Good morning, Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. I’m Melanie Sturm, Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on LD 1756. Regarding Section 1, the proposal for T12 R13 in Aroostook County, we have a couple Read More
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
NRCM’s work to protect the Allagash goes back to its earliest days. This campaign brought NRCM's founders together at a time when the river was threatened by dams and destructive forest practices. Helping to create the Allagash Wilderness Waterway is one of NRCM’s most important and enduring achievements.
A Conversation with 2021 Allagash Visiting Artist Martha Kotter
Every year, visiting artists are hosted at the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Baxter State Park. The program presents exciting opportunities to learn more about these special places through the eyes of creative artists. The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s Forests & Wildlife Director Melanie Sturm has been exploring the intersection of art and environmental protection Read More
Your Stories from the Allagash
We asked, and you answered! Thank you to everyone who sent us their stories and photos from the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in celebration of the 50th anniversary of it being designated a Wild and Scenic River. These are wonderful tales and, in some cases, utterly wild. Enjoy! —Melanie Sturm, NRCM Forests & Wildlife Director “If Read More
You’ll Head to the Allagash after You Read “Allagash Explorer”
One of my all-time favorite adventures was a trip down the Allagash. The feds designated the Allagash as a National Wild and Scenic River, with lots of protection. I was very pleased recently to receive a copy of the booklet, Allagash Explorer, created to help you enjoy an Allagash adventure. A lot of people contributed Read More
Allagash River Trip: 9 Advantages to Choosing a Guide for Your Adventure
NRCM note: Mahoosuc Guide Service has joined many sporting camps that are offering a discount to Natural Resources Council of Maine members. Learn more about this offer and visit the Mahoosuc Guide Service website to plan your trip today! Why Choose a Guide for Your Allagash Adventure? Probably the most well-known canoe trip in Maine Read More
The Timeless Importance of Wilderness in Maine
As the campaign to create the Allagash Wilderness Waterway heated up more than 50 years ago, Lew Dietz wrote: “A river that can serve, not the demands of man’s materials needs, but as a sanctuary of the human spirit, is a large river indeed.” Sentiments like this ring true today as our planet is increasingly Read More
Allagash Wilderness Waterway: Reasons to Celebrate
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is a treasure of northern Maine. The two of us have, collectively, canoed the full length or significant parts of it a dozen times since it was designated a Wild and Scenic River by the federal government in 1970. The longest trips begin either at Telos or Chamberlain Lakes—with a side Read More
State Plans to Sell or Swap Maine Public Lands Near Allagash
by Christine Parrish The Free Press news story As part of a long-term effort to consolidate state land holdings, the state proposes to buy, sell, or swap several parcels of Maine Public Land, including approximately 6,000 acres near the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the state’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. The state does not Read More
Summer Day 2, Part 2: Allagash Falls
The paddle across the lake was easy, but the next rocky section of Allagash Stream was tough. Paint marks on particularly large rocks illustrated that many canoes had scraped along the bottom before us, and we even spotted two lost paddles caught in downed tree limbs and along the shore. We were too heavy, and Read More
