Maine’s tallest mountain is greening faster than others in New England

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 9, 2026

Four decades worth of satellite observations reveal that alpine tundra across the Northeast are undergoing widespread vegetation expansion, not just at the advancing tree line but well above it, too. The new growth is transforming rare, high-elevation ecosystems once thought buffered from rapid change. And Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak at 5,268 feet, is greening faster than any other New England summit. Vegetation has increased there by 7.9% from 1984 to 2024, according to a recent study in the journal Ecosphere by scientists at Dartmouth College and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Longtime Acadia visitors vent about speed and disruptive impact of e-bikes in park 30

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 9, 2026

Mount Desert Island residents have grown weary of the staggering rise of e-bikes on Acadia National Park’s sprawling carriage road system. It’s been roughly seven years since the National Park Service announced a blanket policy allowing Class 1 e-bikes — which cannot travel faster than 20 mph— in parks across the country. Since then, many MDI residents have grown tired of the persistent congestion, speed and generally disruptive impact that some say has accompanied the electric bicycles’ introduction to park life. But while e-bikes have annoyed many longtime park visitors, they’ve also provided others, some of whom have various physical limitations, with a new way to enjoy Acadia’s beauty.

How to eat well in the Maine outdoors

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 8, 2026

Camp cooking isn’t just about fun and flavor. A nourishing meal is fuel for a successful adventure, guides said, and safe practices are critical to avoid getting sick in remote places. Experts shared their tips for eating well in the outdoors — whether backpacking or in a campground. “Things taste better when you’re camping,” said Taylor Boucher, founder and owner of Portage Eats, a new South Portland-based business that makes meal kits for the campsite.

Nearly half of Maine is now in at least severe drought

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 8, 2026

Experts now estimate that nearly half of Maine is under at least severe drought conditions as the entire state remains mired in a monthslong dry spell that hasn’t been helped by recent rain. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, released Thursday, indicates roughly 46% of the state’s area is in at least severe drought, including 5% — a chunk of coastal Maine — that is experiencing a more dire extreme drought. No part of the state is yet in exceptional drought, the most serious level.

More than 27,000 acres conserved in Western Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • October 8, 2026

More than 42 square miles of forestland in Western Maine is now permanently conserved, capping a years-long effort by a partnership of land groups. Tom Duffus vice president at The Conservation Fund, said that about 15,000 acres of the Chadbourne Tree Farm in and around Bethel is at the heart of the conservation project. It's land that could have otherwise been sold off for house lots, he added.

Ending the federal 'roadless' rule could threaten these Maine forests

MAINE PUBLIC • October 8, 2026

"We're within a really special conserved portion of our national forest in the White Mountains National Forest called the Caribou Speckled Extension Roadless Area," said Adam Nordell, a conservation advocate for Environment Maine. For the last 25 years this land has been off limits for new road construction along with about 58 million acres of national forest across the US covered by the so-called "roadless rule." But that is all at risk if the administration of President Donald Trump carries out its plan to rescind the roadless rule.

Work to restore waterways in the Magalloway reaches far downstream

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 7, 2026

In July, more than 78,000 acres around the Magalloway River in northern Oxford County was conserved in a joint effort by four groups, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Forest Society of Maine, The Nature Conservancy and Northeast Wilderness Trust, which formed the Magalloway Collaborative in spring of 2025. The four groups have worked together to raise the $62 million needed to buy the development rights to the land. But there is still conservation work to be done. Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has identified many undersized or failing stream crossings that hinder the movement of fish in the preserve, which have been in place on logging roads for decades.

Maine agency fines Fryeburg Solar $204K for damaging environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 6, 2026

New Jersey-based Fryeburg Solar jumped the gun in 2021 by starting work at the 45-acre site before it got final approvals and demonstrated that it could afford to decommission the facility if needed. State inspectors found construction crews exposed more land at one time than allowed, failed to maintain erosion controls and winter construction standards and let sediment and soil runoff pollute wetlands, streams, properties and nearby Lovewell Pond. The runoff problems began in 2021 and, despite repeated state inspections, violations persisted. In December 2025, DEP declared the restoration a success and began drawing up a civil penalty of $204,499. If approved, the Fryeburg Solar deal will be the sixth consent agreement of 2026.

Opinion: What Maine’s next generation of farms needs to succeed

SUN JOURNAL • September 6, 2026

The Lisbon greenhouse facility operated by Springworks Farm is headed to auction. Roughly 40 miles away, Vertical Harvest, a high-tech producer of indoor leafy greens in Westbrook, has faced significant delays and has yet to reach the commercial scale it originally envisioned. If Maine is going to support innovative agriculture with public resources, it should ask before a project moves forward: Is the operation ready to run? I’ve spent three decades in commercial horticulture. I served as general manager for Backyard Farms, the 40-acre tomato greenhouse range in Madison. A lesson I’ve learned throughout my career: operational readiness is fundamental to success. Operational readiness is having the people, systems and discipline to run a facility reliably from day one. ~ Ryan Douglas, Maine-based strategic advisor to cultivation businesses

Supreme Court declines to take up Maine lobster boat tracking appeal

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 5, 2026

The lower court ruling allowing the GPS tracking of federally licensed lobstering boats will stand, ending the suit by Vinalhaven lobsterman Frank Thompson, who argued that it infringes on his Fourth Amendment rights.

Letter: Weakened fuel efficiency goals will cause lasting damage

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 5, 2026

The Trump administration recently lowered goals for fuel efficiency in many gas-powered vehicles from 50.4 miles per gallon in 2031 down to 30.1 mpg. This reduction will increase emissions and accelerate climate change when we need to slow it down. This change is short-sighted, environmentally harmful, and will have lasting negative impacts on all of us. Keep this in mind when voting this November. ~ Erica Bartlett, Portland

Foot and Paddle: Little Jackson

DAILY BULLDOG • October 4, 2026

Little Jackson, one of my year-round favorites among the Western Mountains of Maine, rises north of Webb Lake and the town of Weld, in the unorganized territory of Township 6 North of Weld. Mainstays of the Tumbledown-Jackson Range, Little Jackson ( 3445’) and its nearby twin, Big Jackson (3555’), are the two highest peaks in the Weld Region. The Jacksons tend to be less frequently visited than the very popular Tumbledown Mountain, with its iconic Tumbledown Pond; prominent Mt. Blue with its observation tower; and bare-summited Bald Mountain, south of Weld. I hope to see you on trail! ~ Doug Dunlap

Nature-Based Inspired Playground Brings Learning Outdoors

DAILY BULLDOG • October 4, 2026

A new nature-based playground at the Foster Career Technical Education Center in Farmington is giving children from birth to age five a unique place to learn, explore and play while providing Early Childhood students with hands-on experience in their future profession. “We wanted to create an environment where children could use their imagination, make choices and learn through hands-on experiences with nature- no matter their age or ability,” said Sara Spear, Early Childhood Education and Teaching Instructor. “At the same time, our CTE students get to see firsthand how the environment can support children’s development.”

Column: It took me 9 years to finally find this remote Maine trail

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 4, 2026

Lobster Lake is situated in the wild, wooded country east of Moosehead Lake and south of the Golden Road. The name lobster isn’t one you’d normally associate with the northern Maine woods. But owing to a fluke of topography, the lake happens to be shaped like a lobster claw. A two-mile trail leads from Jackson Cove to a lookout at roughly the 2,000-foot contour on Lobster Mountain. The hike is just three in the entire Maine Mountain Guide that are accessible only by water. The trail winds gradually over the northern slope, and in just over an hour, we’ve reached the main outlook and a nice bench. My GPS reads 1.5 miles. The view over Lobster Lake is grand: wild, forested country as far as the eye can see. We step down to look around the corner and are greeted with a huge look at mighty Katahdin and many of its high neighbors. ~ Carey Kish

World Animal Day, October 4

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • October 4, 2026

World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

Maine Forest Service report highlights effectiveness of forestry practices that protect water quality

EIN PRESSWIRE • October 3,2026

A new Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Maine Forest Service (MFS) report underscores the effectiveness of environmentally friendly practices during timber harvesting. Released Oct. 1, the "Maine Forestry Best Management Practices Use and Effectiveness Data Summary" draws on hundreds of observations at timber harvesting sites across Maine. This MFS study shows how forestry and timber industry professionals use recommended practices statewide. It also demonstrates that the risk to waterbodies greatly increases when they are improperly applied.

Letter: Keep trails accessible

ELLSWORTH AMERICAN • October 3, 2026

Is it possible when establishing or maintaining hiking trails, to consider placing some basic benches along the paths specifically for the purpose of intermittent recovery and pacing? As one of over 300,000 seniors in the state of Maine, speaking from the perspectives of retirement from the field of physical therapy and from trail building as a volunteer, something as simple as a sturdy bench along the hike might keep accessible for many, the thousands of beautiful trails in our state. ~ Deb Jarosz, Franklin

Column: AMC adds the Whitecap Highlands to Maine Woods Initiative

CENTRAL MAINE • October 3, 2026

The Alpine-like summit of 3,650-foot White Cap in the heart of the 100-Mile Wilderness affords one of the finest mountaintop vistas in all of Maine. To the north stands mile-high Katahdin and its neighbors in Baxter State Park. Looking south, the grand view includes the rest of the White Cap Range, the Barren-Chairback Range, Big Moose Mountain and so much more. Much of the land around the White Cap Range has been preserved by the Appalachian Mountain Club over the last two decades or so, to the tune of 130,000 acres. AMC now has its sights set on the Whitecap Highlands Forest. This 29,500-acre tract is a mix of fragile high-elevation terrain and cold-water stream habitat for Atlantic salmon and native brook trout. ~ Carey Kish

Sue Ely hired as NRCM Senior Director of Advocacy

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • October 3, 2026

Sue Ely will soon be joining NRCM as Senior Director of Advocacy, succeeding Pete Didisheim as he begins a well-earned retirement after three decades of leadership for Maine's environment. Ely previously served on NRCM's advocacy team as an attorney and policy expert and has spent the past several years serving as an attorney with the U.S. Department of the Interior. Throughout her career, she's earned a reputation as a thoughtful strategist, skilled lawyer, and collaborative leader who knows how to bring people together to tackle complex challenges.

Eastport files motion to intervene in underwater data center case

MAINE MONITOR • October 2, 2026

The City of Eastport registered a formal motion to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday in an attempt to block a controversial subsea artificial intelligence data center proposal, DeepGreen Western Passage SPV. The councilors, who also sent an accompanying statement to FERC that was posted a day later, joined a growing list of residents and organizations fighting the project, including the nonprofit research group the Center for Biodiversity, by registering official concern over the DeepGreen Western Passage application for 48-month preliminary permit, which was accepted for filing by the agency in August.