WORKING WATERFRONT • June 18, 2024
During the storms in January, hurricane-strength winds blew out of the southeast, directly at the Maine shoreline. The result appeared like a lot of mess and damage. While shocking to behold, such “windthrows” or “blowdowns” are among the major influences shaping the region’s forests. From an ecological perspective, wind is a disturbance not in the negative sense, but simply as an agent of change that resets forest growth. In Acadia, the National Park Service is repairing the Ocean Path but continues to evaluate impacts in other locations. At Seawall, crews removed some 700 fallen trees that blocked roads and created safety hazards in a popular picnic and camping area, but otherwise the blowdowns are being left in place. Similarly, Maine Island Trail Association’s standard practice is to leave downed trees unless they block a trail or campsite. Ecologists advise leaving downed wood because of its habitat value.