The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
CBS 13 • July 26, 2024
There are active wildfires to our far west in Canada that have sent some smoke to Quebec. This smoke will likely combine with burning fires in North Quebec and creep its way into our state from the north late Friday. This will bring the particle pollution levels to moderate for both Friday and Saturday.
CENTRAL MAINE • July 26, 2024
When a lake is “sick,” it turns green. Often these days, green lakes are appearing throughout Maine. The culprit is algae blooms. As I travel Maine with my boat and trailer, I see literature posted at boat ramps. I repeatedly see an aerial photograph of Lakes A and B. Lake A is sickly green with algae bloom. Lake B is a healthy dark blue. The contrast is striking. Because more lakes are threatened with algae blooms due to Climate Change, we are invited to take steps to support our favorite bodies of water. You can join a lake association. You can make sure your shorefront property is well-buffered to prevent run-off. The best thing you can do is to support land conservation. Undeveloped land is 10 times more protective of water quality than developed land. ~ Doug “Woody” Woodsum, 7 Lakes Alliance
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 26, 2024
I oppose CSX’s plan to introduce remote control locomotives at Rigby Yard in South Portland. A remote control operation poses serious safety risks. Rigby is a bustling rail yard, full of hazardous and explosive materials. In 1989, a tank car carrying muriatic acid ruptured and released toxic fumes, forcing evacuations of over 100 households. I urge the South Portland City Council to consider an ordinance banning remote control locomotives from moving hazmat cars and operation on tracks that connect with Amtrak passenger service. Prioritize safety and uphold our environmental responsibilities. ~ Dave Stevenson, New England Legislative director, SMART-TD
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 26, 2024
Before I acquired the wisdom of age and experience, I looked at the ocean the way most people do — as a flat, uniform expanse of water. In reality, it’s the saltwater equivalent of Africa’s Serengeti, teeming with life. You just have to know where to look. Bait balls are a defensive tactic used by schools of small fish to discourage attack. The fish pack themselves into a tight spherical formation, which makes each fish a more difficult target and makes the whole mass look deceptively big. This tactic helps fish evade small predators. But for seals, porpoises, whales and birds, it’s a banquet table. Birds watch each other. When one gull flies toward a bait ball, others follow. Getting offshore is an awesome birding experience. I highly recommend it. ~ Bob Duchesne
MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • July 25, 2024
An exhibit, “Of Cod and Communities” by Linda Buckmaster, will be on display in the Camden Public Library during the month of August in the Picker Room Gallery. On August 3, 4 pm, Linda will give a “tour” of the exhibit, which is adapted from her book Elemental: A Miscellany of Salt Cod and Islands, a finalist in the Maine Literary Awards.
MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • July 25, 2024
Nickie Sekera of Community Water Justice and the Maine State Water Commission will lead a conversation about local water rights in Maine. At Camden Public Library, August 3, 10:30 am.
LIVERMORE FALLS ADVERTISER • July 25, 2024
Xiaofang Shi Clark has always liked flowers, has learned to grow and sell them and now is bringing her experiences to those who are seeking freshly cut arrangements. Clark has named her business Virginia’s Garden after her daughter. She currently sells bouquets, single stems and other floral selections from her home at 155 Middle Street and can sometimes be found at the Farmington farmers markets. Clark raises some of her flowers at her Mosher Hill Road location. Eventually she hopes to expand and offer cut your own flowers there.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 25, 2024
Maine regulators on Thursday announced their priorities for utilities in a decade-long grid planning process, calling for greater investment in resilience against storms and leaning into technology to help rein in rising costs. “This is a pivotal time for Maine’s electric distribution grid, which requires substantial investment to continue to serve customers safely and reliably, particularly in light of Maine’s beneficial electrification goals,” said PUC Chairman Philip Bartlett II.
TIMES RECORD • July 25, 2024
Harpswell Neck Physical Education Association President David Chipman organized a group of volunteers to create a solar demonstration. Last week, the camp’s new fridge was up and running, powered by two solar panels and a battery to keep treats comfortably cool even at night. The improvements cost nothing and will continue to be paid for by an endlessly renewable source: the sun.
MAINE PUBLIC • July 25, 2024
A new national study concludes that PFAS chemicals are getting into pesticides in a variety of ways, as active and inert ingredients, but also leaching from containers and other unknown sources. The study, published this week in Environmental Health Perspectives, found a variety of PFAS present in pesticides, including PFOA and PFOS, two of the most toxic PFAS. Sarah Woodbury with Defend Our Health said the findings are disappointing, given that pesticides are not just used in agriculture, but also in forests and gardens. The paper also found that PFAS chemicals make up 14% of active ingredients in U.S. pesticides, and nearly 30% of all active ingredients approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in the last ten years.
ASSOCIATED PRESS • July 25, 2024
While wind power can contribute millions per year to rural communities, an independent Associated Press analysis found, these economic arguments have at times been drowned out by health and safety concerns, as well as accusations that wind is taking away from a local economy in other ways. Local laws effectively blocking wind or solar projects are increasingly common. Many anti-wind coalitions cite declines in local property values, but those values rebounded after construction finished. Other debunked claims include: Studies have found no significant impact of turbines on bird life. And there is no established link between low-frequency noise from wind turbines and human health.
TIMES RECORD • July 25, 2024
In 2012, local fishermen, tournament directors and scientists teamed up to pursue a common goal: data collection. Now, commercial tuna stocks, once depleted by overfishing, are on the rebound thanks to new management proposals informed by data from the University of Maine at Orono’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab. Blaise Jenner, a team member and scientist at the Maine Department of Marine Resources, is studying bluefin foraging ecology. He said that stomach samples from local tournaments play a key role in identifying the species’ diet, informing a management framework to better protect predator and prey.
WASHINGTON POST • July 25, 2024
Major utilities are relocating substations to escape rising waters and wildfires. Manufacturers are establishing redundant production lines to guard against storms that could idle their plants. And a top investment bank is stress-testing portfolios to see if they would survive a warming climate’s wrath. The moves illustrate how companies are changing the way they do business to cope with increasingly frequent episodes of extreme weather.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 25, 2024
I was thankful to see that $20 million for beneficial environmental projects has been awarded to several local municipalities, the Penobscot Nation and nongovernmental organizations to help clean up and restore the Penobscot estuary from mercury, which was part of the waste from plants discharging into the Penobscot estuary. This money comes from the 2022 multi-hundred million dollar cleanup and restoration settlement of the lawsuit brought by the Maine People’s Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council to clean up and restore the estuary. Thank you, MPA and NRDC, for your decades-long lawsuit. ~ Pam Person, Orland
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 25, 2024
Runaround Pond in Durham is a secret paddling gem. I found it by accident a couple of years ago and have returned about a dozen times since. For me, the narrow 2.7-mile body of water has multiple attractions. Sheltered on all sides, a pleasant paddle can be enjoyed even on a windy day. The winding shoreline is largely undeveloped leaving the impression of a wilderness environment. Wildlife is plentiful, including beavers, otters, deer and turtles. The pond is a bird watcher’s paradise. The aquatic vegetation produces a variety of radiant flora. The launch area is located in secluded Runaround Pond Park. ~ Ron Chase
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 25, 2024
When I take the bus to Portland at the beginning of the workday, I feel refreshed by walking to the bus stop. I’m happy to leave the driving to someone else. I often feel reflective and mellow. It’s hard to feel too self-important riding the bus. These are not experiences I have when I drive myself into work. When I ride the bus, I walk more, get more sunshine and contribute to the betterment of the planet. I enjoy being part of a diverse community and having more time to myself. A pretty good deal for four bucks each way. ~ Justin Whitlock, Yarmouth
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 25, 2024
Facebook or Instagram advertisements promoting conversions to solar power with costs covered by the state of Maine use official photos and formal-sounding program names to attract customers to solar incentives. One features a portrait of Gov. Janet Mills and mentions Maine’s “solar for all” program. Another says the state will cover the cost of installation and that people who sign up can “say bye” to their power bills. But these ads are misleading. There are many solar incentives available to Maine homeowners, including a federal solar tax credit program and a controversial net energy billing program, but they are not this generous. The state also has no role in producing the ads. When asked whether the Maine government is behind their program, a sales representative admitted that it’s “actually a federally backed program.” The financial incentives are not yet available for Maine residents.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 25, 2024
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits Orono on Thursday and Brunswick on Friday to announce agricultural funding for forestry and clean energy in Maine. He also plans to promote the work of the current Biden-Harris administration and the Inflation Reduction Act, which will fund the new programs. On Thursday, Vilsack plans to reveal funding for forest landowners to “adapt to climate change impacts, improve carbon storage and keep working forests working.”
WMTW-TV8 • July 24, 2024
With over 6,000 lakes and ponds across Maine, lake conservation is critical for the future of our natural resources. Last month, Gov. Janet Mills signed a proclamation to create more diverse support for lakes around the state by making July Lake Appreciation Month in Maine. They are vital to both residents and visitors, providing access for 380,000 licensed freshwater fishermen and over 112,000 boaters. Maine lakes also provide more than half of Mainers with drinking water and act as vital habitats for more than 70 percent of our wildlife species. Susan Gallo, the executive director for Maine Lakes, shared that there are many ways for Mainers to get involved, and she said residents can volunteer to inspect boats.
MAINE PUBLIC • July 24, 2024
The University of Maine is moving ahead with plans for a new aquaculture workforce and innovation center. The 14,200 square foot facility will house large fish tanks and classroom spaces, serving as a hub for aquaculture research at the university system's flagship campus in Orono. The university said the new facility will boost existing aquaculture research and workforce training programs. The Maine Aquaculture Association estimates that the industry will need more than 1,300 new workers over the next 15 years. UMaine received $7 million in federal funding and an additional $3.3 million in state funding to support the project. Construction is expected to begin this fall, and the facility could open next year or early 2026.
