Column: Decline in grasslands negatively impacts so many species

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 30, 2024

Natural grasslands in Maine have always been fairly limited in extent. These grasslands are home to a suite of species including upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, Savannah sparrow, vesper sparrow and bobolink. Unfortunately, all these species are in serious decline. Over 60% of native grasslands in the country have been lost over the years to agricultural development and the encroachment of abutting forests. Native grasslands close to agricultural fields can be affected by pesticide application on the farms. There is a tension between farmers and birders because farmers need to cut their fields during the bird nesting season. ~ Herb Wilson

Letter: Climate change should inform your vote

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 30, 2024

It is important that governments protect us from the horrifying and costly effects of our warming climate and make storm relief available to Maine residents as quickly as possible after an extreme event. More important, all levels of government must concede that climate action is urgently needed to halt the cause of global warming and move as quickly as possible to aid the transition to clean energy. Most important is passage of effective, federal climate legislation that halts the continuing rise in global average temperatures: an economywide plan to phase out the burning of fossil fuels. Be an informed voter. ~ Dorothy Jones, Brunswick

Indigenous salmon could make full comeback in iconic Maine lake after dam removal

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 30, 2024

Sebago Lake is one of four lakes in Maine that had indigenous wild strains of Atlantic salmon. Now it has the largest and most robust population, and possibly the only nearly self-sustaining one of the four. One of the major tributaries, the Crooked River, until recently had a 200-plus-year-old dam on it, but it also represents more than 80 percent of the Sebago salmon’s spawning grounds. The Edes Falls dam was in the way of more progress in the state’s efforts to restore the Sebago watershed fishery. Since its removal the river is back to its original state for the salmon, the salmon are doing well in the lake and there are a lot of the fish in the 62-mile-long Crooked River.

Column: You can sea kayak to this Casco Bay island for swimming, hiking and a picnic

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 29, 2024

Little Whaleboat Island in northern Casco Bay is a special place. Actually a trio of small islands and ledges named Little Whaleboat (West), Nate and Tuck, they’re connected at low tide. I’ve been visiting them since I began sea kayaking a couple of decades ago. The reason is simple — it’s a beautiful location easily reached by launching from Mere Point in Brunswick or Lookout Point and Mitchell Field in Harpswell. ~ Ron Chase

Column: The great moose lottery is must-see

SUN JOURNAL • June 30, 2024

Every year more than 70,000 aspiring Maine moose hunters submit an application to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to have their names placed in an electronic barrel in hopes of being drawn for a fall moose hunting permit. A tad over 4,000 permits are drawn and issued. So, the odds are formidable: about 95% of those entering do not get drawn. Maine’s annual moose hunt continues to be one of the most coveted big game hunts in the country. ~ V. Paul Reynolds

A Peace of Forest, June 30

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • May 30, 2024

See the premiere of a beautiful new wildlife film by Lee Ann Szelog and Thomas Mark Szelog. Touted as a quiet film, a Peace of Forest is a one-of-a-kind cinematic adventure, allowing viewers to experience a wild, peaceful and mysterious world that is filled with complex relationships and ways of wonder. A Peace of Forest celebrates the beauty and intimacy of wildlife in Maine with surprising, tender and exquisite interactions of wildlife during undisturbed moments in Maine’s natural world. At Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta, June 30, 2 pm. Tickets for adults $20, Lincoln Theater members $15, youth 18 and under $5.

‘No one should be taken by surprise’: Mapping imminent tidal flood risks in Maine

MAINE MONITOR • June 28, 2024

A new analysis by the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists finds that at least 20 to 30 pieces of “critical infrastructure” in Maine will face frequent, disruptive tidal flooding in the coming years and decades. Even in an optimistic climate change scenario, three Maine Superfund sites and two brownfields are at risk of flooding every other week by 2030, which could spread dangerous contaminants. With sea level rise accelerating in Maine, according to the state Geological Survey, the new study describes looming deadlines for action in coastal communities that depend on the buildings most at risk.

Bingham plywood mill moves closer to opening with promise of 110 jobs for economically challenged region

MORNING SENTINEL • June 28, 2024

Charlie Martin is trying to resurrect an old mill that’s been vacant for more than a decade and turn it into a plywood factory. When it opens, Maine Plywood USA is expected to employ about 110 people. It would be the only plywood manufacturer in New England, and the only one in North America making its specific product. And it could expand domestic manufacturing of a product that today is largely imported from Asia. Through millions of dollars in investments — a combination of his own savings and support from several state and regional public-private partnerships — Martin has pieced together most of the equipment he needs to open the plant.

Island Explorer buses on MDI to go electric with help from $23 million federal award

MAINE PUBLIC • June 28, 2024

The federal government is awarding Maine more than $23 million to buy electric buses and charging equipment for the company that operates the propane-powered Island Explorer buses at Acadia National Park and other locations on Mount Desert Island. Downeast Transportation Executive Director Paul Murphy says the buses should improve the air quality on the island. "Comparing to fossil fuel buses, they are dramatically cleaner and they're also quieter and they don't smell as bad as fossil fuel buses, although propane is pretty clean."

EPA funds secured to help prevent China Lake algae blooms

MORNING SENTINEL • June 28, 2024

Plans to prevent algae blooms in China Lake are underway after the town secured thousands of dollars in federal grants this week. Local volunteers aim to raise China Lake’s water quality by reversing shoreline erosion and replanting vegetation near the lake. The more than $100,000 in funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency will be used in the decadeslong push to stop the algae blooms.

Opinion: South Portlanders understand hard reality of rising sea levels

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 28, 2024

Earlier this week, the city of South Portland conducted a design charrette over a hypothetical development plan for a portion of Ferry Village nestled between the crude oil tanks of Portland Pipeline and the Coast Guard station. The folly of contemplating new development in flood-prone areas in the face of rapidly rising seas seemed obvious. Developers may garnish their projects with green technology and engineering, attempting to safeguard their own high-end constructions. Meanwhile, the world burns and floods as the flow of capital that motivates development mostly translates to consumptive lifestyles at the very top that are themselves the drivers of climate change. ~ Eben Rose, geologist and former South Portland city councilor

Letter: NYC has it all over Portland for biking

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 28, 2024

You’re better off biking in New York City than Portland, Maine. There are bike paths on every avenue and street. The bike path along the Hudson River, from one end of the island to the other, is a site to behold. Beautiful plantings, landscaped parks, benches, clean bathrooms and water fountains are all along the dedicated paths for bikers and pedestrians. It’s easy to get from point A to point B in NYC on a bike. It makes no sense that at least Congress Street, the main thoroughfare through downtown Portland, has no dedicated lane for biking. Carbon neutral? ~ Claire Oppenheim, Portland

Column: Trip to see puffins reminded me of dangers of deflated balloons

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 28, 2024

Stonington introduced a new event last week, Puffin Passages, which featured talks, tours and an Atlantic puffin-themed cocktail party. The idea was to experiment with a small multi-day event ,which could become a full-fledged Stonington Puffin Festival next year. The event succeeded, mostly. The highlight was three puffin cruises to Seal Island. On the way back to port, we learned about yet another human-caused threat to sea life. Capt. Garrett Aldrich slowed and spun the boat around. He idled over to a mylar balloon floating on the water, and deftly pulled it out with a gaff hook. Balloons kill. During a season of graduation parties, parades and fairs, here’s a simple rule for releasing balloons. Don’t. ~ Bob Duchesne

Reacting to debate, Gov. Mills outlines what’s at stake for Maine in presidential election

MAINE MORNING STAR • June 27, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills spoke at a Democratic watch party for the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The governor criticized Trump for deploying what she called mudslinging, name calling and “just so many fibs.” Mills highlighted how the Biden administration assisted Maine on a range of issues, including climate change, health care and education. “The Biden administration is helping us fight PFAS, fight the rising seas and the terrible storms we’ve encountered,” Mills said, referring to the eight disaster declarations she’s requested over the past two years. “It was quite a change in tone and change in level of assistance when President Biden came into office.” 

20-year-old man drowns off Bar Harbor

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2024

A 20-year-old New Hampshire man drowned on Thursday in waters off Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Multiple government agencies went to Clark Cove after an eyewitness report at 3:30 p.m. of a man swimming and in distress, the Maine Department of Marine Resources said in a news release. At 6 p.m. the Maine Marine Patrol / State Police Underwater Recovery team recovered the body of Gregory Taylor.

Greater Lovell Land Trust names conservation director

SUN JOURNAL • June 27, 2024

Rhyan Paquereau has been named conservation director at the Greater Lovell Land Trust. He will oversee the management of the more than 7,500 acres under conservation: developing plans for the management and improvement of Trust properties for public access, stewarding conservation easements. Paquereau served as interim executive director of the land trust for the past year. With the return of Erika Rowland as executive director, Paquereau will shift focus to his areas of conservation expertise.

Pingree, other lawmakers draw attention to fast fashion’s toll on the environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 27, 2024

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, wearing a pastel green thrift store sweater and floral scarf, stood outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to introduce the Slow Fashion Caucus, a congressional effort to draw attention to how mass-produced garments contribute to climate change. “Often, people don’t understand the role that fashion is playing today in our climate crisis. We’ve developed these dual habits in our country – keeping up with every single fashion trend and purchasing cheap, poorly made clothing,” the Maine Democrat said in a speech, flanked by other members of Congress and supporters. “And they have become drivers of yet one more issue in our climate change crisis. In fact, the fashion industry is responsible for more carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.”

Shipping, boating industries ask for delay in ship speed limits aimed at protecting right whales

MAINE PUBLIC • June 27, 2024

Conservation groups said they're waiting on the federal government to finalize long-delayed ship speed limits, which are aimed at preventing collisions with critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. But industry groups are now asking Congress for a five-year delay. The new speed rules were proposed by NOAA nearly two years ago. Since then, the outdoor recreation and maritime shipping industries have argued that new speed restrictions would harm their businesses. The industries are advocating to delay the implementation until at least 2030 and instead establish a grant program to deploy technologies aimed at reducing right whale vessel strikes. Congress has already approved a pause on new rules aimed at reducing the risks of fishing gear entanglement on right whales through 2028.

‘We can have both’: Development, nature at center of debate over Brunswick logging effort

TIMES RECORD • June 27, 2024

Early this year, Joel Fitzpatrick of Wyley Enterprises purchased 24 acres in Brunswick, adjacent to Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s Crystal Springs Farm trails, Thornton Oaks retirement community and Arrowhead Drive. In early June, he hired a company to start logging parts of the land to make way for a potential development project slated for 2025. While the project is being done legally and up to code, according to town officials, it has raised concerns among neighbors about habitat fragmentation and increased potential for flooding. Residents are focused on monitoring development regulations to ensure wildlife buffers and water management plans are in place. They are also planning to call for possible “environmental reparations,” such as rewilding, stressing the responsibility of both the developer and the community.