Opinion: Climate change is threatening Nordic skiing in Maine

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

As a recreational Nordic skier, I have witnessed climate change wreak havoc on our winters. In the short four years of high school, winters grew warmer, slushier and muddier than ever before. Maine’s winters have reportedly warmed 5 degrees Fahrenheit and shortened by three weeks in the past century. Winter recreation, which includes Nordic skiing, contributed $68 million to the state economy in 2022. We need large-scale action. Start by reading the updated “Maine Won’t Wait” when available. Encourage your local officials to apply for a grant from Maine’s Community Resilience Partnership program to increase sustainability. Assist in the direct execution of “Maine Won’t Wait” by volunteering your time to the Maine Climate Corps Network. ~ Caitlin Sweeney, of Gray, student at Cornell University

Letter: Maine’s outdoor enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 24, 2024

The passage of the $30 million Maine Trails Bond will benefit hikers and trail maintenance groups alike. It can be easy to take fantastic trails for granted. However, the thousands of miles of trails in Maine are sustained largely by the hard work of land trusts, environmental nonprofits and outdoor clubs. The Trails Bond will support these groups. Over 422,000 Mainers voted for the first ever Trails Bond, showing their representatives that funding for outdoor recreation should be a priority. ~ Lila Weiser, Portland

Mainers are giving up on vacationing on MDI

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 23, 2024

As the numbers of tourists who come to Bar Harbor each year remain at all-time highs, many Mainers who want to visit the town and Acadia National Park are deciding to stay away. After 25 years in which annual visits hovered between 2 million and 2.8 million, the number of tourists who visit Acadia and Bar Harbor began to grow a few years before the pandemic. In 2021, the estimated visits to Acadia shot up above 4 million, and the decline since then has been minor.

Sen. Angus King introduces bill to preserve and manage public lands

FOX NEWS • November 22, 2024

A new bill recently introduced by Senator Angus King could have a big impact in Acadia National Park -- it would increase funding to continue fixing aging infrastructure in Acadia and National Parks across the country. "America's greatest idea -- national parks -- needs investment," said Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia. There's a new effort in the works to repair and maintain our national parks.

Judge dismisses lobstermen’s challenge to law requiring tracking devices on boats

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 22, 2024

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by five Maine lobstermen who alleged that the state’s rule requiring tracking devices on their boats was in violation of their rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Although the judge dismissed the suit against the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, he encouraged the lobstermen to appeal the decision because it raises “significant Fourth Amendment issues.”

Column: Where are the birds? Many are on the move

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 22, 2024

Every year around this time, we get many questions along the lines of “where are the birds?” as people start to see fewer activity at their feeders. It’s not a huge mast year, but mountain ash and winterberry both produced a ton of fruit. These fruit-bearers reportedly also over-produced across the boreal forest, in Canada, so this winter we don’t expect to see some of the beautiful birds that these often attract. Another reason you might see fewer birds in your backyard: many of our summer birds have migrated south for winter. Millions of birds don’t survive their long migrations, as habitat loss and threats during their movements make that journey ever harder. It’s also important to consider the choices you make that can help these birds, from the coffee you buy (consider “bird friendly” shade-grown options) to the way you treat your windows at home or at work (consider applying materials – like stickers or screens – to reduce collisions). ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Column: Showing some restraint can lead to bigger rewards when hunting

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 22, 2024

If your goal is to fill a tag and put venison in the freezer, by all means take the first opportunity to shoot you get. If your goal is to grow as a hunter, at some point you’re going to have to adopt a policy of voluntary restraint. You can’t shoot the big ones if you aren’t willing to pass up the little ones. ~ Bob Humphrey

CMP forced to pay public utility advocates in first use of new law

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 21, 2024

A Maine law meant to help small groups stand up to utility companies has been used for the first time. State regulators on Wednesday ordered Central Maine Power Co. to pay fees incurred by an opponent, Our Power, that attempted to block the $2.5 billion acquisition of CMP’s parent company, Avangrid, by the Spanish energy giant Iberdrola. The Public Utilities Commission authorized Our Power to be reimbursed for attorney’s fees, an expert witness and other costs for opposing the ownership change. On Friday, regulators set the final amount to be reimbursed at $46,958.

Protecting One of the Last Expansive Forests on the Eastern Seaboard

NORTHEAST WILDERNESS TRUST • November 21, 2024

Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) are partnering to conserve 2,037 acres of forest in the downeast region—linking large blocks of conserved land, contributing to a landscape scale effort to protect and restore watersheds, and enabling public access for hunting, fishing, and quiet recreation. This very special property is set to become the Bold Coast Wilderness Preserve. The forest is home to moose, beaver, grouse, many warblers and other songbirds, snowshoe hare, black bear, coyote, and white-tailed deer, among other species. A bald eagle nesting site has been documented. Salamanders, wood frogs, and other amphibian species thrive in two vernal pools on the property. A primary goal of this conservation partnership will be to allow the land to revert to a more natural state. The longrange plan is for NEWT to acquire and care for the land, with MCHT holding a forever-wild conservation easement.

Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announce 10-Year Renewal of the Acres for America Program

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • November 21, 2024

Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced a 10-year, $34.5 million renewal of the historic Acres for America conservation program. This new commitment from Walmart, combined with previous contributions, represents the largest corporate donation to NFWF since the Foundation’s creation by Congress in 1984. This year’s awards include funding for a 13,836-acres forestland conservation easement in the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine to provide habitat for large mammals like moose and deer, federally threatened Canada lynx, two globally rare songbirds, and protection for 31 miles of streams and ponds with important habitat for brook trout and landlocked salmon. The easement will also provide public access for hiking, fishing and hunting, and includes over 25 miles of snowmobile and ATV trails.

House Committee Makes Moves to Censor Science

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTSD • November 21, 2024

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky) has announced plans to investigate the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific integrity policies — policies that limit censorship, intimidation and other forms of political interference in the research agencies conduct. This investigation is an attempt to undermine the role of science in decision making, harm public trust in federal scientists, and assist President-elect Donald Trump in his efforts to erode science agencies’ abilities to protect American’s health and safety, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

A dive to declutter Boothbay Harbor

TIMES RECORD • November 21, 2024

Buzz Scott and Matt Louis have recovered 607,000 pounds of marine litter from the Gulf of Maine through multiple cruises for OceansWide, a nonprofit organization focused on removing abandoned fishing traps from the ocean floor. They document every bit of bycatch. These divers are working to tackle the state’s “ghost gear” problem. Abandoned fishing gear threatens wildlife, habitats and the economy by killing fish and crustaceans while damaging sensitive ecosystems, such as seagrass beds. To date, OceansWide has retrieved over 9,200 lobster traps from its site in Gouldsboro and will surpass the 4,000 traps in Boothbay Harbor by the end of the season.

Key takeaways from Maine’s new climate action plan

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 21, 2024

The Maine Climate Council will release a new action plan Thursday. Major takeaways:
• Ambitious emission reduction goals are reaffirmed.
• Prioritize the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources.
• Promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
• Use efficiencies in buildings and industries to cut energy consumption.
• Prepare for sea-level rise, extreme weather, and coastal erosion.
• Purchase, protect and restore forests, wetlands and eel grass beds as carbon sinks.
• Address the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities.
• Create green jobs to spark economic growth through investments.
• Protect more forests, wetlands and working farms from development.

Environmental Groups Clash Over Logging Projects at Lake Tarleton and Gorham Area

INdepthNH • November 20, 2024

A lawsuit brought against the White Mountain National Forest Service opposing its plan to log and develop recreation opportunities and protect from runoff Lakes Tarleton and Katherine and a tract near Gorham known as the Peabody West project is not being supported by eight New Hampshire conservation organizations and one individual. Standing Trees, whose mission is to see old growth forests return to New England, filed a suit against the federal project. Supporting the USFS are: Society for the Protection of NH Forests, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, NH Wildlife Federation, Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society, Audubon Society of New Hampshire, The Nature Conservancy, Society of American Foresters and Charlie Niebling. Zack Porter, executive director of Standing Trees, said the Forest Service is violating the National Environmental Policy Act and its own Forest Plan.

Rainstorms expected to ease, but not end, drought conditions in Portland region

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2024

A rainy Thursday and Friday will bring some long-awaited moisture back to greater Portland, but it won’t be enough to fully alleviate drought conditions. Portland has been in a dry period since the end of summer, with lower-than-average precipitation recorded for September, October and so far this month. The combination of lower temperatures, shorter days and wetter weather should help lower the fire risk.

New England states’ renewable energy push blasted as too costly by free-market advocates

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2024

“The Staggering Costs of New England’s Green Energy Policies,” a report released Tuesday by a Denver-based organization, and signed onto by free-market advocacy groups in New England, says ratepayers’ bills will double, to $4,610 by 2050, as a result of state policies, or “mandates,” to promote green energy. Decarbonization plans calling for construction of offshore and onshore wind, solar arrays, battery storage and transmission projects will cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 26 years, the report says. The report recommends states put affordability and reliability of electricity ahead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Conservation is topic of book talk

ELLSWORTH AMERICAN • November 20, 2024

Author Karin Tilberg will join the Brooklin Climate Response Committee for a book talk at the Friend Memorial Library on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tilberg’s book, “Loving the North Woods: 25 Years of Historic Conservation in Maine,” chronicles the challenges that led to conservation achievements in the Great North Woods of Maine from 1990 to 2015. Anyone who can’t make it in person is welcome to register for a Zoom link at brooklinmaine.com.

Turner woods fire sparked by discarded ashes

SUN JOURNAL • November 20, 2024

Discarded ashes from a wood stove or fireplace sparked a blaze that scorched about an acre of woods early Wednesday morning in Turner. Turner Fire Rescue was assisted by departments from Buckfield, Canton, Jay, Leeds and Livermore.

Column: Chime in on Brunswick’s plans to combat climate change

TIMES RECORD • November 20, 2024

There is a lot to be learned from looking at the executive summary of the draft of Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan — enough to be able to provide feedback to the Climate Action Committee before the plan is presented to the Town Council on Dec. 16. Brunswick has about 7.6 square miles of water, compared to its total area of 54 square miles. That’s a big chunk, which requires a lot of thought with regard to how it is managed — particularly with changing environmental factors. Interesting statistics: 41% of that watery area is intertidal and 37% is shallow water, with 22% being classified as “deep” water. This is illustrative of the large intersection between land and water, particularly when given the tides that can drastically change where the boundary lies. As such, one of the goals of the plan is to “improve watershed stormwater runoff and coastal bluff management,” ~ Susan Olcott

Sen. King outlines how Trump could use tariff policy to confront climate change

MAINE MORNING STAR • November 20, 2024

U.S. Sen. Angus King isn’t normally keen on tariffs, but there is one he would welcome under the upcoming pro-tariff administration. “If we can slip in a tariff on carbon intensity, as part of the president’s program, that would be a major achievement,” King said during a panel discussion hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning that explored international policy on trade, tariffs and carbon emissions. A tariff that taxes imported products based on their carbon footprint would level the playing field between American manufacturers and those in other countries who ignore the environmental impact of their work, King said.