Kennebec dams removal faces opposition from business groups, politicians

MAINE PUBLIC • January 12, 2026

The Nature Conservancy last year unveiled a historic plan to purchase the four dams between Waterville and Skowhegan, with a goal of returning the river to its free-flowing state. The deal was championed as a historic development by environmental groups that have worked for decades to restore native sea-run fish to the river. But Sappi, along with business groups, oppose dam owner Brookfield'sapplication to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to transfer dam licenses to subsidies it set up to facilitate the possible sale. Sappi North America, which owns a paper mill in Skowhegan, has said it relies on a river impoundment created by the nearby Shawmut Dam to operate and it would have to shut down if the facility is removed. More than 700 people work at the Skowhegan mill and it is a major economic driver in the region.

A life-sized inflatable whale is making a splash in Maine

SUN JOURNAL • January 12, 2026

On New Year’s Eve at the Topsham Public Library, dozens of children gathered there got a little more than the usual fireworks and celebrations. They went for a walk — inside a whale. A 43-foot life-sized, inflatable humpback whale named Chunk, to be specific, with some of its features, like its baleen (instead of teeth), tongue, jaw bones, brain, blowhole, heart, lungs, three-chamber stomach, rib cage, spine and intestines included. Chunk belongs to Jessica Woodend, of Topsham, who visits schools, libraries and other public spaces around the state with Chunk in tow. Woodend calls her small business Within the Whale, and in 2025, she and Chunk visited 84 locations.

Maine schools tackle food waste to save money, time and the environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 12, 2026

Maine’s K-12 students discard an estimated 8.4 million pounds of food annually, according to Susanne Lee, a faculty fellow at the University of Maine’s Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. While that represents just 1% of the state’s annual food waste, Lee said it creates a “triple bottom line” of economic, environmental and social damage. The results of a pilot program to reduce cafeteria food waste at Sebago and the other schools were encouraging. Now a toolkit has been developed for any and all K-12 schools. It could be an important resource as Maine tackles statewide food waste reduction goals set by legislation that passed last year.

From the Ground Up, Winter 2026

WILDLANDS, WOODLANDS, FARMLANDS & COMMUNITIES • January 12, 2026

In September of 2025, more than 200 people gathered at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus for the Northeastern Old Growth Conference to celebrate old-growth forests. The conference theme, “Wildlands and Old-Growth Forests: A Vision for the Future,” set the stage for the gathering co-hosted by Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. It was a celebration of old-growth forests and a call to protect them, enhance them, and encourage places for them to develop and thrive in the future. In this issue, we feature some of the high points of the conference, and we offer further exploration of old growth insights by a few of the speakers, as well as some other voices. ~ The Editors of From the Ground Up

Maine's first law to battle light pollution goes into effect this year

MAINE PUBLIC • January 12, 2026

A new state law would require outdoor lighting across Maine to be dimmed at night in an effort to protect the state's wildlife and dark skies. Maine Audubon's Director of Advocacy Francesca Gundrum said the measurehelps protect Maine's dark night skies from increasing development. "Darkness is a natural resource just like land, just like water and it is absolutely deserving of conservation," Gundrum said. "And the only way you conserve it is if you take steps to regulate, in particular, outdoor light pollution." The bill only affects publicly funded lighting, like streetlights or lights on schools or town offices.

As skijoring grows in Maine, locals say it’s all about the partnership

SUN JOURNAL • January 12, 2026

Skijoring is a fast-growing sport in which one person on skis is pulled behind one, or sometimes two, animals. On the snow, skijoring can look deceptively simple. A skier takes hold of a tow line and lets an animal provide extra pull. But Maine skijorers say the sport is far more deliberate than it appears, whether a dog is leaning into a harness on a groomed Nordic trail or a horse and rider are towing a skier through gates and jumps at a fairground. Dogs that succeed in skijoring are active, enjoy running, tolerate cold conditions and can learn to stay out front with tension on the line. In Franklin County and surrounding western and central Maine communities, skijoring has developed less as a spectacle and more as a practice-based winter sport, shaped by trail access, snow conditions and the realities of shared land use.

Opinion: Immigrant advocacy and climate action are intertwined

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 12, 2026

Our children grieve as their friends are being disappeared by violent, masked thugs. Our communities are terrorized. Our neighbors live in fear that they or their parents will be next. Through my work, I talk every day with spiritual leaders seeking faithful responses to the climate crisis, and I find that they are also persistent supporters of immigrants’ rights. Migrants only sometimes cite climate concerns as a primary reason for their emigration, but in a time of accelerating global climate devastation a climate-related cause is almost always a part of the root cause for displacement. Those who have contributed the least to human-caused climate change almost always experience the worst impacts and bear the biggest burden. ~ Rev. Dr. Allen Ewing-Merrill, The BTS Center, Portland

Opinion: Why we should bring back wolves and mountain lions to the Northeast

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 12, 2026

Prior to European colonization, gray wolves and mountain lions could be found across the entire North American continent. However, once settlement began, both species were wiped out in the eastern U.S. because humans saw them as a threat to their safety and livelihoods. Despite our deeply strained relationship with these animals, they are necessary for a functioning ecosystem. I believe we should bring them back. Deer populations have exploded in the absence of their top predators. As a result, deer damage the environment through overbrowsing. Bloated populations make deer-vehicle collisions frequent, causing billions of dollars in damages and the loss of hundreds of lives annually. It is unfair to argue that these animals are pests simply because they are performing their roles in the ecosystem. Their ecological benefits vastly outweigh their negative effects on humans. ~ Brendan McGowan, junior Honors College student, University of Maine

Latest edition of ‘North Woods Walks,’ a solid, funny collection of hikes

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 10, 2026

Maine’s North Woods range across the state from border to border, encompassing 12 million acres of ecologically-rich wildlife habitat, incredible natural scenery and a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities. A spectacular subset of this terrain is the sprawling expanse surrounding Moosehead Lake, which has been the domain of an indefatigable hiker named Christopher Keene since, well, around the advent of dirt. Over the past 20 years, Keene’s venerable guide, “North Woods Walks: A Collection of Hikes in Northern Maine,” has not only introduced countless trampers to the wonders of this vast forested region but entertained them as well with plenty of wry humor, nuggets of history and some pretty darn good around-the-campfire woodsy tales. The seventh edition of this invaluable trail companion, published last year, features 43 fantastic hikes totaling some 220 miles. ~ Carey Kish

Opinion: Conservation, not courts, should guide Maine’s fishing rules

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 11, 2026

Emotions run high when fishing regulations are challenged in court. A recent lawsuit targeting Maine’s fly-fishing-only regulations has sparked exactly that reaction. These rules are not about denying access; they are about matching human use to ecological capacity so fisheries remain viable over time. Climate change only raises the stakes, as warmer summers and lower late-season flows increasingly push cold-water fisheries to their limits. Healthy trout streams also safeguard drinking water, support wildlife and sustain rural economies through guiding and outdoor tourism. Conservation investments ripple far beyond the streambank. Lawsuits short-circuit the management system that has served Maine well for decades. ~ Steve Heinz, Cumberland, a member of the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited

Cold start to winter pushes Maine wood heat demand

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 11, 2026

Maine’s heating season has begun under colder-than-usual conditions. Early indicators suggest fuel delivery and energy assistance are holding steady, though demand for free firewood appears to be on the uptick. Temperatures across much of Maine have run below normal for about the past month, a stretch marked by increased fuel use.

Hiking with a dog this winter? Here’s what you need to know.

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • January 11, 2026

As winter settles in and spring edges closer, many Maine residents continue to head outdoors with a four-legged companion at their side. Dogs can be ideal hiking partners; eager, adaptable and happy to be outside, but colder temperatures, changing trail conditions and shared-use paths mean hikers need to plan carefully. Before stepping onto the trail, take one minute to check the basics:
• Inspect paws and nails for cracks, ice buildup or soreness
• Check collar or harness fit and leash clip
• Pack waste bags, water and a small snack
• Note weather conditions and available daylight
That quick check can prevent most common problems before they start.

Here’s why these anglers can’t wait for the Long Lake Derby

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 11, 2026

The Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby in St. Agatha has been a fixture for the past two decades, and its 21st edition is slated Jan. 24 and 25. This year’s derby promises the largest bounty ever, with prizes worth more than $75,000, including a $26,500 cash purse. But the anticipation of prizes isn’t what hooks many of the stalwarts who return year after year. Gathering on the lake with friends and family, mixing tradition and camaraderie — that’s the strongest pull. Mike Thibodeau of Frenchville, who caught the derby’s largest cusk at more than 12 pounds last year, is a hardcore cusk fisherman. He travels fairly lightweight, with a portable cabin that is easy to move around, an auger, stove and heater. “We have everything we need to make it through the weekend,” he said.

Why do Maine deer hunters hate coyotes?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 10, 2026

There are few things that frustrate Maine deer hunters more than the eastern coyote. Hatred toward wild canine species stems from settlers who brought their beliefs about wolves to North America — the only place coyotes are found. One Maine hunter said, “If I see a coyote, I’m coyote hunting.” Coyotes’ existence throughout the state puts them at odds with deer hunters, who frequently blame the coyotes for killing deer they want. But the data is [sic] not clear enough to support these fears, as the state struggles year after year to achieve its deer harvest goals and insists coyotes are critical to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Biologists believe there are between 10,000 and 12,000 coyotes in Maine, but admit that’s a rough estimate. And while the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife concedes that coyotes kill deer, it doesn’t consider coyotes a threat to game populations, especially given the abundance of deer in southern and central Maine.

Column: Needle Ice

DAILY BULLDOG • January 10, 2026

On an early winter walk with my three-year-old in a local town forest, we heard our steps crunch on the frozen ground. The dirt of the trail had been pushed up on delicate columns of ice that looked like a pale sugar candy. “Why is it like ribbon candy?” he asked. We were crunching through a forest of needle ice. These needle-thin columns of ice extrude from the ground in rows and ribbons when the soil type and weather conditions are just right. ~ Rachel Sargent Mirus

Why you shouldn’t have indoor chickens

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 10, 2026

There are few things cuter than a fuzzy, warm baby chick. But close interaction or cuddling with that same chick or its adult poultry parents can be a real health risk for humans. So, turning a chicken into an indoor house pet is not a good idea. They can carry bacteria very harmful to humans including salmonella and Campylobacter. Both of those bacteria affect millions of people in the United States every year, and both can be fatal in extreme cases.

This easy hike leads to Maine’s largest glacial erratic

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 10, 2026

Daggett Rock is thought to be Maine’s largest “glacial erratic,” which is simply a fragment of rock that a glacier plucked from an outcropping in one location and deposited in another. The makeup of an erratic is usually different from the underlying bedrock that it rests on. Located on a wooded hill in Phillips, a small town in western Maine, Daggett Rock is thought to have originated from the nearby Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley. It’s approximately 80 feet long, 30 feet wide and 25 feet high, and it may weigh as much as 8,000 tons. The wide trail leading to Daggett Rock is 0.3 mile long and travels gradually uphill most of the way. Overall you’ll climb about 230 feet.

First steps in sale of Kennebec River dams draw pushback

CENTRAL MAINE • January 10, 2026

Those opposed to the planned sale of four Kennebec River hydroelectric dams to a conservation group that intends to decommission or remove them are doubling down, as initial steps to facilitate the transaction have begun to play out in regulatory filings. A slew of businesses, interest groups, elected officials and area residents registered their opposition in recent weeks. Their comments came in response to Brookfield Renewable’s request to transfer federal licenses for three of the four dams to new holding companies in preparation for their sale to The Nature Conservancy. They joined lawyers for Sappi North America, the paper company that runs the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, who accused Brookfield and The Nature Conservancy of trying to bypass regulatory measures in an attempt to quickly close their deal.

Opinion: Bike lane lessons should be applied throughout Portland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 10, 2026

A report from the Portland Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee contains some surprising findings. In the six years following installation of parking-protected bike lanes on Park Avenue:
• All injury crashes, including motorists, were reduced by 44.9%, from 98 to 54.
• Bicycle crashes increased by 11%, from 9 to 10, including one fatality.
• Pedestrian crashes at intersections increased 233%, from 3 to 10.
It seems that the general guiding principle of reducing the road width (known as a “road diet”) is sound when it comes to slowing down cars and reducing serious crashes, but in this case, deficiencies in the design have actually been harmful to bicyclists and pedestrians. Separated bicycle facilities may be the right solution for some streets but infrastructure must be designed to create a seamless network of safe connections for all. ~ Zack Barowitz and Winston Lumpkins IV