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Keeping Maine Beautiful

DOWN EAST magazine • August 2026

The highway crews, bottle redeemers, and altruists who clean up after everyone else.

Latest Brookfield Dam Shut-Down Hits West Branch of Penobscot Massive Fish Kills

TROUT UNLIMITED • July 30, 2026

A two-hour dam shut down and sparks from old electric transmission lines at facilities owned and operated by Brookfield Renewable on the West Branch of the Penobscot River triggered fish kills and forest fires this week. This is the latest such event, which is estimated to occur once a year and which kills hundreds of landlocked salmon, the State Fish of Maine.  The latest fish kills and fires renew repeated calls—so far ignored—for improved onsite dam monitoring and staffing, and proper maintenance of aging infrastructure. "Brookfield has shown no inclination to adequately maintain its transmission lines between McKay Station and Millinocket, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has taken no action to change that since a similar event occurred last summer and many times before,“ said Steve Heinz, Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, representing some 1,500 resident conservationists and sportspersons. “On the current course of inaction, we can unfortunately expect more of the same -- fish kills and forest fires.”  

Monumental Success?

DOWN EAST magazine • August 2026

Carving Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument out of Maine's north woods was a big win for conservationists and other supporters. A decade later, questions about what the property could–and should–become are still up for debate.

Maine joins seven states legalizing “Plug in” Solar

SUE INCHES BLOG • July 31, 2026

“Plug in solar” and “balcony solar” refer to small solar panels that can be plugged into a standard outlet and can provide electricity directly to a home or business with no connection to the electric grid. Sometimes several units can be strung together. And some units come with battery storage. Plug in solar is ideal for renters, people without a roof suitable for solar, or people who don’t plan to stay in their home long enough to see a rooftop array pay for itself. Plug in solar is a breakthrough because it can save users money without the need for subsidies, permits, or utility permission. In July, Maine became the eighth state to legalize “plug in solar”. Thirty-five other states are considering legislation to pave the way for these portable solar units. This makes sense. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are eager to provide constituents with relief from high energy bills.

Model finds high tick risk across Franklin County

FRANKLIN JOURNAL • July 31, 2026

Every Franklin County community rates high for potential tick encounters under a new town-level model, with Temple, Weld, Sandy River Plantation, Carrabassett Valley and Carthage tied for the county’s highest peak-season score. The findings come from TickZone, a free website that combines county-level Lyme disease data with satellite land-cover information, seasonal tick activity and daily weather. Founder Nathan Burnett cautions that the scores estimate the likelihood of encountering ticks and do not predict infections.

Letter: Maine roads need to be cleared of vegetation

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

Along miles of state roads, highways and interstates, trees, brush, and tall grass have been allowed to grow mostly unchecked, creating a serious safety hazard that should no longer be ignored. Overgrown vegetation can block sight lines at intersections, highway entrance ramps, and merging lanes, forcing drivers to make dangerous split-second decisions. On local roads and highways, it narrows the usable shoulder, pushing pedestrians and bicyclists farther into traffic lanes and increasing the risk of serious accidents. It can also reduce motorists’ ability to see deer and other wildlife before they enter the roadway, leaving little time to avoid potentially deadly collisions. It’s time to stop making excuses and start cutting back the overgrowth. ~ Rod Hathaway, Veazie

How many of these Maine fishing adventures have you completed? See which belong on your bucket list.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026
Maine boasts unique fishing opportunities and fish that often go underappreciated by locals. Here are six experiences every angler should try at least once.
• Catch and cook a landlocked salmon
• Go smelting
• Catch a fish on a fly rod
• Catch an Arctic charr
• Stay at a historic Maine sporting camp
• Catch a striped bass
Catch a musky or a whitefish? See the alewives migrate or canoe the Allagash? Whatever it is, the best part about an angler’s bucket list is that there’s always another adventure waiting.

Experts say the number of insects in Maine is dropping

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

Reliable, long-term data about the populations of the thousands of insects in Maine is generally limited, individual observations don’t necessarily indicate trends, and many factors can influence their behavior, according to naturalists. But numbers of insects — which pollinate plants, including crops, and fill a key role in the food chain — have declined sharply worldwide in recent decades, and it’s having noticeable impacts in Maine. “Whether you care [about insects] or not on a species level, every living human should care if you want to keep living,” said Doug Hitchcox, a naturalist at Maine Audubon. “We need insects.”

Martin Woods Farm: Evolving Through the Farming Experience

DAILY BULLDOG • July 30, 2026

For generations, family farms have been at the heart of rural Maine, providing food, employment, and a gathering place for neighbors. Today, however, many small farms have evolved beyond traditional agriculture, finding new ways to remain sustainable while continuing to serve their communities. From educational programming and agritourism to locally made products and seasonal events, modern family farms are proving they can preserve rural traditions while embracing new opportunities. That philosophy is evident at Martin Woods Farm in Starks, where owners Sarah and “Bud” Martin have spent the last decade building an 88-acre destination that blends agriculture, horsemanship, education and community.

Black bear dies at Maine Wildlife Park in Gray

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 30, 2026

A black bear died at Maine Wildlife Park in Gray on Wednesday. The wildlife park announced in a social media post on Thursday the loss of “our beloved resident black bear,” Luvey. It said one of the bear’s wildlife keepers had seen Luvey eating and otherwise behaving normally before she “suddenly collapsed.” “Staff responded immediately, but she passed away within minutes,” the park said. Luvey began her roughly five-year stay at Maine Wildlife Park in 2021. “A beautiful cinnamon-phase black bear, she quickly became a favorite among visitors and staff alike.”

Thousands of fish may have died in Penobscot River dam shutdown

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 30, 2026

A sudden Monday shutdown at a dam on the West Branch of the Penobscot River may have killed thousands of fish, leaving Maine anglers and guides warning that a nationally recognized cold-water fishery is being put at repeated risk. A downed power line triggered a “trip event” around 4:30 p.m. at McKay Station, which is about 30 miles west of Millinocket near Ripogenus Dam. The event automatically shut down the turbines. Water levels on the West Branch then fell from about 2,400 cubic feet per second to roughly 450 cfs almost instantly and stayed there for more than two hours. The unplanned outage at the dam has revived criticism of Brookfield Renewable, Maine’s dominant dam owner, its equipment maintenance and its response times when things go wrong.

Drought conditions worsening again in Maine

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 30, 2026

Drought conditions in Maine have worsened in recent weeks after months of fairly steady improvement. Maine’s coastline from York County through much of Hancock County is under moderate drought conditions as of this week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. All of Washington County and areas further inland, including most of Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Penobscot counties, find themselves under abnormally dry conditions. Slices of southern Aroostook, Franklin, Somerset and Piscataquis counties are also abnormally dry.

Baileyville paper mill fined $800,000 for ‘willful’ safety violations that killed 2

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 30, 2026

The operator of a Washington County paper mill willfully violated workplace safety laws, resulting in the deaths of two young men in January, federal investigators said Thursday. Twenty-year-old chemical engineering intern Kasie Malcolm and 26-year-old process engineer Allen Hornberger died of complications of hydrogen sulfide exposure when they were working at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville, the Maine medical examiner’s office determined. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Woodland Pulp $794,456 this week. The mill, which has 15 days to contest the penalties, has been owned since 2010 by International Grand Investment Corporation, whose directors are based in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Beyond e-bikes: high-speed electric rides create new road hazards in central Maine

CENTRAL MAINE • July 30, 2026

E-bikes started becoming popular around 2019 and, boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they became a popular option for commuters and people with mobility issues. But in recent months, reports of e-bike crashes have increased across the country, with many involving children. One such crash occurred last week on Bangor Street in Augusta, where a 14-year-old riding an e-bike suffered serious leg injuries. Andrew Zarro, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, said e-bikes aren’t the problem. Electric motorcycles are. E-bikes can’t go above 28 mph, but e-motos can — some drive up to 65 mph.

How to stay safe on an e-bike in central Maine and beyond

SUN JOURNAL • July 30, 2026

Laurel Parker is the medical director of the emergency department at MaineGeneral Medical Center. She and most of the her colleagues have seen several e-bike injuries She said head injuries are the most common, as well as orthopedic injuries to the arms, ankles and wrists. “I think it’s just a matter of time,” she said. “Especially as these things go faster, because you don’t have a steel cage around you like in a car.”

A poacher killed a doe and left her body to rot in a Maine apple orchard 4

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 30, 2026

A poacher killed a doe and left her body to rot in an apple orchard in Mercer. The poacher likely shot the deer sometime between 11-11:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Maine Operation Game Thief is offering a $2,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the killing.

Land trust seeks to preserve Belgrade Scout camp, avert new development on nearly 300 acres

CENTRAL MAINE • July 29, 2026

A regional land trust and conservation organization raising funds to purchase the nearly 300-acre Camp Bomazeen Boy Scout camp describes the move as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It’s a chance to protect and preserve one of the largest, undeveloped swaths of significant wildlife habitat remaining on Great Pond. Seven Lakes Alliance officials warn if they can’t raise $3 million within the next two months, it would be a highly desirable site for private development.

Bats and rabies in Maine: What to do if you’ve been exposed

CENTRAL MAINE • July 29, 2026

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that a handful of bats have tested positive for rabies so far this year. With midsummer marking the start of bats’ most active season in Maine (ending in early September), the agency shared precautions people should take should they be exposed to the flying mammals.

Freedom adopts new rules aimed at curbing rowdy behavior at popular swimming spot

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 29, 2026

After complaints of drug use, nudity and other rowdy behavior, the town of Freedom will limit parking to recreational boaters and local residents, cut back hours and prohibit “disorderly conduct” at a popular boat launch and swimming spot. The select board has been trying for weeks to settle on new rules for the boat launch and swimming area on Freedom Pond, also known as Sandy Pond. The revised policy, released this week, forbids “indecent acts, intoxication or coarse language” and includes a $250 fine for vehicles that exceed the boat launch’s weight limits.