Help Keep the News Coming

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

High Peaks Alliance receives $1 Million NBRC Grant for Sandy River Bridge Project

DAILY BULLDOG • June 22, 2026

High Peaks Alliance is pleased to announce that the Sandy River Bridge project has received a $1 million grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The funding will help the project move forward toward construction bidding next spring, despite cost increases tied to survey discrepancies, inflation, and required consultations related to Atlantic salmon. The Sandy River Bridge will provide a connection for the Whistle Stop Trail, extending safe pedestrian and snowmobile access into downtown Farmington. The project is designed to improve connectivity to jobs, health care, education, and tourism destinations while strengthening regional recreation and economic activity.

As federal support evaporates, Maine says it's refocusing on achievable climate goals

MAINE PUBLIC • June 22, 2026

The Maine Climate Council is considering ways to make progress on state goals without federal support. Council co-chair Melanie Loyzim told councilors this month that the latest version of "Maine Won't Wait" was written before the second Trump administration stripped funding and resources for climate action. Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has rescinded funding for climate programs, failed to publish federal data on greenhouse gas emissions, halted or put barriers in front of offshore ocean wind and other energy and cut incentives for home energy-efficiency. "Those changes are slowing progress in some areas of the plan but they are not stopping us," Loyzim said.

Specialty crop relief fund could help Maine's wild blueberry farmers

MAINE PUBLIC • June 22, 2026

Maine's wild blueberry growers and other specialty crop farmers in Maine could see some federal relief after last year's historic drought decimated much of the harvest. Farmers who reported their losses to the USDA can apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program until Aug. 7. The Maine Wild Blueberry Commission estimates that growers experienced approximately $28 million in losses during the 2025 crop year.

Border crossings into Maine rise slightly compared to last year, after months of decline

MAINE PUBLIC • June 22, 2026

Border crossings into Maine were up slightly in March and April compared to the same months last year. The increase comes after months of declining border crossings from Canada following President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs, and threats to make the country a 51st state. Many in the state's tourism industry have prioritized outreach to Canadian visitors, who've historically flocked to Maine's southern beaches in the summer.

For the first time, Maine is reporting climate pollution without federal data

MAINE PUBLIC • June 22, 2026

For decades, Maine and other parties have relied on the federal government to publish comprehensive data on greenhouse gas pollution, the foundation for national and local climate policy. The EPA stopped publishing data last year, when Trump pulled the U.S. out of international climate agreements. It was the first time in 30 years the agency failed to report information on greenhouse gasses. Now Maine is working with partners to compile and publish the data themselves. Maine's biannual "greenhouse gas inventory" estimates the amount of climate pollution such as carbon dioxide and methane released from vehicles, homes and businesses, industry and electricity production. Maine also calculates how those emissions are offset by carbon stored in the state's forests, peat bogs and other natural sinks.

Opinion: Maine’s PUC needs to make CMP earn its rate increase

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 22, 2026

Yet again, Central Maine Power is before the Maine Public Utilities Commission seeking a rate increase. Take a hard look at whether CMP has earned the right to more ratepayer money. From 2016 to 2024, Maine ranked in the bottom five states for the number of outages experienced by its customers and finished worst in the nation in six out of those nine years when major outage events are included. In all but one of those nine years, Maine ranked among the eight worst states for total duration of outages. Maine rarely faces hurricanes, tornadoes, significant flooding or earthquakes. The weather excuse does not explain away nine years of being among the worst in the nation. The focus of the company has shifted from reliable and economic service to Mainers toward generating returns for its foreign parent. It is time for the PUC to hold CMP accountable, demand real performance and ensure that any new ratepayer dollars are invested efficiently and in the public interest. ~ Bill Dunn, retired electric power industry consultant, Yarmouth

Land returned to Mi’kmaq Nation will double tribe’s territory

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 22, 2026

The Mi’kmaq Nation on Friday obtained title to Mesgilg Maqamigew, a nearly 3,400-acre parcel near Bridgewater. It will more than double the tribe’s holdings. “For decades the Mi’kmaq citizens have seen their traditional hunting and gathering grounds disappear to development or private ownership not allowing access,” Chief Sheila McCormack said. “This property will give our people a place for outdoor recreation, a place to teach our children how to hunt and fish, and a place we can pass down the traditions of our ancestors before they are forgotten.” The Conservation Fund purchased the parcel last year from forestry company H.C. Hayne, then held it on behalf of the tribe. The organization worked with the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship and First Light to secure $1.9 million for project.

Maine town eyes fixing dam that holds back tides of mercury

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 22, 2026

Industrial mercury contamination in the Penobscot River has moved up the neighboring Orland River, held back by just a nearly century-old dam that needs expensive repairs or replacement. The tide now regularly washes over the top of the dam from the mercury-contaminated water below, potentially carrying some of it upstream. Mercury has been found in smaller amounts above the dam. The town of Orland is investigating options to fix up or replace the dam and hold back waters during even extreme tides. It also wants to improve the attached fishway, a key to maintaining — and ideally increasing — the town’s commercial alewife harvest.

Sorry, but that owl decoy won’t stop critters from destroying your crops

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 22, 2026

Owl decoys are essentially scarecrows for birds. These statuettes made to look like the predatory birds are said to keep birds away from your property if you are having avian issues. But do owl decoys actually work? Griffin Dill, integrated pest management specialist at the University of Maine, said, pest experts have found owl decoys to be limited in how long they are effective. Even the most skittish prey animals are wise enough to figure out that the scary statue isn’t likely to cause them any harm. “To improve the effectiveness of decoy owls, frequently change their position and add the element of movement by placing streamers nearby or dangling the decoy from a rope,” Dill said.

Column: The Presumpscot River is entangled with my idea of home

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 21, 2026

Growing up, many of my most treasured memories are from time spent outside. But there is one place that feels most significant, both in childhood and today: the Presumpscot River Preserve. Before European settlers arrived, the Presumpscot sustained the Abenaki people. Beginning in the 1730s, dams were constructed that blocked fish passage and submerged the river’s many natural falls. The river was polluted with industrial waste. Decades of conservation efforts, from the Clean Water Act in the 1970s to more recent dam removals and the construction of fish passageways, have helped to restore the river. I’m deeply grateful to the organizations and individuals who protect and steward it so that it remains open to all of us. ~ Soren Stark-Chessa,first-year student, Bates College

5 Kennebec Land Trust hikes to try this summer

CENTRAL MAINE • June 21, 2026

With thousands of acres across Kennebec County preserved for public access and wildlife conservation, Kennebec Land Trust properties offer dozens of wandering hikes within a half-hour drive of the state capital. Ranging from summiting Winthrop’s Mount Pisgah to watching a waterfall in Sidney, the Kennebec Journal asked KLT trail-builder and stewardship director Tyler Kenniston about his favorite local trails to hike. Here are his go-to KLT hikes for this summer.
• Reynolds Forest, Sidney
• Howard Hill Conservation Area, Augusta
• Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area, Mount Vernon
• Hales Pond Woodland Preserve, Fayette
• Mount Pisgah Conservation Area, Winthrop

This notorious weed invading Maine can be foraged for a tasty treat

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 21, 2026

Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive plant species in the state, as it outcompetes many other native plant species. But it’s a delicious edible plant — and foraging for it will help you to do your part in managing this scourge on Maine’s environment while also enjoying a fresh meal.

Social media has driven Acadia tourists to a quiet spot on the Schoodic Peninsula

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 20, 2026

Social media is attracting tourists to an unmarked trail on the Schoodic Peninsula, where dramatic jagged cliffs drop into Frenchman Bay in Acadia’s quieter region. As more and more tourists vacation in Acadia National Park each year, the park recorded more than 4 million visits last year, many of the park’s most iconic attractions are often congested with people. Some tourists are looking for places to enjoy the park without the mayhem and are turning to social media for suggestions. One TikTok trend has centered around Ravens Nest, a cluster of cliffs off Schoodic Loop Road in the park’s only mainland section. 

Column: This wildlife drama is happening right in my backyard

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 20, 2026

I’m taking the time to watch what’s happening around my yard. It’s not exclusively my yard anymore. An eastern phoebe renested above my porch door. An American robin is nesting on the near side of the deck. I was astonished to find yet another robin nesting on the opposite side of the house. Now I can’t go anywhere in my yard without being eyed suspiciously. Three days ago, a red-shouldered hawk swooped into the yard and grabbed a recent fledgling off the lawn. I’m not sure who was more surprised, me or the robin. A hairy woodpecker landed on the feeder. The downy woodpecker complained. Bald eagles have been flying past my house for weeks, bound for the river to feed on alewives. A tiny chipping sparrow is one of the noisiest in my yard. A sapsucker has taken a fondness to banging on my metal mailbox. A black-billed cuckoo has been calling from behind my neighbor’s house. I’ve done a lot of birding this month, without ever leaving home. ~ Bob Duchesne

Column: Behavior of birds changes during breeding season

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 20, 2026

As the migration season winds down, we experience a lull in general bird activity. This drop comes from two main factors: many birds have migrated farther north, and those that did stay—including our resident species — are really hard to detect right now. We have around 300 species of birds that regularly occur in Maine. Of those, 231 were documented as breeding in the state during the Maine Bird Atlas. One of the most important things to remember this time of year: there are baby birds everywhere. If you stumble upon one, it is almost always best to leave it alone. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist

Fisherman’s body recovered from water near Vinalhaven

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 20, 2026

The body of a commercial fisherman, Marshal Ames of North Haven, 57, was recovered Thursday afternoon after he apparently fell off the fishing vessel Long Faces in Hurricane Sound off Vinalhaven. The captain of the Long Faces, 39-year-old Geoffrey Barrett of North Haven, was charged with assault following an altercation with Marine Patrol officers at the dock at Dyer Island. Barrett was also charged with refusing to submit to a chemical test and boating under the influence. Another crewmember, Theodore Lane of North Haven, 27, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct.

Opinion: Blue Economy Center is key to Maine’s ocean future

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 20, 2026

This spring, following two years of careful consideration, the Legislature enacted a law establishing a Maine Blue Economy Center. Its work will encompass well-established industries like seafood, shipping and recreation and tourism and support advancements in emerging fields such as marine biotechnology and electrification. Its work will encompass obvious and well-established industries like seafood, shipping and recreation and tourism and support advancements in emerging fields such as marine biotechnology and electrification. We must be proactive about developing new products, markets and skills to enhance the future of our legacy industries like fishing, aquaculture and boatbuilding. ~ Michael Conathan helped lead the work of Maine’s Blue Economy Task Force, South Portland

Grand Falls Hut, ATV trail near The Forks get Somerset County TIF dollars

CENTRAL MAINE • June 20, 2026

Funding to fix up a remote hut near Grand Falls and a key ATV and snowmobile trail in The Forks got the green light from Somerset County commissioners Wednesday. The board of commissioners at its meeting approved $17,500 for Maine Huts and Trails to make upgrades at its shuttered Grand Falls Hut and $40,800 for the Lake Moxie ATV Club to improve a trail that brings traffic from elsewhere to businesses in The Forks. Both efforts are aimed at improving outdoor recreation infrastructure, which has come to play a key role in the rural county’s economy and commissioners have come to regularly support.

A gloomy day is a great time to take a hike in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 20, 2026

Sometimes you can’t wait for the perfect weather to go hiking. On a Saturday in June, the forecast called for cloudy skies and a potential for afternoon showers. With a steady breeze and temperatures in the 70s, it was gloomy but comfortable. The low cloud cover meant that we wouldn’t enjoy any mountaintop views, yet we were determined to cover several miles of trail, breathe some fresh air and exercise our legs. Lucky for us, the gloomy wilderness had its own special type of beauty. Sometimes it’s the hikes in less than ideal weather that dazzle us and remain vivid in our memories.