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.
WMTW-TV8 • March 27, 2026
Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday that Maine is receiving $43 million in new federal funding to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters. The funding comes from the New England Heat Pump Accelerator, a collaborative multi-state initiative supported by a federal grant to rapidly increase the adoption of heat pump technology across the region. More than 70,000 heat pump water heaters have been installed in Maine since 2018, according to Mills, and she said the goal of the new funding is to support the installation of another 30,000 heat pump water heaters.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
We don’t typically think of blue jays as migrating away from Maine in the summer, since they can be seen year-round in the state, but those individuals you see in your backyards and local parks in the winter may be different from the ones that are there in the summer. While most passerines (perching birds) migrate at night, blue jays are primarily diurnal migrants (active in the daytime), and you can often catch them in the act. We see small groups of blue jays actively migrating in the mornings during the “Warbler Walks” I lead at Evergreen Cemetery each May. You can typically tell migrating jays by: their altitude, above the treetops up to 500 feet (think of the Washington Monument for scale); their northward orientation, hopefully; and group size, as they’ll be in groups of 5-10 or larger, rather than singly or in pairs. ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox
MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • March 28, 2026
If you care about our national parks, urge your US Senators to oppose the destructive and deceptive S. 4103, the “Save Our Sequoias Act” Logging Bill. S. 4103 would:
• allow clearcutting of mature and old-growth giant sequoias in sequoia groves;
• create a timber sales program in National Parks for the first time in U.S. history;
• override and nullify the Giant Sequoia National Monument and the 2001 Roadless Rule;
• implement a dangerous sneak attack that could allow logging in Wilderness Areas.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
Maine’s children carry some of the highest cancer rates in the country. South Portland has schools where young ones breathe fumes from the tank farms. Three federal emissions lawsuits confirm these facilities don’t always operate within even Maine’s permissive standards. More than 600 tons of volatile organic compounds are vented into South Portland’s air every year. The cancer-causing fumes’ dangers are compounded by projected sea level rise. A plan that peers only 12 years ahead is not looking nearly far enough. South Portland’s choices today will determine what kind of city stands at the waterline at 2100 and beyond. A new group has proposed a Shipyard Open Space Monument. The sea is rising. The air is compromised. The community has offered a solution rooted in history, health and hard-won wisdom. The only question left is whether the City Council has the courage to choose it. ~ David Field, South Portland
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
As a Bass Harbor resident who fishes out of Portland, I know firsthand the pressure our groundfish fleet faces. Recently, we were on the brink of a premature and unnecessary shutdown. Regulations to increase the haddock allowable catch by 50% were supposed to be implemented last May. Due to bureaucratic delays, those crucial fish remained off-limits. We faced an existential threat to our businesses. The response from Sen. Susan Collins’ office was nothing short of remarkable. We reached out to her staff on a Tuesday morning; by Wednesday afternoon, the rule was published and our season was saved. ~ John Mitchell, Bass Harbor
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 28, 2026
Our scheduled 10 a.m. departure on the Isle au Haut ferry, Stonington Harbor was surprisingly calm. Two captains, three guides and 24 participants climbed aboard without hesitation. This excursion has become one of our most popular offerings, mostly because harlequin ducks are among the cutest birds on the planet. We counted 239 during the three-hour voyage. Long-tailed ducks were also abundant. We tallied 94. We saw all three scoter species: surf (56), black (49) and white-winged (7). There were 32 common eiders, a rather low number, and 25 red-breasted mergansers, a rather high one. Two offshore flocks of Canada geese were a surprise. Who expects to see 57 that far out on saltwater? The 34 great cormorants were less so. They nest on the farthest island, Seal Island, and move closer to shore in winter. The only surprise about the 375 American herring gulls was that we actually counted them. Who counts gulls? ~ Bob Duchesne
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 27, 2026
On a few nights each spring, Mainers help frogs and salamanders cross roads, witnessing the natural pilgrimage in their backyards. Citizens can get involved through the organization Maine Big Night, which has a map of over 100 sites across the state where volunteers can shepherd amphibians across the road. Frogs and salamanders wait for the right conditions to get moving. The nighttime temperature must be above 40 degrees, preferably up to 45 degrees, and there has to be rain. Typically Big Night occurs around mid-April. “It really is a sign that spring has begun and winter is over,” said Greg LeClair, the executive director of Maine Big Night.
MAINE PUBLIC • March 27, 2026
The number of Maine's "species of greatest conservation need" has almost doubled in the latest wildlife protection roadmap released by the state. The 10-year Wildlife Action Plan now includes more than 700 kinds of birds, mammals, fish and invertebrates. For the first time it also includes plants said Alex Fish, endangered and threatened species coordinator with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "So that increased around 300 species there, including endangered, threatened and special concern plant species," Fish said in an interview.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 27, 2026
The Androscoggin River once haunted Mainers with its nauseating odors and clouds of foam. But more than any other river, it inspired Maine Sen. Ed Muskie to push for the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972. Today, we have an opportunity to give future generations a chance to thrive in an uncertain climate by securing a functioning river ecosystem. The Brunswick Dam at the head-of-tide on the river is being reviewed for another 40- to 50-year permit to operate. The dam supplies only about 0.6% of Maine’s power, yet almost completely blocks fish passage, in violation of the Clean Water Act. It is now or never to influence the relicensing process and force the dam owner to adhere to Clean Water Act standards for safe passage of native fish species. The dam has a fish ladder that does not work well. Last year, Free-the-Andro, a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, was formed to influence the federal relicensing process for the benefit of a functioning river ecosystem. We would like to see an outpouring of support for better fish passage. ~ John Lichter, emeritus professor of environmental studies; Scot McFarlane, river historian
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 27, 2026
In the construction business, we deal in realities every day. We know what it takes to build a home, repair a bridge, or expand a local business. We track material costs closely, manage tight timelines, and adjust when prices shift. One factor touches every part of that work: energy. That’s why proposals like Maine’s Climate Superfund bill, LD 1870, raise serious concerns. There is no question that Maine should take steps to strengthen its infrastructure and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Building more resilient communities is something we all support. But how we approach that goal matters just as much as the goal itself. If we want Maine to remain a place where people can afford to live, work, and invest, we need policies that support both sustainability and economic strength. That means focusing on solutions that expand energy options, encourage innovation, and keep costs in check. ~ Larry Grondin, R.J. Grondin & Sons, Gorham, and Associated Builders and Contractors
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 27, 2026
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s revised public benefit determination to expand the Juniper Ridge Landfill (JRL) once again fails to fully consider the well-being of Penobscot Nation and Old Town residents, arguing that public health is worth sacrificing for the sake of having somewhere to dump Maine’s garbage. The technology for removing PFAS from leachate is complicated, largely experimental, and varies in effectiveness. What will happen if PFAS treatment doesn’t work? The DEP has failed to accept accountability for the ongoing harm caused by JRL by continuing to push for expansion. The proposed solutions included in the revised public benefit determination amount to an admission that JRL has been violating the rights of our communities for years. We deserve a Department of Environmental Protection that takes our health and environment seriously. ~ Daisy Goodman, Old Town
NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • March 26, 2026
Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM’s CEO from 2011-2022, passed away on Sunday, March 22. Lisa joined the NRCM team in 2000 as a member of the Board of Directors, later serving as board president and then Deputy Director under Brownie Carson. She brought to her leadership of the Natural Resources Council of Maine a deep passion for the environment and a strong history of advocacy for the people of Maine. She believed strongly in the power of connection—whether visiting members in their homes across Maine, speaking at the State House, or standing alongside community leaders and elected officials. Lisa had a rare ability to inspire action and bring people together, always grounding her work in both compassion and conviction. In 2015, Lisa received one of the first “Women in Conservation” awards from the National Wildlife Federation.
WGME-TV13 • March 26, 2026
Despite a few recent rounds of rain, we’re still running a deficit, and the drought isn’t going anywhere just yet. Drought impacts nearly every part of our lives. Everything in our environment is connected, and water plays a critical role. It supports our communities, our ecosystems and our economy. The drought in Maine has been ongoing since last spring. Every county has been experiencing at least moderate drought conditions. Fast forward to Friday’s drought monitor, there have been only minor improvements. The state is still under drought conditions, with parts of southern Maine remaining in extreme drought. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting that the drought will persist through at least the end of June, a reflection of the ongoing precipitation deficit. To get out of the severe drought, Maine will need multiple days of soaking precipitation.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 26 2026
A West Bath woman allegedly set fire to a barn that housed goats on her property earlier this month. Grace Burnham, 38, has been charged with arson, failure to report or control a dangerous fire, and animal cruelty. The March 14 fire destroyed the barn, but no animals were harmed. Burnham was arrested Tuesday at her home in connection with the blaze and taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
MAINE MORNING STAR • March 26, 2026
Dozens of farmers who gathered at the State House on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to put a $50 million agriculture bond on the ballot. Holly Noyes said the funding is critical to the future of their family’s longstanding dairy farm in Albion. “Our family’s been farming since the 50s, and this bill they’re going to talk about is really important to us,” said Noyes, who currently runs the operation. In 2018, a storm destroyed several buildings on the farm, and the family was unable to secure financial support to rebuild. The bond proposal would allow farmers to access low-interest loans and other programs designed to help recover from those kinds of losses. “Maine’s agricultural sector faces unprecedented challenges that require investment,” Rep. Bill Pluecker said. “Between shifting federal funding, climate changes like this past summer’s drought — both leave farmers struggling with losses. Farmers are facing a shifting landscape unlike anything we’ve seen in the past.”
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 26, 2026
Data centers use enormous amounts of electricity. The “large language” models being used are not the only ways to implement AI, but are certainly among the most wasteful of energy. The Trump administration’s irrational energy policies notwithstanding, we must still replace the fossil fuel burning used for heating, and especially transportation, if we’re to keep global warming within bounds. Conservation is still the best way to protect humanity’s place on the planet, and AI data centers work in direct opposition to what should be our joint survival strategy. A one-year cooling off period is simply good insurance in what is clearly an overheated market. ~ Douglas Rooks
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 26, 2026
Paper mills have long been considered dangerous workplaces. The state’s remaining mills have been investigated dozens of times for injuries and safety hazards. But deaths in the industry are rare, especially in Maine, and many questions remain about the circumstances of the gas leak. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration could take months to say if the company is at fault. Paul Cyr, a retired investigator who was one of OSHA’s national experts in forest products industries, said his experience suggests the one at Woodland Pulp was very likely predictable and preventable. “This type of incident should never happen in the United States of America today,” he said. Woodland Pulp, meanwhile, has finished its own investigation, said company spokesman Scott Beal, but has not shared its findings publicly.
