The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
Thank you for reading Maine Environmental News. Each year, we post thousands of news summaries, notices, and links related to important environmental issues from across the state (and beyond). If you find this service useful, you can help us continue to provide it by making a donation. Just click on the button below and contribute whatever you can afford. Thanks again for your generous support!
Sincerely,
Jym St. Pierre
Editor, Maine Environmental News
MAINE AUDUBON • March 1, 2026
The third edition of Maine Amphibians and Reptiles explores the lives of 38 fascinating species—from tiny newts to rarely seen sea turtles—found across Maine and the Northeast. Built on 25 years of research, with expanded photos, regional studies, and engaging writing, it’s perfect for scientists and curious readers alike. Join some of the contributors to this fascinating book for a talk followed by a book sale and signing at the Falmouth Memorial Library. Light refreshments will be provided. At Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Rd, Falmouth, ME, March 11, 5:30pm.
MAINE AUDUBON • April 1, 2026
Curious about what critters live in your local streams and freshwater marshes? Learn about Maine Marsh and Stream Explorers, a collaborative community science project between Maine Audubon and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This program trains volunteers to survey for macroinvertebrates, or large aquatic insects, in streams and freshwater marshes statewide. April 22, 7 pm, online, preregister.
UTAH PUBLIC RADIO • March 6, 2026
Senators on the Natural Resources Committee voted along party lines Wednesday morning to advance President Trump's pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Steve Pearce, a former Republican congressman from New Mexico, will next need to clear a vote in the full Senate in the coming weeks to be confirmed. Pearce's supporters include energy and grazing groups. A coalition of oil and gas associations praised his nomination. He has faced intense scrutiny from environmentalists. During a hearing last week, Pearce was asked about his previous advocacy for the sale of public lands. He indicated that he would not be in favor of such sales. Pearce has previously opposed national monument designations, advocated for downsizing national monuments, and called for public land sell-offs.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2026
Maine lobstermen caught about 79 million pounds of lobster last year, less than any year in recent memory. When people see that number, they’ll be tempted to assume the worst for the future of a fishery that’s critical to our state’s economy. But my experience on the water, and the latest science, come to the same conclusion: The fishery that many Maine families and communities have staked our lives on is not slipping away. What gives me real confidence looking ahead is all the small lobsters I’m seeing in my traps. Science is saying the same. The Maine lobster fishery is one of the best managed in the world. It got that way because fishermen bought into the importance of conservation and worked with scientists and regulators over generations to protect it. ~ Sonny Beal, Jonesport-Beals
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 6, 2026
Maine lobstermen saw their haul fall again in 2025 according to new data that the Maine Department of Marine Resources released Friday morning. Lobstermen hauled about 78.8 million pounds of the crustacean to the docks last year, down from 110.7 million in 2021. The catch has fallen each year since 2021.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2026
Maine lobstermen landed the smallest harvest in nearly two decades in 2025, signaling a sharp post-boom reality for the state’s iconic fishery. Lobstermen landed almost 79 million pounds last year, a 10% drop from the 87 million pounds harvested in 2024, and a staggering 40.5% fall from the all-time peak of 132.6 million pounds in 2016. It is the first time landings dipped below 80 million pounds since 2008.
MAINE MORNING STAR • March 6, 2026
Maine lawmakers have backed a plan to fund the testing and clean up of private wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals, which have threatened drinking water through spills, the spreading of tainted sewage sludge and other applications. LD 2115 seeks to establish the Well Contamination Response Fund for private drinking water wells impacted by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS. The legislation passed both chambers with bipartisan votes, though still faces enactment votes and must vie for funding. The bill was part of a slate of legislation introduced after about 1,500 gallons of PFAS-laden firefighting foam was unintentionally discharged in a Brunswick airplane hangar in August 2023.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 6, 2026
The 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act took away two-thirds of the state of Maine from the Wabanaki tribal nations. It also placed Maine in a position to veto much of what Wabanaki peoples attempt to do as sovereign Indigenous nations. Within that history of colonial dehumanization of American Indian peoples, Wabanaki tribal nations — Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Penobscot and Passamaquoddy — are the only federally recognized tribes in the United States who are forced to request that a state (i.e., Maine) grant them permission to do business within their tribal nations. Janet Mills is part of a long history of Maine stripping Wabanaki nations of their authorities to determine what is best for their lands and peoples. ~ David Shane Lowry, assistant professor of anthropology at USM and a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • March 6, 2026
The Rangeley region is one of the last areas in the Northeast largely untouched by light pollution. It is also a draw for many tourists and stargazers who come to the region for the clear view of the night sky. A new group called Friends of the Western Maine Dark Sky hopes that by limiting the amount of light pollution, those views will be preserved for generations to come. The group gathered at the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust on March 3 to talk about ways to educate the community on the importance of dark skies to the region.
SUN JOURNAL • March 6, 2026
For thousands of years, dark skies pervaded but since man’s invention of artificial light, light pollution has limited truly dark skies to rare, extremely rural areas. Light pollution affects the health of both plants and animals that rely on natural cues visible only in true dark, according to the National Park Service. Further, the large amounts of energy needed to illuminate the night contributes to climate change. A growing body of research points to measurable adverse effects of light pollution on wildlife, plant development, human health, and energy consumption.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 5, 2026
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has set the number of moose permits for each wildlife management district for the 2026 hunt. A total of 3,705 permits will be issued statewide, including 2,645 antlered and 1,060 antlerless permits. The hunting seasons are scheduled for Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 for the first bull hunt, Oct. 12 to Oct. 17 for the second bull hunt and Oct. 26 to Oct. 31 for the antlerless hunt. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. May 18. The annual moose permit drawing will take place June 20 at the Acton Fairgrounds in Acton.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 5, 2026
Maine lawmakers voted Thursday to advance a bill that would stop the development of new data centers in the state for more than a year. The bill, LD 307, would create a temporary limitation on data centers with electric loads of at least 20 megawatts by preventing the state, local governments and quasi-governmental agencies from issuing permits or other approvals until 90 days after the first session of the 133rd Legislature adjourns. That will likely be around October 2027, the bill’s sponsor. That would give a new “Data Center Coordination Council,” also created by the bill, time to study and review the potential impacts of building the centers in Maine.
MAINE PUBLIC • March 5, 2026
The Center for Wildlife opened 40 years ago in York, and operated out of a trailer with no running water. Today, its new facility in Cape Neddick treats 2500 sick and injured creatures a year, with plans to handle a thousand more after an 11-year, $11 million expansion is completed. CFW Executive Director Kristen Lamb said each of the animals they treat is a barometer for their species and ecosystems, and their injuries reflect the impacts of our choices in consumption and commercial and residential housing development.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 5, 2026
While the risk of flooding from snowmelt and rain adding to Maine’s rivers is low this year, the potential for flooding caused by ice jams is up, due to very thick ice on rivers such as the Kennebec and Androscoggin. The Maine River Flow Advisory Commission met Thursday to review ice conditions, stream flow and snowpack levels, the spring weather outlook, drought conditions, and flood risks across the state. Even if an upcoming warm spell melts a significant amount of the snowpack, places that trap and store water, like groundwater, wetlands, and other areas, have plenty of capacity to take it on without causing flooding. However, the ice still on most Maine rivers presents a substantially higher risk than normal of ice jams forming; those jams can block off river flow and cause rapid and damaging flooding.
MAINE PUBLIC • March 5, 2026
Researchers say they spotted three endangered blue whales off the coast of Southern New England in in a 24-hour period last month. Observers with New England Aquarium said it's the first time they have documented blue whales in their southern New England survey area. Seeing blue whales outside of their Canadian feeding grounds is rare in the Atlantic, documenting them in two different areas of the ocean just hours apart is a first for Research Scientist Orla O’Brien. She said little is known about the Western North Atlantic population, which is believed to be between 400-600 individuals. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation last month to open nearly 5,000 square miles to commercial fishing. And the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration announced plans to ditch speed limits for vessels put in place for protecting whales as part of the Trump Administration's ongoing efforts to deregulate.
TIMES RECORD • March 5, 2026
Mainers interested in upgrading their homes with green technology like solar panels and heat pumps can explore their options at the Freeport Energy Forum. The forum is set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 14, at the Freeport Community Center. Maine Rep. Melanie Sachs, chairperson of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, will deliver the keynote address, followed by short panel discussions. Presenters include Royal River Heat Pumps, Maine Solar Solutions, the retrofitMAINE initiative under the nonprofit organization passivehausMAINE and the quasi-state agency Efficiency Maine. Grassroots organization Freeport Climate Action Now, passivehausMAINE, Balsam Realty and Freeport Community Services are hosting the event.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 5, 2026
Public power is an idea whose time has come in Maine — if lawmakers and the next governor listen to ratepayers. Gov. Ken Curtis wanted to shake up lax utility regulation by the Maine Public Utilities Commission, and saw public power as a valuable yardstick to assess the rates being charged by utilities. The proposal led polls by 2-1, but after a relentless lobbying campaign by Central Maine Power it failed. The 2023 initiative to replace CMP and Versant with the cooperative Pine Tree Power Authority was rejected by more than 70% of the voters. Rather than replacing CMP, creating a state power authority to control new generation — now being built entirely by private owners with ratepayers paying the freight — makes more sense. A power authority could own Aroostook Wind, a 1,200-megawatt turbine assemblage to be built in northern Maine. Relying on private investment and the PUC’s RFP process makes little sense. Public power can combine cost savings, financing and reliability with a sense of control and accountability now lacking. ~ Douglas Rooks
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 5, 2026
Hundreds of educational placards have been flagged for removal at Acadia and other national parks because of President Trump’s efforts to politically control information available to park visitors. The entries at Acadia park include displays about climate change and indigenous history. Trump’s March 2025 order instructed the park service to pull displays that “disparage Americans past or living” and distract from the “grandeur of the American landscape.” A coalition of scientists and historians are suing the Department of Interior for the administration’s attempts to “erase history and censor science at America’s national parks.” It appears most of those tied to Acadia National Park have already been taken down from public view. 30 signs detailing the mountain’s importance to the Wabanaki nations and the impacts of climate change were removed from the summit of Cadillac Mountain and the Great Meadow last September.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 5, 2026
This year we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The anniversary gives us the opportunity and obligation to educate Maine people on the principles, leadership, hopes, wins, and losses that collided to form a radical, new, lasting American democracy. Yet wIth regret, several Maine state historic sites are today closed to the public due to a lack of financial resources appropriated to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. We urge the Maine Legislature to vote for pending bipartisan legislation that would use available state surplus funds for badly needed one-time capital investments in state historic sites. ~ Julia Gray, Castine’s Wilson Museum, and Benjamin Smith, Arnold Expedition Historical Society
