Imagine that you are ready to go hunting, fishing, or hiking in areas that now are open to public access. Instead, you find that your use of the land is severely limited by out-of-state, non-resident owners. You have to travel greater distances to enjoy the wilderness, and have no say if the former wilderness lands are used in ways that might prevent our grandchildren from enjoying them in the future.

Unfortunately, this is not some science fiction scenario that could never come to pass. Think about what has happened with the Plum Creek Wilderness Sprawl. It is no secret to Maine people that we are in the cross hairs when it comes to our vast, pristine wilderness areas. Wealthy outsiders want to move in, buy it up, gate it, and keep everyone else out. It is called "Wilderness Sprawl," and it hurts Maine's economy and is insulting to Maine people.

Maine's wild areas need additional protection. The LaMarche plan would boost protection and increase the acreage that is off limits to development and sprawl. Growth would be allowed, but always with our first priority being to save a resource that we must consider a loan from our grandchildren's generation.

Those wealthy outsiders will just have to look someplace else for "Wilderness Sprawl."