Protecting Maine's Environment

Join Us

Make Your Picks in Maine Trails Madness

It’s Maine Trails Madness! Celebrate Maine’s amazing trails by voting in this epic showdown. Every week in March, trails will battle it out to become the Maine Trail Champion.

Whether it’s around Maine’s lakes, in our forests, along our coastline, or on our mountains — Maine is home to amazing trails. One of our top priorities is to encourage lawmakers to pass bond funding to support construction and maintenance of trails and multi-use paths across the state for all to enjoy.

Video: Meet New NRCM CEO Rebeccah Sanders

Fall in to Winter Photo Contest Winners Announced

Podcast: Wabanaki Nations' State of the Tribes Address

Modernizing Maine's Bottle Bill

Zoom webinar, Wednesday, March 22 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Join NRCM Sustainable Maine Director Sarah Nichols online to learn about Maine’s Bottle Bill, our state's most successful recycling and litter prevention program. Sarah will share information about bills NRCM is working on this legislative session to help our redemption centers stay in business and ensure Mainers have places to return their empty bottles and cans.

Stay Up to Date on Legislative Bills & Join Us for State House Action Day

The 2023 legislative session is well underway, and NRCM staff are testifying and tracking bills that would affect Maine's air, land, water, and wildlife. Each year, we help keep you up to date on these bills on our Bill Tracking Page. Bookmark the page to learn about upcoming public hearings, read NRCM testimony, and more.

Also, make plans to join us in Augusta for NRCM's annual State House Action Day on April 4. Learn more & RSVP.

News from NRCM

NOAA Ignores Science Showing Extinction Threat for Atlantic Salmon

An analysis released today by NOAA Fisheries ignores the threat to sea-run fish posed by four dams on Maine’s Kennebec River, according to a leading fisheries biologist and local Maine conservationists. The decision specifically understates the potential for extinction of endangered Atlantic salmon if the four dams are allowed to continue operating.   “We have Read More

Willow Oil Project Approval Ignores Urgency of Climate Change

On Monday March 13, 2023, the Biden Administration approved the Conoco-Phillips Willow project, a massive oil drilling proposal that would become the largest on federal lands in the United States. In response, the Natural Resources Council of Maine released the following statement from Federal Project Advocate Anya Fetcher:   “The Biden Administration’s approval of the Conoco-Phillips Read More

Penobscot River Dam Owner Violating Federal Endangered Species Act

The owner of the Milford Dam on Maine’s Penobscot River, Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP; TSX: BEP.UN), is actively breaking federal environmental law by harming endangered Atlantic salmon, according to documents obtained through the state’s Freedom of Access Act.   In the documents, a federal biologist confirms that most Atlantic salmon are not able to Read More

Hear from Our New CEO, Rebeccah Sanders

Our new CEO Rebeccah Sanders has been on the job since mid January and has hit the ground running, drawing on her two decades of executive nonprofit management experience in community-driven conservation work and her long-time love of Maine’s great outdoors. What has Rebeccah learned so far, and what is she looking forward to in the future for NRCM and Maine’s environment? Tune in to hear it all in her own words. Learn more about Rebeccah.

Bird Songs: More to Them Than What We Thought?

Critter Chatter — Spring Forward

Protecting the nature of Maine since 1959, by harnessing the power of science, the law, and the voices of people who value Maine's environment.

Explore Maine

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Find hiking trails, beaches, paddles, bike paths, & more with our interactive Explore Maine Map. New LMF sites and accessible trails have been added.
View the map & learn more.

Learn about our Maine Sporting Camp & Outdoor Recreation Discount Program.

Shop for NRCM T-shirts, Caps, Totes, & More

Get one of our NRCM logo beanies before they're gone! Also purchase NRCM made-in-the-USA caps, t-shirts featuring beautiful artwork by Maine artist Jon Luoma, mugs, totes, & more, all in support of our work to protect the nature of Maine.
Visit our online store

Attend an Event

Find out about events & webinars NRCM is hosting or taking part in throughout Maine. Plan to attend!
View events

paths through snow with Katahdin in the background

My Maine This Week: Views of Katahdin by Patricia Williams

dog looking at fish coming out of ice

My Maine This Week: Fall in to Winter Photo Contest Winners

man in front of steep rocks and ice

My Maine This Week: Grafton Notch by Linda Woods

Dark-eyed Junco

Do you know how old the oldest recorded Dark-eyed Junco was? What about the name given to a flock of juncos? Find out the answers to these questions and more in our new Creature Feature written by NRCM member and Critter Chatter author Jayne Winters.