Federal funding cuts are straining the nonprofits that keep this Maine island afloat

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 26, 2025

In Stonington, nonprofits build workforce housing, conduct research that helps its lobster industry, conserve its land and provide arts programming. It’s an example of how much of the responsibility for providing such services is shifting to outside organizations. Gaps are being stretched by abrupt changes in federal priorities. Since January, nonprofits have seen funding abruptly cut, grants canceled and research projects terminated by the Trump administration. That’s taken a toll. Housing is needed for Stonington’s lobster industry, the busiest in Maine. Lobster dealers often house their own employees in order to keep a workforce. Other aspects of the industry are researched and supported by the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, another local nonprofit that aims to keep fisheries sustainable and economically viable. Grants it received during the Biden administration were canceled earlier this year by Trump.

8 evergreen Maine trails that are lovely year round

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 26, 2025

Here I’ve listed eight Maine trails that travel through lovely forests that remain rich green year round, being that they’re mostly composed of various evergreen trees. These forests are also filled with mosses and lichens, which retain their color regardless of the time of year. And what’s more, these dense forests will shelter you from the cold winter wind, offering a getaway during an otherwise typically hectic time of year.
1. Prentiss Woods in Bangor
2. Johnson Brook Trail in Milford
3. Ingersoll Point Preserve in Addison
4. Simon Trail in Lamoine
5. Backwoods Mountain in Brooksville
6. Little Moose Mountain near Greenville
7. Thorne Head Preserve in Bath
8. Horserace Brook Trail near Millinocket

Our biggest environment stories in 2025

MAINE MONITOR • December 26, 2025

There was plenty of big environmental news this year: new clean energy legislation, an extreme drought that led to Maine’s worst August for wildfires in 20 years, federal funding cuts and more. Here’s a look back:
• Federal policy shifts, funding cuts
• New clean energy goals and rising electricity prices
• Maine’s changing forests, challenges for loggers and paper mills
• Dam safety reforms and fish passage changes

Cumberland hiker’s trek along the Pacific Crest Trail a reminder we can all use a mental reset

SUN JOURNAL • December 26, 2025

Evan Miller hiked the 2,653-mile trial from the Mexican border in California to Canada earlier this year and learned a lot about himself along the way. A 2022 graduate of Greely High and a Cumberland native, Miller grew up hiking in the White Mountains. He considers himself fortunate to grow up here, where the outdoors can be such an integral piece of life. Miller’s advice to anybody contemplating a similar mental detour from the fistfight that is modern life is simple. Relax.

Opinion: Maine’s energy policy looks to be going up in smoke

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 26, 2025

This fall I attended two energy conferences. I came away pessimistic about Maine’s energy future. Maine has a state energy plan that builds on efforts to reduce our dependence on imported petroleum and shift to an economy powered largely by renewable electricity resources. It complements the state’s climate action plan. The problem is, both strategies depend on cleaner electricity being affordable. But electricity is becoming more expensive, with prices nearly doubling in Maine over the past decade. The greatest source of pessimism comes from the sabotage of offshore wind. In his quest to kill green energy, President Trump has hobbled a multi-billion dollar industry. It was New England’s next big source of energy. One man has upended an industry. Trump also is killing incentives that helped people weatherize their homes, and buy more efficient appliances and vehicles. That leaves New England on its own. ~ Tux Turkel

Crowds and climate change strain nature, infrastructure on Mount Washington’s summit

MAINE MORNING STAR • December 26, 2025

High visitation has taken a toll on the unique and fragile alpine ecosystem atop the Northeast’s highest peak, where erosion, trampling, and invasive species are challenging the ability of native plants to thrive. according to a preliminary summit assessment. The report points to gaps in knowledge about possible chemical contamination legacies at the sites of former buildings on the summit, proposed safety and durability improvements for existing buildings, and suggested ways to improve visitor and staff experiences while protecting the integrity of the mountain itself. The ecosystem found on Mount Washington’s summit is rare. But invasive species, erosion, trampling, and climate change-driven shifts in weather patterns are limiting the success of native plant communities and wildlife at the summit.

Opinion: On Brunswick foam spill, key voices are missing

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 26, 2025

In his Nov. 30 op-ed “Setting the record straight on Brunswick foam spill,” Steve Levesque, former executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, wrote he is “saddened and disappointed” by the response of local officials to the August 2024 AFFF firefighting foam spill at Brunswick Landing. There are many others who are sad and disappointed about this environmental disaster and the response to it:
● Those who advised MRRA to insist the Navy remove the AFFF fire suppression systems.
● Safety inspectors who advised MRRA in 2023 to address issues with the Hangar 4 fire suppression system before it failed.
● The responders to the 2024 spill who worked without masks/ventilators and other protection.
● The residents, employees and patrons of Brunswick Landing businesses and educational institutions who are anxious about their exposure to toxins.
● Neighbors who have incurred hundreds of dollars in expenses testing their wells, installing filtration systems, or connecting to the municipal water system.
● Neighbors who wonder if the aquifers from which they draw water are also affected.
● Residents near the extensive “post-spill” soil piles who wonder if the dust that blows off and the rain water that washes through them might contain toxins.
● Pet owners who live on or visit the Landing and wonder if their pets’ health might be affected.
● The shellfish harvesters who have experienced closures of clam flats in Harpswell Cove, and other marine fishery interests who wonder about the safety of their harvests.
● People who visit nearby lands and waters who wonder if it is safe to walk, ski, bike, boat, swim, fish and hunt in these habitats.
~ Ralph Keyes lives near Brunswick Landing

Opinion: Maine must protect ratepayers from monopoly utility power

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 26, 2025

The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s recent rejection of Central Maine Power’s major rate increase request was a rare victory for ratepayers. But CMP is expected to file another rate case soon; understanding the regulatory context in which those decisions are made matters for Mainers, who are facing some of the nation’s fastest-rising electric rates. The time for action is now. Rapidly rising electric bills are discouraging electrification, slowing decarbonization and hitting vulnerable households and small businesses hardest. Public confidence is low, fueling political polarization and misdirected blame on clean energy. Meanwhile, CMP and Avangrid continue to report rising profits. Our regulators and utility laws are crucial to our shared future. Let’s make them as strong and as sensible as we can — and answerable to all of us, not just a few powerful interests. ~ Isabelle Winstead, legal and policy fellow for Our Power, a Maine nonprofit pushing for energy decisions made by and for the people of Maine

Farmington group notes 41 species for 126th Christmas Bird Count

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • December 26, 2025

Area birders participated in the 126th Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 14, marking the 50th running of the Farmington Circle as part of the nation’s longest-running community science bird project. Nineteen participants surveyed birds across New Vineyard, Industry, downtown Farmington, New Sharon, West Farmington, East Wilton, Temple, Fairbanks and Strong. Together, they logged about 45 hours and recorded 41 species.

High Peaks Alliance prepares for leadership change, launches 2026 naturalist series

SUN JOURNAL • December 26, 2025

The High Peaks Alliance is preparing for a leadership transition as founding board member and current board President Lloyd Griscom steps down at the end of December, passing the role to longtime board member and Vice President John Rogers. Griscom helped launch the Alliance to ensure that local voices guided the future of Maine’s High Peaks, one of the state’s largest and most intact wild landscapes. Over his tenure, he played a central role in building trust among hunters, hikers, ATV riders, landowners, and conservation partners, turning early conflicts into long-term collaborations that balanced public access with habitat conservation. Looking ahead, the Alliance also announced the launch of the High Peaks Naturalist Series, a free monthly program of guided walks and talks led by certified Maine Master Naturalists. The series will begin in January 2026.

Maine Huts & Trails offers free guided winter programs starting Jan. 3

SUN JOURNAL • December 25, 2025

Maine Huts & Trails is launching a series of free, guided winter outdoor programs beginning Jan. 3, offering community members and visitors a chance to explore the organization’s trail network with expert guidance and an emphasis on accessibility and safety. The rotating schedule includes guided snowshoe outings, cross-country ski trips for a range of ability levels, family-friendly nature explorations and fat bike rides. All programs take place on sections of the Maine Huts trail system, which includes a 25-mile groomed linear trail and additional ungroomed side trails. Programs are open to the public at no cost, though participants are asked to bring their own equipment.

CDC warns of possible link between Salmonella outbreak, raw oyster consumption

MAINE PUBLIC • December 24, 2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning of a Salmonella outbreak that may be linked to contaminated oysters. As of Tuesday, 64 people in 22 states, including one in Maine, have been infected. But the CDC said there are likely more cases linked to the outbreak. Of the 44 cases with information available, 20 patients were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The CDC said many reported eating raw oysters. The agency is working to identify the source of the oysters.

A Mainer’s guide to a greener holiday cleanup

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 24, 2025

What’s recyclable in one Maine community may not be in the next, leaving the most well-intentioned residents feeling uncertain. But there are ways to trim the waste. Some coastal communities use discarded trees to prevent coastal erosion and stabilize shorelines. The Maine DEP suggests rural residents toss them in the backyard to enrich the soil and create wildlife habitat. Farms with goats are often happy to accept untreated trees as a winter snack. There are responsible ways to recycle old or broken lights. Staples stores throughout Maine have take-back programs that accept holiday lights. Scrunch wrapping paper into a tight ball. If it stays wrinkled and compressed, it is recyclable. If it bounces back, it contains non-paper materials like plastic or foil and must go in the trash. Standard alkaline batteries are not a fire risk and can be placed in the household trash. All rechargeable batteries must be taken to a designated take-back facility.

Proposed national parks of the United States

WIKIPEDIA • December 23, 2025

For an area to become a unit of the National Park System, it must possess nationally significant natural, cultural, or recreational resources; be a suitable and feasible addition to the system; and require direct management by the National Park Service (rather than protection by the private sector or other governmental agencies). Members of the United States Congress can authorize the NPS to conduct a special resource study to gather information surrounding potential inclusions into the National Park System. Each special resource study will examine each of the above four criteria individually. However, units of the System are ultimately created by legislation. Proposed parks which have seen legislation put forth in Congress are shaded in green in this list. Other proposals, including those by the public in the form of documents or editorials in local media, are also included.

ALERT: Defend the Clean Water Act

EARTH JUSTICE • December 23, 2025

Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to give corporate polluters what they want and put many thousands of formerly protected wetlands and waterways at risk of toxic pollution and industrial development. Tell the administration that you oppose their plan to destroy critical clean water protections. Submit your comment today.

What the data show about Poland Spring's water withdrawals in Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • December 23, 2025

Since August, Maine has faced a persistent drought. The Maine-based Poland Spring bottled water company, which draws from sources in Fryeburg and other sites, said at the time it was voluntarily reducing withdrawals. Paul Blest, a reporter from the journalism outlet More Perfect Union, discovered that during September, Poland Spring was taking more water from both places than it did in September the two previous years. Maine Public's review of the data found that over the past two years, between January and September, Poland Spring's withdrawals increased by more than 40% in Fryeburg and nearly 23% in Denmark. But Poland Spring stands by its commitment to long-term sustainability. "I'm angry and I'm frustrated and I wish we had control of our water," said Emily Strahler, who serves as a trustee for the Fryeburg Water District. She says it was concerning to hear that residents' wells dried up over the summer and then find out that Poland Spring is extracting more water from the town this year than it did last.

Conservation groups appeal CMP transmission line plan warning of ‘bad precedent’

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 23, 2025

Several of Maine’s leading conservation organizations have filed an appeal with the state’s Board of Environmental Protection, challenging Central Maine Power’s conservation plan for the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line. The groups say the plan falls short of protecting mature forests in western Maine as required under CMP’s permit. The appeal, filed by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine and Trout Unlimited, argues that CMP’s plan prioritizes heavily logged areas rather than true mature forests, potentially setting a troubling precedent for future development projects.

This Atlantic Coast Scenic Byway Is the Road Trip of a Lifetime

WORLD ATLAS • December 23, 2025

If you wish to witness up close the sometimes rugged scenery of America's Atlantic coastline, there are a number of highway routes you can explore, ranging from the sun-baked sands of Florida to the wildernesses of New England. At nearly 147 miles in total length, the Bold Coast Scenic Byway in Maine covers one of the most incredible northern stretches, where cold waves crash against the area's towering cliffs, old-growth forests, and old-timey fishing towns year-round. 

Maine lawsuit challenges fly-fishing-only waters under right-to-food amendment

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 23, 2025

Joe and Samantha Legendre, with the support of the International Order of Theodore Roosevelt, have filed a civil suit against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. They argue that IF&W’s designation of fly-fishing-only waters does not pass constitutional muster and that Maine’s new right-to-food constitutional amendment renders those designations unconstitutional. Of Maine’s more than 5,000 lakes and ponds, IF&W has designated 225 as fly-fishing-only waters. The Legendres previously sought to overturn Maine’s Sunday hunting ban because it interfered with a citizen’s right to obtain food by foraging for wild game on Sundays. That case was dismissed when the courts ruled IF&W and the Legislature have the legal authority to protect Maine’s natural resources through regulation and management. It is doubtful Maine voters intended the right-to-food amendment to create a free-for-all in the state’s woods and waters. ~ V. Paul Reynolds

Lawyers withdraw lawsuit on behalf of Mercer turkey farmer

CENTRAL MAINE • December 23, 2025

Lawyers have dropped a federal lawsuit against Maine state officials that was filed on behalf of a Mercer turkey farmer who later said he unknowingly became the sole plaintiff in the case. The attorneys — one from Maine and two from the national, [far right] Pacific Legal Foundation — filed the voluntary dismissal of Scott Greaney’s lawsuit Wednesday. The lawsuit questioned the constitutionality of the composition of the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Fund Advisory Board. The board oversees the investment fund, which is intended to strengthen Maine’s agricultural, food and forest products industries, prioritizing historically marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved communities; address barriers to capital access for businesses in those communities; expand investments in infrastructure; and establish technical assistance programs.