MAINE PUBLIC • July 29, 2024
With so many hikers scaling the peaks at Acadia National Park, mountain top erosion has become a concern. The park has come up with a simple solution — that relies on the kindness of strangers — in hiking boots. As part of a new "Save Our Summit" restoration program to combat erosion and preserve local plant life each hiker will carry from five to 25 pounds of soil, which has been sterilized to ensure it's not carrying any invasive species into the park. These weekly hikes are a change from last year, when the park held a few larger events in which volunteers carried nearly 4,000 pounds of soil to 29 restoration sites. This year’s soil will be used for new sites, and researchers are testing to see if adding seeds to the soil helps plant life return faster.