Million Dollar View Scenic Byway – This State Scenic Byway begins in Danforth , a former lumber town in the Baskahegan River Valley . Nearby Weston is the location of an historic portage used by Native cultures and early settlers connecting Baskahegan Stream to Butterfield Landing on East Grand Lake . The Chiputneticook chain of lakes seen from the Byway are known for their recreational fishing , wildlife , and wilderness recreation . The scenic turnout provides unspoiled vistas of Mount Katahdin and Peekaboo Mountain . Photo by Meg Keay
Maine does not have a state or national designation program beyond the Scenic Byways program . The Scenic Byways program is highly important to regional efforts to elevate DownEast Acadia as an exemplary place to visit and immerse oneself in the unique culture , history , and landscape . However , it does not alone provide the breadth and depth of technical and financial assistance needed to advance heritage preservation beyond its current status in a meaningful way .
Alternative 3 – National Heritage Area Designation
Alternative 3 explores management through full Congressional NHA Designation . This alternative looks at likely increases in funding and potentials for resource protection , interpretive programming and other positive or negative results of designation .
The NHA program provides resources to aid development of programs and infrastructure that highlight locally important aspects of the people , history , and landscapes . It builds collaborations across interest groups that build capacity to organize & plan regionally and achieve mutual goals .
The National Heritage Area program supports people , environment , and the economy by recognizing the nationally significant cultural & natural heritage of a place . It nurtures a long-term ethic of stewarding important heritage resources by connecting people with the place where they live . The program contributes to quality of life through engagement of residents , especially youth and families , in telling our united but separate stories .
Designation as a National Heritage Area will create the need for an organization to become the official managing entity and representative of the NHA . This managing entity would be responsible for creating and implementing the Management Plan , which guides development
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