately 900 feet northeast of intersection with Rice Rips Road, thence in a southwesterly direction to Rice Rips Road, thence east approximately 300 feet, thence southwesterly again approximately parallel to and west of the Second Rangeway for approximately 1,800 feet to a cement marker, thence easterly to the Second Rangeway, thence in a southerly direction on east side of Second Rangeway for approximately 1,900 feet to a cement marker and college sign; thence southeast approximately 5,400 feet to Mt. Merici property line post and cement marker; thence in easterly direction to and across Mayflower Hill Drive in offset manner (east offset marked with stone or cement marker post) to and across Maine Central railroad to the point of beginning on west bank of Messalonskee Stream;
From a stone marker on the west bank of Messalonskee Stream, said marker located across the stream from a point approximately 400 feet north of Riverview Avenue. Runs north along bank of Messalonskee Stream to a point approximately 2,000 feet north of Cedar Bridge (North Street), thence in a northeasterly direction to a cement marker on the Second Rangeway at a point approximately 900 feet northeast of intersection with Rice Rips Road, thence in a southwesterly direction to Rice Rips Road, thence east approximately 300 feet, thence southwesterly again approximately parallel to and west of the Second Rangeway for approximately 1,800 feet to a cement marker, thence easterly to the Second Rangeway, thence in a southerly direction on east side of Second Rangeway for approximately 1,900 feet to a cement marker and college sign; thence southeast approximately 5,400 feet to Mt. Merici property line post and cement marker; thence in easterly direction to and across Mayflower Hill Drive in offset manner (east offset marked with stone or cement marker post) to and across Maine Central railroad to the point of beginning on west bank of Messalonskee Stream;
(6) Lowell E. Barnes Wildlife Management Area: Certain lots or parcels of land situated in Hiram, County of Oxford, State of Maine, bounded and described as follows: (a) A parcel of land containing 700 acres more or less bounded northerly by land now or formerly of Lusanna Hubbard, Lemuel Cotton and M.L. Wardsworth; easterly by land now or formerly of James Edgecomb; southerly by land now or formerly owned or occupied by Llewellyn A. Wardsworth, Asbury Huntress and Orison Adams; and westerly by land now or formerly of James Ayer, Harrison Sanburn, James Ayer again, the George F. Brooks place, so called, being the lot next below described and land now or formerly of Fred Small, Seth Spring and Freeman Flye; (b) A parcel of land containing 25 acres, more or less, situated westerly of the above described lot and known as the George F. Brooks place; and (c) A parcel of land containing 70 acres, more or less, situated adjacent to the first parcel above described and bounded north, east and west by said first above described parcel and southerly by land now or formerly of James Ayer and Elmer Hodgdon. Said parcel is known as the Dennis Stanley place;
(a) A parcel of land containing 700 acres more or less bounded northerly by land now or formerly of Lusanna Hubbard, Lemuel Cotton and M.L. Wardsworth; easterly by land now or formerly of James Edgecomb; southerly by land now or formerly owned or occupied by Llewellyn A. Wardsworth, Asbury Huntress and Orison Adams; and westerly by land now or formerly of James Ayer, Harrison Sanburn, James Ayer again, the George F. Brooks place, so called, being the lot next below described and land now or formerly of Fred Small, Seth Spring and Freeman Flye;
(b) A parcel of land containing 25 acres, more or less, situated westerly of the above described lot and known as the George F. Brooks place; and
(c) A parcel of land containing 70 acres, more or less, situated adjacent to the first parcel above described and bounded north, east and west by said first above described parcel and southerly by land now or formerly of James Ayer and Elmer Hodgdon. Said parcel is known as the Dennis Stanley place;
(8) Oak Grove: The campus and land of Oak Grove School, in the Town of Vassalboro, County of Kennebec, situated on the east side of Route No. 100; and all the land of said school situated on the west side of Route No. 100. Sebago Lake Basin Wildlife Management Area: All that portion of Sebago Lake commonly known as Sebago Lake Basin lying below the high water mark in the Towns of Standish and Windham.
[PL 2005, c. 477, §21 (AMD).]
B. The following areas are classified as state-owned wildlife management areas, or "WMAs":
(59) Pleasant Bay WMA - Addison - Washington County.
[PL 2025, c. 132, §§8-12 (AMD).]
[PL 2025, c. 132, §§8-12 (AMD).]
2. The Public Boat Launch Access Program The Public Boat Launch Access Program, referred to in this subsection as the "program," is established in the department. The purpose of the program is to provide anglers, boaters and other persons fair and equitable public access to public waters that offer recreational fishing opportunities by acquiring lands adjacent to those waters and providing appropriate opportunities to access those waters. The commissioner may establish program priorities based on fishery management or other resource management objectives and may use for these purposes any funds received through federal programs intended to aid in the restoration of sport fishing and other revenues available for providing access to public waters.
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 587, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 587, §2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B295 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §§B422,C4,6 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 477, §21 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 463, §7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 253, §34 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 408, §21 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 325, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 403, Pt. A, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 403, Pt. A, §4 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 184, §§10-12 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 132, §§8-12 (AMD).