Dissecting the latest decisions on Maine dams

MAINE MONITOR • November 24, 2024

The terms dictating the vast influence of many Maine hydroelectric dams were last drawn up a generation ago, often by the same paper companies that first harnessed the rivers’ power for their mills downstream. Since, the dams have swapped hands among a slew of corporate owners —  permanently altering the watersheds and landscapes they occupy. While fishery research and concepts of tribal sovereignty progressed, the dams stayed grounded in the past. But in the past few years, the regulatory floodgates opened, releasing a deluge of legal filings and environmental impact studies. Those living in the dams’ shadows have a brief window to sort through the bureaucratic debris and make their own recommendations about how the dams should be operated, or in some cases, removed.

After post-pandemic boom, Maine’s tourism industry seeks path back to growth

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

Leaders in Maine’s tourism industry say they aren’t overly worried about a 9% drop in summer visitors this year, but they’re watching the numbers closely to see what the future holds in a post-pandemic world. A total of 7.8 million tourists visited Maine this summer, a 9% drop from the summer of 2023. And the number of days visitors stayed in Maine fell 15%, according to a report released last week by the Maine Office of Tourism. Visitor numbers have been declining since 2021, while the overall number of days spent here by tourists had been increasing until the drop this year. Direct spending by visitors this summer was relatively flat after years of growth since 2021

Are Maine Audubon’s turkeys the safest birds in the state this Thanksgiving?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 24, 2024

Visitors to Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth are often welcomed near their cars – not by staff or volunteers – but by little dinosaur-like greeters. The two-legged, brown-feathered creatures with long necks and bright red wattles forage for food along the trails and raise their young in the meadows. Without the threat of hunting in this protected reserve, wild turkeys seem undisturbed by the people they encounter as they go about their turkey business. As Thanksgiving approaches, these may be the safest turkeys in Maine. And they know it.

Column: On the hunt for conservation success

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

How can the impulse to protect the environment be consistent with the act of killing wildlife? Hunters were some of the first conservationists. Sportsmen like Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot were champions for transformational legislation like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which regulated hunting seasons and set “bag limits” on how many game birds could be shot per day. Hunters also offered vital support for the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937, which created an excise tax on the sale of firearms, ammunition and fishing gear. Funds raised are returned to the states, where they support professional wildlife management and state-owned recreational lands. The economic impact of hunting in Maine is estimated at nearly $400 million. There is concern that a decline in hunting will hinder conservation efforts. To address this, new mentoring programs seek to engage young people in hunting. ~ Ed Robinson, author of the Nature Notes from Maine book series

Editorial: Maine Legislature must lock in climate efforts

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

When the time comes, our legislators in Augusta owe it to the Maine Climate Council to promptly and effectively act on the good and valuable work carried out by that new body this year. If the reshuffle in D.C. will lead to the upending of priorities feared by many, the time to act on those endangered priorities is now. The only relevant costs when it comes to climate – indeed enormous – won’t be borne by ratepayers but by our children and our grandchildren. Maine alone can’t stop climate change – there is no argument there. But a critical mass of us must understand that mitigating it is a necessarily collective effort.

Opinion: Climate change is threatening Nordic skiing in Maine

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

As a recreational Nordic skier, I have witnessed climate change wreak havoc on our winters. In the short four years of high school, winters grew warmer, slushier and muddier than ever before. Maine’s winters have reportedly warmed 5 degrees Fahrenheit and shortened by three weeks in the past century. Winter recreation, which includes Nordic skiing, contributed $68 million to the state economy in 2022. We need large-scale action. Start by reading the updated “Maine Won’t Wait” when available. Encourage your local officials to apply for a grant from Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership program to increase sustainability. Assist in the direct execution of “Maine Won’t Wait” by volunteering your time to the Maine Climate Corps Network. ~ Caitlin Sweeney, of Gray, student at Cornell University

Letter: Maine’s outdoor enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

The passage of the $30 million Maine Trails Bond will benefit hikers and trail maintenance groups alike. It can be easy to take fantastic trails for granted. However, the thousands of miles of trails in Maine are sustained largely by the hard work of land trusts, environmental nonprofits and outdoor clubs. The Trails Bond will support these groups. Over 422,000 Mainers voted for the first ever Trails Bond, showing their representatives that funding for outdoor recreation should be a priority. ~ Lila Weiser, Portland

Mainers are giving up on vacationing on MDI

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 23, 2024

As the numbers of tourists who come to Bar Harbor each year remain at all-time highs, many Mainers who want to visit the town and Acadia National Park are deciding to stay away. After 25 years in which annual visits hovered between 2 million and 2.8 million, the number of tourists who visit Acadia and Bar Harbor began to grow a few years before the pandemic. In 2021, the estimated visits to Acadia shot up above 4 million, and the decline since then has been minor.

Sen. Angus King introduces bill to preserve and manage public lands

FOX NEWS • November 22, 2024

A new bill recently introduced by Senator Angus King could have a big impact in Acadia National Park -- it would increase funding to continue fixing aging infrastructure in Acadia and National Parks across the country. "America's greatest idea -- national parks -- needs investment," said Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia. There's a new effort in the works to repair and maintain our national parks.

Judge dismisses lobstermen’s challenge to law requiring tracking devices on boats

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 22, 2024

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by five Maine lobstermen who alleged that the state’s rule requiring tracking devices on their boats was in violation of their rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Although the judge dismissed the suit against the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, he encouraged the lobstermen to appeal the decision because it raises “significant Fourth Amendment issues.”

Column: Where are the birds? Many are on the move

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 22, 2024

Every year around this time, we get many questions along the lines of “where are the birds?” as people start to see fewer activity at their feeders. It’s not a huge mast year, but mountain ash and winterberry both produced a ton of fruit. These fruit-bearers reportedly also over-produced across the boreal forest, in Canada, so this winter we don’t expect to see some of the beautiful birds that these often attract. Another reason you might see fewer birds in your backyard: many of our summer birds have migrated south for winter. Millions of birds don’t survive their long migrations, as habitat loss and threats during their movements make that journey ever harder. It’s also important to consider the choices you make that can help these birds, from the coffee you buy (consider “bird friendly” shade-grown options) to the way you treat your windows at home or at work (consider applying materials – like stickers or screens – to reduce collisions). ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Column: Showing some restraint can lead to bigger rewards when hunting

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 22, 2024

If your goal is to fill a tag and put venison in the freezer, by all means take the first opportunity to shoot you get. If your goal is to grow as a hunter, at some point you’re going to have to adopt a policy of voluntary restraint. You can’t shoot the big ones if you aren’t willing to pass up the little ones. ~ Bob Humphrey

CMP forced to pay public utility advocates in first use of new law

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 21, 2024

A Maine law meant to help small groups stand up to utility companies has been used for the first time. State regulators on Wednesday ordered Central Maine Power Co. to pay fees incurred by an opponent, Our Power, that attempted to block the $2.5 billion acquisition of CMP’s parent company, Avangrid, by the Spanish energy giant Iberdrola. The Public Utilities Commission authorized Our Power to be reimbursed for attorney’s fees, an expert witness and other costs for opposing the ownership change. On Friday, regulators set the final amount to be reimbursed at $46,958.

Protecting One of the Last Expansive Forests on the Eastern Seaboard

NORTHEAST WILDERNESS TRUST • November 21, 2024

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) are partnering to conserve 2,037 acres of forest in the downeast region—linking large blocks of conserved land, contributing to a landscape scale effort to protect and restore watersheds, and enabling public access for hunting, fishing, and quiet recreation. This very special property is set to become the Bold Coast Wilderness Preserve. The forest is home to moose, beaver, grouse, many warblers and other songbirds, snowshoe hare, black bear, coyote, and white-tailed deer, among other species. A bald eagle nesting site has been documented. Salamanders, wood frogs, and other amphibian species thrive in two vernal pools on the property. A primary goal of this conservation partnership will be to allow the land to revert to a more natural state. The longrange plan is for NEWT to acquire and care for the land, with MCHT holding a forever-wild conservation easement.

Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announce 10-Year Renewal of the Acres for America Program

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • November 21, 2024

Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced a 10-year, $34.5 million renewal of the historic Acres for America conservation program. This new commitment from Walmart, combined with previous contributions, represents the largest corporate donation to NFWF since the Foundation’s creation by Congress in 1984. This year’s awards include funding for a 13,836-acres forestland conservation easement in the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine to provide habitat for large mammals like moose and deer, federally threatened Canada lynx, two globally rare songbirds, and protection for 31 miles of streams and ponds with important habitat for brook trout and landlocked salmon. The easement will also provide public access for hiking, fishing and hunting, and includes over 25 miles of snowmobile and ATV trails.

House Committee Makes Moves to Censor Science

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTSD • November 21, 2024

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky) has announced plans to investigate the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific integrity policies — policies that limit censorship, intimidation and other forms of political interference in the research agencies conduct. This investigation is an attempt to undermine the role of science in decision making, harm public trust in federal scientists, and assist President-elect Donald Trump in his efforts to erode science agencies’ abilities to protect American’s health and safety, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

A dive to declutter Boothbay Harbor

TIMES RECORD • November 21, 2024

Buzz Scott and Matt Louis have recovered 607,000 pounds of marine litter from the Gulf of Maine through multiple cruises for OceansWide, a nonprofit organization focused on removing abandoned fishing traps from the ocean floor. They document every bit of bycatch. These divers are working to tackle the state’s “ghost gear” problem. Abandoned fishing gear threatens wildlife, habitats and the economy by killing fish and crustaceans while damaging sensitive ecosystems, such as seagrass beds. To date, OceansWide has retrieved over 9,200 lobster traps from its site in Gouldsboro and will surpass the 4,000 traps in Boothbay Harbor by the end of the season.

Key takeaways from Maine’s new climate action plan

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 21, 2024

The Maine Climate Council will release a new action plan Thursday. Major takeaways:
• Ambitious emission reduction goals are reaffirmed.
• Prioritize the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources.
• Promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
• Use efficiencies in buildings and industries to cut energy consumption.
• Prepare for sea-level rise, extreme weather, and coastal erosion.
• Purchase, protect and restore forests, wetlands and eel grass beds as carbon sinks.
• Address the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities.
• Create green jobs to spark economic growth through investments.
• Protect more forests, wetlands and working farms from development.

Environmental Groups Clash Over Logging Projects at Lake Tarleton and Gorham Area

INdepthNH • November 20, 2024

A lawsuit brought against the White Mountain National Forest Service opposing its plan to log and develop recreation opportunities and protect from runoff Lakes Tarleton and Katherine and a tract near Gorham known as the Peabody West project is not being supported by eight New Hampshire conservation organizations and one individual. Standing Trees, whose mission is to see old growth forests return to New England, filed a suit against the federal project. Supporting the USFS are: Society for the Protection of NH Forests, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, NH Wildlife Federation, Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, The Nature Conservancy, Society of American Foresters and Charlie Niebling. Zack Porter, executive director of Standing Trees, said the Forest Service is violating the National Environmental Policy Act and its own Forest Plan.

Rainstorms expected to ease, but not end, drought conditions in Portland region

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2024

A rainy Thursday and Friday will bring some long-awaited moisture back to greater Portland, but it won’t be enough to fully alleviate drought conditions. Portland has been in a dry period since the end of summer, with lower-than-average precipitation recorded for September, October and so far this month. The combination of lower temperatures, shorter days and wetter weather should help lower the fire risk.