In a rolling landscape dominated by farms, Quaggy Joe Mountain presents a prominent profile. Alongside it lies Echo Lake, a popular brook trout fishery and swimming destination. Both these recreational resources lie within Aroostook State Park, the first state park ever created in Maine (in 1939). The Park, just five miles south of Presque Isle, draws Read More
Appleton Preserve
There are more than 300 species of vascular plants in seven different natural community types. The community type that occupies the largest area on the property is the Hemlock Forest, which includes small patches of Red Maple Sensitive Fern Swamp in low-lying areas mostly associated with the riparian zone. The plant diversity at Appleton Preserve Read More
Mixed Signals: Is Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on “the List”?
MaineBiz news story Two days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to review 26 land and marine national monuments stretching back over 20 years, it’s still not clear whether the directive will include President Barack Obama’s designation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument last Read More
Time for Fighting’s Over. Instead, Let’s Embrace Maine’s National Monument.
By John Holyoke Bangor Daily News column In not-too-unexpected news, it appears that President Donald Trump (with potential help from Maine Gov. Paul LePage) will take a second look at the formation of recent national monuments. The fear of some in Maine, though there’s no evidence that this is the case: Katahdin Woods and Waters Read More
Backers Tout Bill Opposed by LePage, CMP to Allow More Community Solar Farms
The measure would lift restrictions on current large-scale solar projects, and set new power goals. by Tux Turkel, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A parade of proponents turned out Thursday at a public hearing for a bill that would greatly expand community solar farms in Maine. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. David Read More
Support of LD 1444, An Act Regarding Large-scale Community Solar Procurement
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Seth Berry, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you for allowing us to present this testimony. We support this bill, which includes new innovations and builds on Read More
Is Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on “the List”?
Lucas St. Clair says a Trump administration official suggested the National Monument designation won’t be reviewed, but an Interior Department spokeswoman says it could be. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story Questions swirled Thursday about whether the Trump administration plans to review Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument after the Read More
Aroostook Valley Trail
For half a century, freight and passenger cars ran a regular service through this rural region. The last freight service ended by 1960 and the rail lines were abandoned for decades. Community members saw the conversion of these rail beds into multi-use trails as a means to meet the recreational and fitness needs of local residents, lure Read More
Lawmakers Back Bill to Overhaul Maine’s Mining Regulations
The long-sought compromise, which has the support of several major environmental organizations, would ban open-pit mines and prohibit mining on state-owned public lands and under lakes. by Kevin Miller, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — A legislative committee gave near-unanimous support Wednesday to a proposed overhaul of Maine’s mining regulations that has Read More
