Mr. Alan Hutchinson, Executive Director
Forest Society of Maine
P.O. Box 775
Bangor, Maine 04402

Dear Alan;

Thank you for your thoughtful presentation to our organization at our last meeting January 15, 2003. The membership of the Moosehead Development Council, a local economic development organization open to community leaders throughout the Moosehead Lake Region, voted at this meeting to fully endorse the West Branch Project.

The West Branch Conservation Easement proposal as presented to us by you and Kelly Frost of the Forest Society of Maine and Ralph Knoll of the Maine Department of Conservation will greatly benefit the economy of the Moosehead Lake Region. By protecting over 300,000 acres of land from future development, yet still ensuring public access, productive forestry, and property tax revenue, the West Branch Project will fortify our future economy, both for industrial and for recreational uses.

On behalf of the Moosehead Development Council, we applaud your efforts and wish you every success. Please do not hesitate to contact us if our organization may assist you in any way in the future.

Sincerely;

Membership of the Moosehead Development Council