The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024
BDN bird columnist Bob Duchesne has declared the Atlantic puffin Maine’s “sexiest bird.” This week, we’re taking a journey to Petit Manan, where you can spot the state’s second-largest lighthouse and, of course, the cutest bird. Still not convinced? Watch the video below to learn why the Atlantic puffin is Maine’s “sexiest bird.”
TIMES RECORD • July 4, 2024
Climate action protesters gathered at the Freeport Independence Day parade, calling for divestment from fossil fuels. About two dozen members from Th!rd Act Maine gathered on a crowded Main Street, calling for independence from fossil fuels as the Fourth of July parade marched through town. Th!rd Act Maine, a group of Mainers over the age of 60 working to fight climate change, has frequently called on L.L. Bean to pressure its credit card provider Citibank to divest from fossil fuels. The group will next demonstrate in Augusta at the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) to pressure officials to abide by a law passed in 2021 – L.D. 99 – which calls on Maine to divest its assets from fossil fuels.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024
The cleanup continues after a Tuesday afternoon train derailment in Mattawamkeag. The derailment happened near the town line with Winn after a train car rolled off a side track onto the main track, where another train collided with it. The crash caused the train’s fuel engine to rupture. David Madore, deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, said in a Wednesday afternoon email that about 1,200 gallons of locomotive fuel was spilled.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 4 2024
Isn’t it time for a new Declaration of Independence? Whereas in the Course of human events it becomes imperative for humans to dissolve the bonds that have tied them to fossil fuels; and Whereas climate change, resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is an existential threat to all of our communities, environment, and economies, and…Whereas governments must lead now by 1) accelerating investment in renewable energy; 2) holding polluters responsible for their actions; and 3) ending investments in fossil fuel companies and denying permits and approvals to further extraction,…Therefore we citizens of the 50 United States and global neighbors hereby declare our independence from fossil fuels. ~ Jeffrey A. Thaler, energy and environmental attorney, Portland
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 1, 2024
While the perfect solution to rising ocean waters would be to reverse global warming, the installation of floodgates is something that Portland should consider in the short term. At least two should be considered: one for Portland Harbor and one for Back Cove. A third might be considered for the outflow of the Presumpscot River. Obviously, there are lots of technical obstacles. ~ Brian Nickerson, South Portland
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 4, 2024
We can have a fantastic celebration without putting animals through the stress of a fireworks extravaganza in our communities. We can spare our pets and wildlife from the booming sounds, burning smoke and bright flashing lights of live fireworks displays. Triggered by sounds, many pets choose flight and go missing. Making sure pets have identification on their collars and keeping them indoors during these displays is critical. There are alternatives. ~ Gina Garey, Animal Wellness Action & Center for a Humane Economy, Portland
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024
With sandy beaches, clear water and a mountain backdrop, Donnell Pond in Hancock County is an outdoor destination that’s treasured by paddlers, anglers, beach-goers, swimmers and campers. A small portion of the pond, including the public boat launch, is located in the town of Franklin, with the majority of the pond in the neighboring township: T9 SD. Much of the pond’s shoreline is undeveloped because more than 60 percent of it is conserved as a part of Donnell Pond Public Lands, a state-owned public lands unit.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 4, 2024
ar camping in Baxter State Park is a tradition for my family. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about what works:
• Campsites vary greatly; do your research.
• Bring a map.
• Make a loose itinerary.
• Learn from someone who has experience.
• Prepare meals as much as you can ahead of time.
• Don’t be afraid to sleep comfortably.
• Have a rainy day plan.
• Buy firewood from a local source.
• Know your water situation and plan accordingly.
• Don’t leave food or fragrant items unattended.
• Leave no trace.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 3, 2024
The Downeast Salmon Federation will use a $9.1 million NOAA grant to remove an ice retention dam on the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield. The federation has been working with the town of Cherryfield since 2014 to find a solution that works for the endangered Atlantic salmon trying to reach their spawning grounds and the town, which doesn’t want to be vulnerable to spring flooding. The federation’s proposed nature-like fishway, which is a series of rapids and pools, is unique because it will encompass the entire width of the river, without a side channel.
TIMES RECORD • July 3, 2024
Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they never fully degrade, PFAS compounds are resistant to heat, oil and water. While such agents make life-saving products, such as firefighting foam, effective, exposure has been linked to cancer and birth defects, among other health issues. Worse yet, PFAS has made its way into Maine’s tap water. Bigelow Laboratory, one of the three state-certified research centers offering PFAS testing, recently launched new analytical services to test samples of water, sediment, soil and plant and animal tissue using EPA-established methods.
TIMES RECORD • July 3, 2024
Last winter, high water levels and erosive waves flattened the dunes along Popham Beach State Park, diminishing a front-line defense for upland habitats. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and Maine Geological Survey devised a plan to rebuild beach elevation using recycled Christmas trees. By late March, 450 trees were lined up in four rows, stretching along 2,000 feet of the beach in Phippsburg. Endangered “pipers are threatened along the Atlantic coast,” said Sean Vaillancourt, Popham Beach State Park manager. “It’s been great to see a few take refuge” in the trees. Vaillancourt advised beachgoers to avoid walking on the dunes. “This is a fragile ecosystem,” he said. “Tread lightly and avoid disturbing coastal vegetation.”
MAINE PUBLIC • July 3, 2024
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is investigating allegations that the town of Phillips dredged the south branch of the Sandy River, affecting other branches where endangered Atlantic salmon migrate. The town dredged several feet down in a central channel in December, to alleviate flooding after the December rainstorm. That caused several other branches of the river to dry up, preventing Atlantic salmon migration, and destroying developing salmon eggs. The town should have contacted the state DEP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services before altering the flow of the river.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 3, 2024
A rabid fox that tried to bite a Bath man on Friday night has tested positive for rabies. The fox was tested for rabies after acting aggressively and reportedly trying to bite at the boots of the man, according to a press release from the city. The man, who lives on Western Avenue, kicked the animal away. He then called police, who shot and killed the fox. On Wednesday, the test results confirmed the fox was rabid. The man was not injured.
KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 3, 2024
Swan Island, a state-owned wildlife management area, is about 350 feet off the coast of Richmond in the Kennebec River. People, including Jeremy and Amanda McDaniel, were devastated when the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the island’s ferry service in 2022 following a failed inspection that led to the service’s halt in 2020. The island is free, and people can swim, paddle, or take their own boats to it, but the ease of getting there diminished with the removal of the ferry service. Thanks to the efforts of the McDaniels, their friends, and the Friends of Swan Island, a nonprofit dedicated to the island, a ferry service will run on the weekends from July 27 through the end of the summer. To sign up for a ride to Swan Island go to the island’s website.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 3, 2024
The developer of a controversial 145-mile electricity transmission line through western Maine has told state regulators it’s making progress after resuming work last October, but projects such as setting foundations for poles and running wires are only about one-third completed. The corridor, which is to bring hydropower from Canada to the New England electrical grid, has grown to $1.5 billion from an original price tag of $1 billion due to delays and cost inflation.
SUN JOURNAL • July 3, 2024
The 20-mile loop that includes all-terrain vehicle trails at Mt. Blue State Park are closed for the season and may remain closed indefinitely. the closure has little to do with storm damage, although there was some. The trail is too narrow for the machines now being built and has become a safety hazard. The cost to renovate the trail that runs through Mt. Blue, including widening the bridges is $100,000 for that 20-mile loop. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry decided that was too much to spend on such a short trail.
TIMES RECORD • July 3, 2024
Last winter, high water levels and erosive waves flattened the dunes along Popham Beach State Park, diminishing a front-line defense for upland habitats. Quickly, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and Maine Geological Survey devised a plan to rebuild beach elevation using recycled Christmas trees.By late March, 450 trees were lined up in four rows, stretching along 2,000 feet of the beach in Phippsburg. Popham and Pemaquid beaches tried a similar effort in 2023 using washed-up logs. “I would say the pines have been more effective than the driftwood,” said Sean Vaillancourt, Popham Beach State Park manager. “But, we’ll see how things pan out after hurricane season hits in late August.”
CENTRAL MAINE • July 3, 2024
My DeLorme’s Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is as indispensable in my vehicle as a spare tire. Smartphones with map apps are now wildly popular. But for old Luddites like me, the Gazetteer is our preferred traveling companion for three reasons: cellphone coverage is absent in many regions of Maine, Google maps are often unreliable, and best of all, the Gazetteer isn’t dependent on battery power. My handwritten wildlife notes have become my de facto wildlife journal. Here’s one dated 1977 referencing the first time I saw two moose mating. It says here that the bull was ‘drooling with excitement.’ ~ Ron Joseph
MAINE MORNING STAR • June 3, 2024
Maine’s climate action plan is due for an update later this year, and experts have already put forward a draft of what they’d like to see included. Many of the suggested strategies build on the efforts outlined in the original climate action plan, but there are a few new proposals — such as resiliency measures to address increasingly common spills from residential heating oil tanks and bolstering local food production. A survey is available on the council’s website for people to share suggested updates to the state’s strategies to address climate change.
TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY • June 2, 2024
Two-thirds of the way through Thursday night’s presidential debate, CNN journalist Dana Bash finally asked the candidates how they would tackle a challenge that scientists say poses an existential threat to human civilization: climate change. Donald Trump made a series of false claims about his first-term track record. “During my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever.” The reality: U.S. air quality and water quality have been steadily improving for decades, thanks to federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. But scientists have found that polluted air and filthy water still afflict tens of millions of people with disease and premature death. And during his first term, Trump attempted to roll back limits on air and water contamination from power plants, trucks and other sources. He’s made it extremely clear he would do the same in a second term.
