Katahdin Woods and Water monument could get new entry pending Congressional approval

MAINE PUBLIC • November 29, 2024

A public lands bill that would improve access to the Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument recently advanced out of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee. If passed, the bill would allow the National Park Service to acquire almost 2,500 acres of land to provide southern vehicle access to the monument. Brian Hinrichs, Executive Director for the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Water, said old logging roads connect the Monument to Millinocket and opening them to the public will enhance the visitor experience.

National Park Service highlights work at the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station

MAINE PUBLIC • November 29, 2024

The National Park Service said it's trying to strengthen relationships with Indigenous tribes across the country. As part of that effort, it highlights a partnership at the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine as a positive example. The Park Service this month issued a Director's Order that outlines a process for acknowledging the authority of Indigenous narratives, consulting with tribes as early as possible and upholding tribal sovereignty. The agency is highlighting its work with the Wabanaki Nations in the development of the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

Maine Wardens offer $2K reward to find ‘cowardly’ man who shot dog

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 29, 2024

The Maine Warden Service is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who shot a domestic dog on a hiking trail in North Yarmouth on Friday. The incident happened at about 11 a.m. as three people were walking their dogs on a marked trail in the Knights Pond Preserve, according to the Warden Service. One of their dogs was shot about 20 feet ahead of them. According to the Warden Service, the shooter was described as a man in his 30s, with dark hair and scruffy facial hair. The owners of the dog had a brief encounter with the shooter, but he quickly fled the scene. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso said, “The incomprehensible and appalling act of one individual tarnishes the reputation of all of Maine’s 230,000 hunters.”

Aroostook legislators make plea to keep Presque Isle ski center open

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 29, 2024

Aroostook County lawmakers have asked Portland’s Libra Foundation and Pineland Farms of New Gloucester to reconsider their decision to close Presque Isle’s Nordic Heritage Outdoor Center. Libra announced the center would close on Dec. 1 and Pineland Farms would seek other uses for the 750-acre property, which includes a biathlon range, trail system, lodge and other buildings. The center’s closure affects local school cross-country ski teams as well as those who use the trails for hiking, biking and recreational activities. The news sparked an outcry from residents.

More than 70,000 without power following Thanksgiving storm

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 29, 2024

A Thanksgiving storm knocked out power to more than 70,000 homes and businesses across Maine. The storm, which rolled into the state Thursday morning, brought rain throughout the day to much of southern Maine before switching to snow later in the afternoon everywhere except the immediate coastline.

Near Jackman, land conservation group buys 44,000 acres for $44 million

MORNING SENTINEL • November 29, 2024

Conservation Fund closed on its purchase of 44,639 acres near the Canadian border for about $44.4 million on Oct. 15. “For generations, the Hilton Family Forest has been important to people on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border as a source of jobs, economic vitality, recreation and stability,” the nonprofit said. “The Conservation Fund purchased this property…to ensure it continues to provide for the region and avoid possible conversion, subdivision and development of the forest.” The area includes four mountains, 10 commercial maple sugar operations, hiking trails, snowmobile and ATV trails and many acres of working forest, Duffus said. It also is home to multiple rare plant and animal species, including the golden eagle and peregrine falcon, and the headwaters of the South Branch of the Penobscot River.

Remains, artifacts could soon be repatriated to Wabanaki tribes in Maine. It hasn’t always been that easy.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 29, 2024

The Native American Graves Repatriation Act, which passed in 1990, sets out a process for museums and other institutions to review their collections for any human remains found on tribal lands or associated funerary objects placed with or near remains as part of Native American death rites or ceremonies. If any of those items can be linked to specific tribes or nations that are still active, they are then offered for repatriation. One of the challenges has been the staggering amount of time it can take for museums to do the work. And some have been resistant to letting items in their collection go, even if they have a sacred or ancestral connection to Indigenous tribes. This month, the University of Pennsylvania linked an adult female cranium in its collection to one of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine. Those remains had been removed from a cemetery near the Androscoggin River prior to the Civil War and were initially held by Bowdoin College. Repatriation of those remains to affiliated tribes or lineal descendants could happen by early next year.

Opinion: You want climate action in Maine? Be my guest.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 29, 2024

Why hasn’t Maine done more to combat climate change? We’ve done a lot of grandstanding and goalsetting, but when push comes to shove, Maine and other states in the region seem reluctant to go all-in on any of these grandiose climate schemes. It’s easy to create climate councils and working groups and subcommittees with a gazillion members to dream up new ways to fight climate change. It’s a lot harder to put any of these schemes into action, however, because a majority of Mainers don’t support them. Our recent analysis estimates Maine’s share to fully decarbonize the ISO-NE grid by 2050 with enough renewable energy to ensure the lights always come on would cost $70 billion. That amounts to the average residential ratepayer paying an additional $99 per year for electricity through 2050, and even greater increases for commercial and industrial ratepayers. Most people can’t afford that. ~ Jacob Posik, Maine Policy Institute

Clock is ticking for CMP to protect land for power corridor approval

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 28, 2024

When Maine regulators first approved the New England Clean Energy Connect corridor that will carry hydropower from Quebec into Massachusetts, conservationists won a key concession from the project. The developers were required to permanently conserve 50,000 acres in the area of the corridor, which will go through western Maine. Now, project developer Central Maine Power appears to be behind on meeting this commitment. But CMP, which is finally in the middle of building the 145-mile power line after years of costly delays and legal fights, says it’s on schedule to meet the commitment in time to get it running by the end of 2025.

What Donald Trump’s plan for heavy tariffs means for Maine-Canada trade

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 27, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump fleshed out his campaign vows with his Monday announcement of a plan to place 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, affecting everything from logging to energy in Maine given Canada is its dominant trading partner. Canada’s inclusion in the tariffs, along with previous examples of harm to lobstermen and wild blueberry farmers under Trump policies as well as expected retaliation from other countries, could harm Maine’s economy. Canada is far and away Maine’s top trade partner, with the northern neighbor accounting for 70 percent of Maine’s imports and 31 percent of its exports this August.

Cape Elizabeth police rescue injured bald eagle

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 27, 2024

Cape Elizabeth police officers rescued an injured bald eagle along Ocean House Road Wednesday. The bird had sustained injuries to its wings and one eye, the Cape Elizabeth Police Department said in a statement on social media. Working with members of the Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth, police officers collected the bird in a cardboard box and transported it to Avian Haven’s rehabilitation center in Freedom, Maine.

Gulf of Maine warming research resumes with NASA support

TIMES RECORD • November 27, 2024

As Bigelow Laboratory’s Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series approaches its 25th year, NASA awarded the program funding to continue regular cruises on the R/V Bowditch. The research suggests that factors beyond weather are contributing to the observed changes, linking the warming phenomenon to saline North Atlantic Slope water entering the Gulf of Maine. If they can more accurately measure the Gulf of Maine’s warming rate, scientists can better predict the future impacts of climate change — at least, that’s the hope.

Maine drought persists despite recent rain

MAINE PUBLIC • November 27, 2024

The rain of late last week failed to ease Maine's drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported Wednesday that more than two-thirds of the state remains in a "moderate drought" condition and the western edge of the state is "abnormally dry." The southern tip of York County is said to be in extreme drought. More much needed precipitation is expected in Maine on Thanksgiving, though some will be in the form of snow that could complicate travel.

Pass the cranberries: Maine growers embrace intense demand of holiday season

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 27, 2024

Maine cranberry growers had a good season, said Charles Armstrong, a cranberry expert at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension who assists farms in pest management. According to his calculations, the state’s 20 farms harvested approximately 500,000 pounds of berries, equating to about $850,000 for growers. Now, growers have to navigate the intense demand that comes with the holiday season.

Moon Machar, Portland: Making the outdoors accessible to asylum seekers

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 27, 2024

Nyamuon “Moon” Nguany Machar describes her work as “sowing seeds.” Machar, 34, of Portland heads #WEOUTSIDE, a program that gives asylum-seeking kids an opportunity to explore the great outdoors. “The outdoors, being barefoot outside and really connecting with nature, goes hand in hand with our mental health,” Machar said. “It goes hand in hand with who we are.” A collaboration between the Maine Association for New Americans – where Machar serves as community wellness program coordinator – and the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, #WEOUTSIDE fosters belonging among Maine’s immigrant communities.

In lawsuit, AG alleges oil companies deceived Mainers about climate change

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 26, 2024

Attorney General Aaron Frey made Maine the ninth state to file a “climate deception” lawsuit against oil giants Tuesday, alleging that they chose profits over following early science that showed likely irreversible climate effects from fossil fuels. The targets of the Maine lawsuit are the oil giants Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP and Sunoco as well as the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s major trade group.

A Maine factory is selling a new product to get PFAS out of crops

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 26, 2024

A new twist on an ancient agricultural practice is playing out at farms throughout Maine and the nation. Biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from heated organic biomass such as forest and agricultural waste, is the subject of several research studies now underway on Maine farms. When added to tainted soil, it is showing promise in reducing the uptake of forever chemicals in crops, researchers said.

Digital tool reveals Northern Maine's rare old forest

MAINE PUBLIC • November 25, 2024

Maine is the most heavily forested state in the country. But after generations of logging just a few stands of valuable old growth trees remain. Now, for the first time, researchers can find those old trees with incredible precision. John Hagan’s nonprofit, Our Climate Common, used light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, elevation data collected from flights over Maine. That mapped out old forest across 10.3 million acres in Maine’s unincorporated townships. Almost all that land is privately owned and logged repeatedly. The method, which maps the height of trees, is 94% accurate. "Now we know where it is. We know who owns it. We know how fast we're losing it. So now we're pivoting to OK, how are we going to conserve it?" Hagan said. Just 3% of the north woods can be considered late successional or old growth forest.

Letter: Limit residential development to protect Maine lakes

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 25, 2024

My fishing expeditions throughout northern and eastern Maine are among my most sacred memories. However, throughout our state’s 6,000 natural bodies of water, a decline in water quality seems to be a recurring issue. It is essential that we fight to prevent degradation of water quality so that future generations may enjoy the beauty that our thousands of lakes, ponds, and rivers have to offer. Forestry operations and run-off from residential areas do not help. Lakes with high levels of phosphorus tend to have frequent algae blooms, which poses threats to the health of both the lake and the organisms that live in it. One way to protect our lakes is to limit residential development. Writing letters of concern directly to forest management companies is one way to make your voice heard and encourage change. ~ Logan Drillen, Dedham

Brunswick residents fear contaminated well water related to foam spill

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 24, 2024

Seven households in Brunswick that have shared test results with the Bangor Daily News that show their private wells have PFAS contamination at levels above the limit of 4 parts per trillion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to start enforcing in 2029 — although the standards will only apply to public drinking water and not to private landowners. The Brunswick contamination was found after an incident last August in which 50,000 gallons of water contaminated with PFAS-laden firefighting foam spilled out of a hangar at the Brunswick Executive Airport and into the surrounding environment.