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Study Backs Marine Conservation Farming as Tool for Atlantic Salmon Recovery

SEAFOOD NEWS • July 15, 2026

A newly published study on the Fundy Salmon Recovery (FSR) project is adding momentum to calls for Canada to adopt new tools to restore wild Atlantic salmon populations, arguing that habitat work alone will not be enough to reverse declines. The research, published in Fisheries Research by scientists from the University of New Brunswick, Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, found that salmon raised through the project’s marine conservation farming approach produced more than four times as many offspring as fish reared entirely in traditional ways.

New Monmouth trail is only the start, officials say: ‘This is the first one’

CENTRAL MAINE • July 15, 2026

Construction on an “all-persons” trail four years in the making is underway, with the goal of opening in October a path that accommodates people of all ages and mobility levels. The idea for the trail came from a survey four years ago that found residents wanted to spend the town’s Tax-Increment Financing funding on outdoor recreation and trails. Chuck Cohen, chair of the Monmouth Trails Committee, said, “This is going to be a great project and it’s going to get people excited about getting out and walking and using this trail. This is huge for our town.” There will also be an outdoor learning classroom for Monmouth students along the trail, and it will enhance recreational sporting opportunities in the area. “We’re looking at this as a backbone for a trail system in the town of Monmouth.”

Column: Western Mainers in puffin country: Lessons on the colorful bird’s return to Maine

LIVERMORE FALLS ADVERTISER • July 15, 2026

The July sun was already bright when my husband and I arrived at the dock with our youngest daughter, one of our middle sons and our oldest daughter, whose belated birthday gift had brought us to the coast. Atlantic puffins once nested on Maine islands, including Eastern Egg Rock, but humans hunting for meat, eggs and feathers helped wipe them out. By the late 1800s, puffins were gone from Eastern Egg Rock. In 1973, Audubon biologist Stephen Kress began what became Project Puffin, an effort to restore puffins to the island. Living in western Maine, it is easy to think of the coast as somewhere else. A trip like this is a reminder to make time for it, not just as scenery, but as a living place with working harbors, seabirds, research stations and stories still unfolding offshore. ~ Rebecca Richard

Lawsuit challenges Trump rule stripping habitat protections for endangered wildlife

MASS LIVE • July 15, 2026

Conservation groups on Tuesday sued the Trump administration over its decision to strip endangered species of protections in places where they live, according to the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service repealed their regulatory definitions of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) last week. CLF called the move “illegal” because it is harming species through habitat destruction, which is prohibited by the ESA’s statutory language.

Portland writer Ron Currie revisits 1987 Jay paper strike in new novel

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 15, 2026

The title of Portland-based writer Ron Currie’s 2025 novel, “The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne,” would not suggest to most readers that a sequel was on the way. And yet, just over a year later, Currie has returned to the scene of the many crimes detailed in his previous book with “We Will See You Bleed,” a novel that revisits many of the characters. Set over a handful of days in 1984 as the Franco-American community in Waterville strikes at the local paper mill, “We Will See You Bleed” is both a fascinating return to the milieu of his earlier novel and something of a stylistic departure, a novel that finds a different way to reckon with some of the same themes as its predecessor.

Fewer barriers mean more accessibility on western Maine trails

SUN JOURNAL • July 15, 2026

For years, adaptive athlete Enock Glidden, of Rumford, said he had to travel to Maine’s coast to find trails accessible to wheelchair users, people using mobility devices, parents pushing strollers and older adults seeking gentler terrain. That is beginning to change in western Maine. New and improved accessible trail options now include Buck’s Ledge, Inland Woods + Trails’ Rumford Community Forest, and longtime favorites such as Davis Park and Valentine Farm. Glidden said more accessible trails are on the way as land managers increasingly prioritize accessibility while recognizing Maine’s aging population.

Maine has ignored this homegrown substitute for heating oil

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 15, 2026

Maine has largely neglected a heating fuel made from forestry waste that could help the state fulfill its ambitious goals to replace its nation-leading reliance on oil, instead focusing almost exclusively on electrification. Two startup companies in Maine said the new biofuels they plan to produce in about two years will heat homes and businesses with less carbon output at about the same price as conventional oil. Biofuels also represent a new market for tree tops, bark and other forestry refuse that paper mills once bought but now lie useless on the ground, releasing carbon dioxide as it decomposes and posing a fire risk.

Coastal Rivers to host guided eelgrass paddle in Great Salt Bay

TIMES RECORD • July 14, 2026

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust will host a guided educational paddle through the vibrant eelgrass beds of Great Salt Bay off of Damariscotta from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17. The excursion will highlight the critical ecological roles eelgrass plays, including its ability to combat climate change through carbon sequestration and its function as a crucial nursery habitat for local marine life. The event is free. Space is limited and signup is required online at coastalrivers.org/events.

Feds: Cost-saving measure led to deaths of 2 employees at Down East mill

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 14, 2026

The Baileyville mill where a chemical release killed two young workers last winter did not have adequate safety measures, according to an investigative update released Tuesday by federal officials. The incident at Woodland Pulp’s bleach plant in Washington County claimed the lives of a UMaine college student and a rising chemical engineer, and injured an additional 10 employees who were also exposed to the toxic gas. The cause of the gas exposure was traced to the previous day, when managers decided to shut down most of the mill due to high operating costs that followed a rise in the price of natural gas. The shutdown included a fan that normally would remove hydrogen sulfide from inside the mill. Without the scrubber fan, the toxic gas accumulated in a sewer pipe and escaped through piping to other areas of the building, where Kasie Malcolm, 20, and Allen Hornberger, 26, were later found.

Chemical safety board skewers Maine paper mill over gas spill that led to deaths

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 14, 2026

Federal investigators on Tuesday detailed a series of safety failures that led to the preventable deaths of two young workers at a Maine paper mill in January. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s update reveals Woodland Pulp lacked basic alarms, tracking systems and ventilation to protect employees from a predictable toxic gas release. The findings highlight safety gaps in a facility that remains a vital economic engine for Washington County. “Although our investigation is still ongoing, it already is clear that this terrible tragedy should never have happened,” said Steve Owens, chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, in the Tuesday update.

Kennebunk Fire and Rescue clean up oil spill after boat turnover

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 14, 2026

Kennebunk Fire and Rescue urged people to avoid swimming in the area of Strawberry Island after a small boat crashed Tuesday morning and spilled oil. The fire department said that it was working with Maine Department of Environmental Protection to clean up the spill from a 60 gallon fuel tank. It urged people to stay out of the water for “at least the next two tide cycles.” After an investigation, Kennebunk Fire and Rescue discovered the boat was tied to a sinking incident late Monday.

Kingfield voters approve campsite moratorium

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • July 14, 2026

Residents of Kingfield overwhelmingly approved a moratorium that sought to pause development on “transient overnight recreational developments” during a special town meeting July 13. The moratorium was presented to the town in May by residents living on Lower Iron Bridge Road. By passing the ordinance, the group hoped to freeze the development of a campsite proposed by Bowdoin College, which would be built on a 20.7-acre plot on the same road. Bowdoin withdrew its application to develop the site in May, saying they would wait six months before reapplying to allow the town to assess its outdated ordinances.

New owners aim to turn a Bangor-area ski hill into a year-round destination

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

The new owners of Hermon Mountain are turning the seasonal ski area into a four-season operation, adding a restaurant, a disc golf course and a concert and event lineup. Casee and Dave Hart and Amy and Tim McClary bought the mountain for $2.1 million on April 30. By adding paying customers in spring, summer and fall, the new owners are trying to smooth out revenue through the months the lifts sit idle.

UMaine is applying to receive up to $1 million for agricultural research infrastructure

MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2026

The University of Maine could receive up to $1 million in federal funding for agricultural research infrastructure. The funding is part of a new partnership between the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Education to encourage land-grant universities to address deferred maintenance and to accelerate modernization of agricultural research facilities. UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said, "It's about helping rural farms be sustained.

Where you can legally pick blueberries in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

Maine has 47,600 acres of commercial wild blueberry managed by 515 farms. These berries will begin to ripen this month through September. If you’re looking for free, wild blueberry patches, you can find opportunities all over. Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust in Brunswick has 20 acres of wild blueberry barrens open to the public. Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport is managed by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust, and July 20-26 is free blueberry community pick week. Acadia National Park allows visitors to pick 1 dry half gallon of blueberries per person, per day. Birch Point Trail and Hollingsworth Trail in the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge in Steuben offer opportunities for recreational blueberry picking. Great Pond Mountain Wildlands has several hiking trails in Orland where you can pick berries. The annual Wild Blueberry Weekend in Maine will take place August 2-3. Visitors may pick wild blueberries at select locations.

Opinion: The hidden costs of military ‘exercises’

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2026

The noise from events such as the recent Great State of Maine Air Show in Brunswick can be dismissed as a nuisance, but the environmental, financial and cultural impact cannot. The U.S. military is exempt from regulatory standards. The documentary “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” explores toxic contamination at military sites and global environmental damage, including deforestation, ocean pollution, toxic battlefields, and the military carbon footprint. ~ Peter S. Morgan Jr., U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Raymond

Column: Scarborough Marsh a unique paddling experience

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2026

For paddlers looking for a unique, scenic kayak or canoe trip, Scarborough Marsh in southern Maine is a good choice. The 3,100-acre estuary is the largest salt marsh in Maine. Passage through the marsh seems a maze as it twists and turns. At different times, paddlers can be facing any direction on the compass. A very entertaining day of paddling in a truly exceptional setting. ~ Ron Chase

Woman dies after bystanders pull her from Hancock County pond

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

Deborah Wedge, 67, was on the water on Beech Hill Pond off Salisbury Cove Road about 4:21 p.m. when she likely suffered an unknown “medical event,” according to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Bystanders rescued her from the water and performed CPR until first responders arrived, the sheriff’s office said early Monday morning. But Wedge died at the scene.

3 tips to judge black bear size before your hunt this fall

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2026

One of the biggest challenges new bear hunters face is estimating the size of a black bear as it slips into view during the waning hours of daylight. Here are the top three proven tips I have given my hunting clients. If the bear has ears that pop up and appear wide and rounded, that’s a small bear. Big ears, little bear. Little ears, big bear. If it appears the bear is dragging its belly on the ground, you may have a bear of a lifetime in front of you. Long legs on a bear typically indicate an immature bear. ~ John Floyd