A bill would tighten oversight of the DEP when it comes to dam relicensing to keep the state from losing its say on water levels. by Colin Woodard Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Lawmakers want to impose firmer oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection’s handling of dam relicensing after the state missed Read More
Clean & Free-flowing Waters
Study: Closed Maine Mine Polluting Water with Toxic Metals
A Dartmouth study focusing on the Callahan Mine finds elevated levels of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the sediment, water and small fish. by the Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND â A former open pit mine that’s now a federal Superfund site has caused elevated levels of toxic heavy metals in Read More
Researchers Look at Maine Mine Contamination
The Dartmouth University study focusing on the Callahan Mine found elevated levels of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the sediment, water and small killifish. MPBN news story PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ A new study says a former open pit mine that’s now a federal Superfund site in Brooksville, Maine, has caused elevated levels of Read More
More Dam Relicensing Slips Past Maine’s DEP
The agency misses deadlines and loses its say on five water-control projects, but says the impact will be ‘zero.’ by Colin Woodard, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has again missed critical deadlines and cost the state its authority to set terms in the federal relicensing of dam Read More
As Alewife Populations Recover, a New Economy Emerges
Friendship lobsterman Jim Wotton believes the resurgent river herring could feed lobster traps en masse, generating big profits By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling Morning Sentinel news story At 3:45 a.m. in Friendship Harbor, Jim Wotton and his nephew were already working on the Friendship Lobster Co-op pier by bright moonlight. Wotton, 44, of Friendship, is one of Read More
Yarmouth Still Seeking Consensus on Removal of Two Dams
Is it time for the town to trade its millponds for a new, ecologically sound aesthetic? by Steve Heinz Portland Press Herald op-ed CUMBERLAND – On July 26, the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited teamed with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership to remove Randall Mill Dam from Chandler Brook in Pownal, reconnecting the upper brook Read More
How It’s Done: Removing a Dam
by Shea Gunther Mother Nature Network blog post On Monday, work will begin on the removal of the Veazie Dam on Maine’s Penobscot River as part of a larger project to restore the natural flow to one of the state’s largest rivers. The effort is being led by a coalition of organizations operating under the Read More
South Portland Tar Sands Ordinance Heads for Ballot
Irwin Gratz, MPBN staff MPBN news story A South Portland group says it’s gathered enough signatures to prompt a vote on a local ordinance aimed at preventing the flow of tar sands oil through Maine. Concerned Citizens of South Portland needed to gather 900 signatures to qualify for the November ballot. As Carol Masterson told Read More
Outdoors: Alewives Return in Numbers
Dave Sartwell, outdoor writer Gloucester Times This could be a banner year for the return of alewives to the North Shore. Although we are still early in the run, all indications are that the work being done by a host of different governmental agencies and volunteer organizations and the restrictions being put in place on Read More
