The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
MAINE PUBLIC • July 13, 2023
The famously abundant trees in Maine lend themselves to many uses. Learn about new ways that wood is being used. Panelists: Lee Burnett, Local Wood Works; Hemant Pendse, University of Maine – Orono; Susan MacKay, Advanced Structures and Composites Center, University of Maine. VIP Callers: Joshua Henry, Timber HP; Ariadne Dimoula, Paramount Planet Product.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2023
Three Maine beaches were flying orange flags on Thursday afternoon, warning visitors of high contamination levels making the water unsuitable for human contact. Beaches with contamination warnings included Gooch’s Beach and Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk and Ocean Park in Old Orchard Beach.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 13, 2023
There is no specific scale to measure bird-craziness, but there are clear signals. How far does someone go to bird? How often? How much are they willing to spend on optics? How many field guides do they own? Do they keep a life list? A life list is simply a list of birds seen in one’s lifetime. People may keep multiple lists. For instance, I keep lists of birds I’ve seen at home, in Maine, in North America and in the world. Four lists. That puts me somewhere near the crazy category. I’ll keep going on puffin trips until my North American life list is back up to 614. Or maybe that’s just borderline crazy. ~ Bob Duchesne
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2023
Environmental groups are celebrating a new bipartisan state law that bans new waste discharges into the lower Presumpscot River for the next four years. The Friends of Casco Bay and the Friends of the Presumpscot River say the law signed by Gov. Janet Mills will provide them with valuable time to create a long-term plan for protecting the river. “This is a tremendous victory for the river and for Casco Bay,” said Will Everitt, the executive director of the Friends of Casco Bay. “It gives us four years to work with state and federal agencies to make sure that we lock in protection for the health of the river and the health of the bay.”
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 13, 2023
I’m glad you published Susana Hancock’s writing on the need to abandon fossil fuels to stop deadly weather patterns (“Until we get off fossil fuels, stuck weather patterns will worsen,” July 11). But I’m baffled as to why you published her undeniable reporting under the heading “Opinion.” You don’t publish the weather report on the Opinion pages. You don’t publish science reports on the Opinion pages. The connection between fossil fuels and the destruction of this planet is not a matter of opinion. ~ Michael Trombley, Windham
SPECTRUM NEWS • July 12, 2023
A Missouri company called LS Power sent the letter 3,500 to 4,000 people to explain their approximately 150-mile-long transmission line project to bring electricity generated by wind power to the New England grid. The project has bipartisan support from the highest levels of state government, with Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash), Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) and Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, all on board. The project, which began in 2021 with the PUC asking for companies to bid on a northern Maine transmission route, is vital to helping the state reach its goals to reduce the impacts of climate change. Uncertainty about the route and other questions prompted some Republicans to oppose Jackson’s bill last month that sought legislative approval of the project. Maine has agreed to pay for 60% of the cost of the project and receive 60% of the power. Massachusetts will pick up the other 40% of the cost and benefit.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC • July 12, 2023
Maine's mountains draw hikers, skiers, wildlife watchers, and those who want to be out on the bodies of water for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and other water sports.
98.9 • July 13, 2023
Okay, we all know it's been a rainy summer. With the surprise arrival of the Northern Lights, how lucky are we to finally get a beautiful sunny day for viewing? However, rain talk aside, Maine is one of the best places in the U.S. to catch the rare spectacle we're about to witness in the sky. Now, you want to make sure you're at the highest point on land that you can possibly manage in your area to give you the best view. If you need some suggestions where to plan your light-viewing adventures this week, try these:
• Aroostook County Wildlife Refuge
• Moosehead Lake
• Sugarloaf Mountain
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 12, 2023
The state has finalized a plan on how to spend $70 million in relief funds for Maine farmers whose lives have been upended by toxic chemicals left behind by a now-defunct state-approved sludge spreading program. The fund will dedicate $30.3 million in grants to get farmers back on their feet, $21.5 million in compensation for contaminated land, $7.3 million for medical needs and $11.2 million for scientific research.
KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 12, 2023
In order to better protect and sustain the striped bass population in Maine, the state Department of Marine Resources is seeking to restrict the size that anglers can keep. Under a proposed rule, people fishing recreationally would be prohibited from harvesting stripers smaller than 28 inches and larger than 31 inches. The previous regulation had a 35-inch limit. All others would need to be released.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 12, 2023
The planned auction of a waste incinerator in Orrington has been delayed by a month. The foreclosure auction was initially set for Wednesday, but has been moved to Aug. 9. The facility started falling behind on its bills in 2019, after losing business due to a newly opened Hampden trash plant. The Coastal Resources of Maine plant in Hampden operated for just a year, before closing in June 2020 due to financial hardship. Now its owner must find $20 million to restart the shuttered trash plant, or it will be forced to liquidate the facility before the end of the year.
MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2023
The Lincoln Water District is looking to finalize a long-term contract with Poland Spring. But nearby residents say they have concerns about how it will affect the local water supply. The proposed contract runs for 20 years, with the possibility of five, five-year renewals, which could stretch the contract to 45 years total. Under the contract, Poland Spring can withdraw up to 175 million gallons of water a year. The company will pay monthly rent for use of the property, and will pay for a minimum of 40 million gallons of water each year. Lincoln resident Gordon Street said he's concerned about the local aquifer that the water district uses.
MAINE PUBLIC • July 12, 2023
At a public meeting Tuesday, LS Power officials gave more details about a power line that's proposed to link southern Aroostook County to the southern Maine electrical grid. But some residents along the proposed path are not pleased about the process. A small but steady stream of local landowners came to the meeting at the Mattawamkeag municipal building to see detailed maps of the proposed power line route. The 1,200-megawatt power line would need a corridor about 150 feet wide, for nearly 150 miles from Glenwood Plantation to Coopers Mills. The project would send electricity south from a 1,000-megawatt wind farm that's proposed for Aroostook County. Roughly the northernmost 45 miles will likely follow an existing power corridor, then travel along Interstate 95. Plans call for 60% of the power to stay in Maine.
MORNING SENTINEL • July 12, 2023
Last week, we found a yellow-orange slug that was apparently crawling over an earthworm. “Is that slug trying to eat the worm?” Three kinds of slugs live in Maine. Maine has no native earthworms. Nightcrawlers and most of the other worms you see in your garden soil came here with European settlers. slugs do sometimes feed on worms. ~ Dana Wilde
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 12, 2023
Even when horrifying weather events aren’t dominating news headlines and stoking alarm, our world is warming. Our weather systems are becoming more extreme and less predictable. We are likely more than halfway through the warmest year since instrument records started in the 19th century. Though “denialism” has mostly receded from view – “… dead,” declared Washington Post columnist Philip Bump in a July 7 column, “immolated in 110-degree heat or asphyxiated on wildfire smoke or drowned in a flash flood” – too many of us, and too many administrative bodies, still regard climate change in the abstract.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 12, 2023
Another fair, another chance to teach people that abusing animals is acceptable. That’s what’s happening at the Waterford World’s Fair this month; three days promoting the false narrative that animals are put on Earth to entertain humans. The most troublesome of these events are the daily pig scrambles where children, as young as 5 and as old as 10, chase after terrified piglets. Pig scrambles are not cute, they are not entertaining. They are animal abuse. ~ Dylan Palme, Portland
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 12, 2023
Last week actually broke the record for the hottest global day several times. Our changing climate is having dire effects worldwide, especially in areas already experiencing poverty and hunger crises. I urge Rep. Chellie Pingree to cosponsor H.R. 598 — Earth Act to Stop Climate Pollution by 2030. This bill establishes requirements regarding renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and more. So the next time we rejoice over abnormally hot summer days, remember its cause and allow that to be motivation to fight climate change while encouraging your representatives to join. ~ Mary Psyhogeos, Cumberland
KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 12, 2023
I am asking officials in the city of Augusta to go to the waterfront boat launch and park/playground area. Bring your lunch — and then notice the condition of all of the picnic tables and benches. They are falling apart and in terrible condition. The neighboring cities have embraced their waterfront areas and are welcoming and clean. I love to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the river view, but Augusta has fallen short. ~ Chuck Reppucci, Windsor
FORECASTER • July 11, 2023
Portland Trails’ new director sees his role as much more than just providing locals a way to get outdoors. To Jon Kachmar, a long-time Portland resident, trails are an important part of an equitable society. Kachmar is taking over for Kara Wooldrik, who served as executive director of Portland Trails from 2012-2022. He will work with Interim Executive Director Dana Trotman to ease into the position while he wraps up his duties as executive director of the Eastern Trail Alliance. Portland Trails oversees more than 70 miles of trails throughout the city.
Q106.5 • July 11, 2022
Moose are on the loose in Maine cities this week, with three caught on video roaming the streets in two different communities. In one case, a moose wandered into Auburn and found itself stuck inside Chapman House park, which is enclosed with fencing. The Moose finally jumped the fence and headed for the woods. Then there were two moose who got lost in Houlton. I don't think running down the streets of town was their goal, but that's where they ended up. These videos serve as a good reminder to be watching for moose and deer when traveling in Maine, even if you're in an urban area.
