The Upper St. John River is the largest, least developed free-flowing river system east of the Mississippi. The Upper St John has long been recognized as one of the most valuable wildland rivers in the eastern United States.

Kayakers

The Maine Rivers Study gave this watershed its highest rating for ecological attributes, undeveloped character and remote recreation

The ecological value of this watershed, and its long-standing status as a conservation priority, came to prominence in the debate over the Dickey-Lincoln dam project in the 1970s.

Approximate Acreage: 1 million acres

Location: St John River Watershed.

Lakes:
• The St John Ponds are remote ponds in the river’s headwater area
• Baker Lake

Rivers and Watersheds:
• Entire St John River watershed including Baker Branch, Southwest Branch and Northwest Branch
• Big and Little Black Rivers

Plant Communities:
• Three rare plants of national or global significance, including the Furbish lousewort, the St. John oxytrope and the New England violet
• More than a dozen plants of regional significance

Habitat & Animal Life:
• Extensive and diverse wetland complexes between the Big Black River and the Southwest Branch
• Maine’s biggest stand of old-growth northern hardwoods on the Yankeetuladi Brook
• Critical habitat for a number of wide-ranging mammals
• The largest deeryards in the state on the Little Black River

Outstanding Recreation:
• Nationally significant recreational and scenic area, providing a backcountry canoe trip unequaled in the eastern United States
• Native brook trout and landlocked salmon fisheries
• Deer and moose hunting in a remote setting

Protected Lands:
• The Nature Conservancy has acquired 185,000 acres of the St. John River Valley, including 40 miles of river frontage beginning at Baker Lake
• Maine Critical Areas program recognition for a number of critical rare plant sites, natural communities and whitewater rapids

Existing Development:
• The watershed has no permanent population above Allagash township
• Relatively few permanent roads, including several large areas with very low overall road density

Lakeshore Foliage

Current Threats:
• Intensive forest management
• Roadbuilding
• Subdivision