Maine Calling: Meteorology

MAINE PUBLIC • January 29, 2024

The surprising severity of the storms that recently hit Maine called attention to how essential weather forecasts are in our lives. We’ll talk with meteorologists about how they study and predict the weather, how their field is changing, and the importance of communicating effectively with the public. Panelists: Keith Carson, meteorologist specializing in forecasting and climate analysis, News Center Maine; Donald Dumont, warning coordination meteorologist, National Weather Service in Gray.

Editorial: Climate resilience requires rebuilding to withstand more damaging storms

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 29, 2024

Many of the town’s roads and buildings, along with commercial fishing infrastructure, were badly damaged by a Jan. 10 storm that brought high winds, rain and record storm surges to part of the coast. It was followed by a Jan. 13 storm that was worse. Changes need to be made to zoning and permitting requirements to address the consequences of climate change but repairs, reconstruction and new construction may need to happen quickly. Permitting and zoning changes can’t take so long that industries and communities are hurt. Nor should rebuilding happen so quickly that no needed adaptations are made to account for the next flood, the next wind storm, because they are surely coming.

Maine businesses say PFAS reporting requirement is ‘unworkable’

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 29, 2024

Maine’s economy will take a big hit if changes are not made to a law mandating companies to report the content of PFAS in products they sell in the state, business leaders said in a press conference Monday. “The notification section is unworkable,” said Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, which has 5,000 members. “If this statute is not amended this [legislative] session, there will be a complete rethinking of the long-term relationship with the state of Maine for some key employers.” One problem is the sheer number of PFAS potentially in products, business leaders said. Another is the international nature of business, with components suppliers selling to other manufacturers who in turn add components and resell their products. Another issue in advancing a workable PFAS reporting requirement is that many businesses will not talk about it for fear of having their company stigmatized by customers and other businesses.

Energy storage is growing in Maine, and utilities want to own it. Opponents are pushing back.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 29, 2024

Battery storage that holds and releases solar and wind power when the sun won’t shine and a breeze doesn’t stir is drawing increased investment from developers as Maine tries to reach its clean energy goals. The question of who can own energy storage is now beforestate regulators. Central Maine Power and Versant Power have asked the Public Utilities Commission for permission to own battery storage, something that hasn’t been possible since the Legislature deregulated the utilities more than 25 years ago. Critics are pushing back and urging regulators to allow competitive energy storage markets to function undisturbed.

This iconic Maine tradition is slowly dying

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 29, 2024

There used to be dozens of smelt shacks on the Merrymeeting Bay’s rivers. Ice was plentiful. It was solid in December and stayed until March. Now, fluctuating temperatures, severe storms and even less interest in smelt fishing are contributing to the slow death of a Maine tradition.

These politicians refuse to give up on bringing passenger rail to Bangor

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 29, 2024

Two Maine lawmakers are continuing their fight to bring passenger rail to Lewiston, Waterville and Bangor — despite multiple studies showing the project would be costly and the route likely won’t draw many riders. Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, and Sen. Margaret Rotundo, D-Androscoggin, joined forces to propose an amended bill that directs the State Rail Passenger Authority to identify a potential route from Portland to Bangor with possible station locations in Lewiston and Waterville.

Some People Hate National Monuments Until They Love Them

WILDLIFE NEWS January 28, 2024

A history review shows that in most cases, there is “local opposition” to park and wilderness proposals. Timid conservationists often cite local opposition to scale down or even avoid promoting ambitious land protections like the Alliance for Wild Rockies Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s original 9 milllion acre wilderness proposal (now somewhat reduced due to success in getting wilderness designation),  RESTORE‘s 3.2 million acre Maine Woods National Park proposal, or my own proposal for a Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem National Park. In all these and other instances, the naysayers suggest that without local support, you should not promote visionary concepts. But what history shows is that after these areas are designated and protected, there is usually greater support, even from local people, for these land designations.

'Disappointing' ice fishing season due to poor ice conditions

WGME-TV13 • January 28, 2024

The dangerous ice is taking a toll on at least one of Maine’s iconic winter industries. Between a lack of cold temps and snow, ice fishing has been all but impossible for some areas in southern Maine. 20 smelt fishing camps still on dry land is a rare and disappointing sight this time of year for Jim McPherson. "Gonna have to put them back in storage,” said McPherson, owner of Jim’s Camps in Bowdoinham. “I hauled them out again this year, did repairs. Looks like I’ll have to put them back in storage." Last year was the first time in fifty years that McPherson couldn't put these smelt fishing camps onto the river this time of year and this year, it's the same story.

Officials warn that ice is not safe on many Maine bodies of water

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 28, 2024

State and local officials are warning Mainers to be careful when going out on frozen ponds and lakes, saying the up-and-down temperatures and rain this winter have made for dangerous conditions, even near the end of January. On Friday, Carmel’s town manager and his 4-year-old son broke through the ice on Etna Pond. Kevin Howell, 51, managed to lift his son out of the water, but he couldn’t get out himself and died. Five people, including three children, were rescued from Moose Pond in Denmark on Saturday after the vehicle they were in broke through the ice.

Lighthouses hit with millions in storm damage

MAINE MONITOR • January 28, 2024

Many of Maine’s lighthouses withstood the hurricane-force gusts better than expected, but a number – including buildings on Pemaquid Point, Wood Island, Portland Headlight and the Rockland Breakwater — suffered significant damage. Maine’s lighthouses are iconic. They appear on napkins and postcards, on tea towels and in photographs; in films and novels. Poets write odes to them, and, even in the age of GPS and radar, sailors still use them to help keep their vessels out of danger. “They’re not only historic,” said Trapani Jr., “They’re also so important to our sense of place, our culture and our tourism.” They are also old, hard to get to, expensive to upkeep and extremely vulnerable to rising seas and intensifying storms.

In path of April solar eclipse, small-town Maine sees big tourist opportunity

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 28, 2024

Maine is one of 13 states where the April 8 total solar eclipse will be visible. Since 1850, Maine has fallen in the direct path of totality only once, in 1963. The path of totality stretches from Dover-Foxcroft up to Caribou, and from Jackman across to Houlton. The town of Jackman is planning to let the eclipse pass with little fanfare. Houlton, however, is going all out throwing a three-day festival the weekend leading up to the big day.

Column: Stay busy in the field this winter with a hare-raising experience

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 28, 2024

Winter in Maine brings an end to most, but not all, hunting seasons. It’s prime time for hunting predators, and snowshoe hare hunting only gets better over the next two months. ~ Bob Humphrey

Column: There’s adventure all year long awaiting at Hidden Valley Nature Center

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 28, 2024

Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson encompasses 1,000 acres of forests, ponds, wetlands, streams and rocky ridges. It’s one of the most ecologically diverse tracts of undeveloped and roadless land in the Midcoast. A 25-mile multiuse trail system of old woods roads and footpaths crisscrosses the property. Five remote, off-the-grid overnight facilities offer rustic accommodations, including bunks, wood stove and firewood, table and chairs, and a privy. Everything else – sleeping bags, insulating pads, cooking gear, food and clothing, and the like – you tote in by backpack or sled. HVNC was established by Tracy Moscovitz and Bambi Jones, who assembled the preserve through a series of land purchases over two decades. It was opened to the public in 2007. In 2016, HVNC joined thre e other area conservation organizations to form the Midcoast Conservancy, now one of Maine’s largest, with 14,000 acres and 56 public lands under their care.~ Carey Kish

Column: Plenty of lingering birds spotted in Maine during dead of winter

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 28, 2024

The 124th Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society, conducted between Dec. 15 and Jan. 6, is now history. The data provide us with information on the status of our regular winter residents, the number of northern birds coming south to seek food, and the number of summering birds that have ignored their normal migrate-by date. The Unity CBC on Dec. 16 produced a list of 52 species. The Augusta CBC, also on Dec. 16, yielded 59 species. The Farmington count on Dec. 28 tallied 38 species. The Misery Township CBC just to the south of Jackman found 19 species. The Isles of Shoals CBC on Jan. 1 counted 37 species. ~ Herb Wilson

Just how climate-friendly are timber buildings? It’s complicated.

BLOOMBERG • January 27, 2024

Establishing just how much carbon is saved by building with timber isn’t straightforward. There are still big unanswered questions: Is mass timber good for the climate irrespective of its source? Life-cycle assessments look at the carbon spent moving logs from forest to mill. There’s also the energy expended milling and manufacturing wood into mass-timber products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam). In addition, there’s the carbon released when construction cranes and tractors burn fuel, and even renovations and routine maintenance over decades. Another critical concern is how the forest where the wood grew is managed, and life-cycle analyses don’t comprehensively quantify the benefits of sustainable forestry.

Canton town leaders say state won’t help pay for cleanup on property deemed a biohazard

RUMFORD FALLS TIMES • January 27, 2024

According to new laws of the state’s Animal Welfare Program, the state won’t pay for any of the cleanup needed for a trailer on River Road. The trailer, housing a colony of an estimated 50 feral cats, was first discovered just days before Christmas after flooding forced a man out of the trailer. The trailer is considered a biohazard and has since been condemned by the town.

New Eastport airport manager aims to bring passenger flights, cargo services to Maine’s smallest city

MAINE MONITOR • January 27, 2024

Situated on 256 acres at the farthest eastern tip of the United States, the humble 1940s-era airport, originally a Navy airstrip, now boasts a resurfaced $5.8 million, 4,000-foot runway that stretches across the western edge of Moose Island in Cobscook Bay. Until recently, a lack of local government support and funding kept the airport from expanding services. While it’s capable of serving regional airlines, flights have been limited to private planes. Peter Lehmann, the new airport manager, is working with volunteers and the city’s airport advisory committee to change that. They have a plan well underway to improve the airport and expand services.

Winter plant identification workshop Feb. 3

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • January 27, 2024

Botanist Eric Doucette, hosted by Kennebec Land Trust and the Hallowell Conservation Commission, will give a workshop on winter tree identification at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Meet inside at the Hallowell Fire Station Meeting Room on Coos Lane to learn basic identification techniques and terms, and then move outside to practice at the nearby Effie Berry and Howard Hill Conservation Areas.

Column: State’s bait rules stingy for a reason

SUN JOURNAL • January 27, 2024

There was a day when an ice fisherman didn’t concern himself much with the kind of live bait used to entice a landlocked salmon or a trout under the ice. You always used live smelts if you could find them. Not so today. There are live bait regulations galore. And, unless to want to get crossways with the law, you really want to familiarize yourself with the many varieties of live bait species before you venture forth, especially if you trap your own live bait. There are only 17 species of live bait that are legal to use in Maine. The live bait regulations are there for a purpose, however, to protect our precious sport fishery from invasive species getting in waters where they don’t belong. ~ V. Paul Reynolds