In time, the St. Croix River could have the largest alewife run in the country. The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story BAILEYVILLE — Alewives are expected to swim upriver of the Grand Falls dam on eastern Maine’s St. Croix River this week for the first time in 22 years. Lawmakers passed a law Read More
Forests and Wildlife
NRCM works to protect Maine’s natural areas and wild, undeveloped character, particularly in the North Woods. We support responsible land development and sustainable forest practices that protect sensitive ecosystems and wildlife. We work for increased public ownership of Maine lands, so future generations will know the Maine we love today.
Protection of Maine’s natural, remote areas was one of the issues for which NRCM was founded in 1959. More than 60 years later, much progress has been made but major threats to Maine’s land and water resources continue.
Read news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's forests and wildlife.
Alewives Swimming Up Maine’s St. Croix River
The Associated Press Boston Globe news story BAILEYVILLE, Maine (AP) — Alewives are expected to swim upriver of the Grand Falls dam on eastern Maine’s St. Croix River this week for the first time in 22 years. Lawmakers passed a law this spring allowing the fish, also known as river herring, to swim upriver of Read More
Opposition to LD 1468, An Act to Establish the High-efficiency Biomass Pellet Boiler Rebate Program and the Home Heating Conversion Fund
Senator John Cleveland, Chair Representative Barry Hobbins, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology Senator Cleveland and Representative Hobbins, While NRCM supports the use of wood pellets as a heating source to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, overriding concerns about the bill cause us to oppose it. As stated in the attached Read More
Feds: Many Causes for Dramatic Bee Disappearance
Associated Press AP news story WASHINGTON — A new federal report blames a combination of problems for a mysterious and dramatic disappearance of U.S. honeybees since 2006. The intertwined factors cited include a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and pesticides. The multiple causes make it harder to do something about Read More
Fishway to the Presumpscot Unveiled
Leslie Briders, staff writer Portland Press Herald news story WESTBROOK — The first of several fish passageways planned for the Presumpscot River officially opened Wednesday, just in time for alewives and other species to make migratory runs that could begin any day. Sappi Fine Paper was required by the state to build the fishway at Read More
East-west Highway Foes Say Project Would Hurt Businesses, Environment
Robert Long, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story A proposed 220-mile east-highway across Maine will hurt local businesses and destroy wildlife habitat, opponents of the project said at a State House event Tuesday. Patrick McGowan, a former Route 2 business owner, Maine conservation commissioner, legislator and Democratic candidate for governor, said Tuesday that “people Read More
An Evening with the Owls
At 4:25 on an early April Sunday morning the temperature was a chilly 24o, stars littered the floor of the sky, and the air was still as stone granite. I know this because my husband and I were returning from four hours of owling in central Maine. As part of the Maine Owl Monitoring Project, a Read More
Lead Sinker Ban Will Help Keep Loon Calls Ringing Out Over Our Lakes
The proposal will protect the birds from poisoning so that we all can continue to enjoy them. by Ted Koffman Maine Sunday Telegram op-ed FALMOUTH – The call of the common loon is one of Maine’s unique and iconic sounds. It conjures up images of lakeside camps, leisurely swims and quiet fishing time with family. Read More
Maine Lawmakers Go with Alewives’ Flow
Bangor Daily News editorial Finally, after years of Maine politicians ignoring the science that supports the benefits of alewives returning to the upper reaches of the St. Croix River, they have acted on that scientific knowledge. On Wednesday, the Maine Legislature passed LD 72, a bill sponsored by Rep. Madonna Soctomah of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Read More
