by Danielle Waugh WCSH-6 TV news story AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — It’s been 15 years since the removal of the Edwards Dam, and the water and wildlife of the Kennebec River has changed dramatically. On July 1, 1999, the 900-foot dam breached, restoring a free-flowing Kennebec River for the first time in 160 years. Read More
Maine Environmental News
Maine environmental news often comes quickly and with little warning. Stay up to date on Maine environment news.
From issues such as climate change, healthy waters, Maine forests and wildlife, and sustainability—and environmental policy that could impact them—you’ll find NRCM’s up-to-the-minute news releases to see our perspective on the most pressing issues facing Maine’s land, air, waters, and wildlife. This includes findings relating to our role as Maine’s watchdog of activities of state environmental agencies—we stand ready to blow the whistle when regulations are not enforced.
You can also find our news “round up,” News & Noteworthy, which puts the spotlight on media stories that do a particularly good job capturing current news about Maine's environment. We hope you find this part of our website helpful and informative!
15th Anniversary of Edwards Dam Removal: Benefits to People and Wildlife Keep Flowing
Record-breaking numbers of alewives, eagles News Release Alewives return to Kennebec (chart) C-SPAN story about Edwards Dam, including interview with NRCM’s Pete Didisheim Brief history timeline of Edwards Dam More about the Edwards Dam removal and Kennebec River restoration The health of the Kennebec River is making great strides just fifteen years after the breach Read More
Clean Water Act Protections Vital to Maine Environment, Economy, People
Mainers who care about water quality should contact the EPA during a public comment period. By Nick Bennett Portland Press Herald op-ed AUGUSTA — Do you hunt or fish in Maine? Do you swim in Maine’s lakes or rivers? Do you drink Maine’s water? Do you own or work for a company that uses water? If Read More
New National Park Proposal in Maine
by Katharine Bavoso WCSH-6 TV news story HAMPDEN, Maine (NEWS CENTER)– The Natural Resources Council of Maine is trying to gain community support to establish a new National Park and National Recreation Area east of Baxter State Park. The park would take up more than a hundred thousand acres. But first, the group needs approval Read More
How Unlikely Partners Came Together on a Maine River
Decades of dam building had decimated migratory fish populations that had long sustained local wildlife and people on the Penobscot River. After years of contentious battles, local stakeholders struck a deal. Today, for the first time in 200 years, river life is rebounding. And the power company has not lost any hydropower generation. By Laura Read More
Why the Katahdin Region Needs a National Park
by Georgia Manzo, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Imagine reading this: “As you consider settling in the Katahdin region, establishing a business and starting your family here, did you know that we have a thriving hospital, a newly renovated municipal airport and a strengthened school system, as well as both a state Read More
New Report Highlights Tar Sands Threat to Migratory Birds
Interior Department Must Declare Canada is Undermining International Wildlife Protections News Release Destructive mining and drilling practices in the heart of Canada’s boreal forest—a huge and important bird nursery—are putting millions of America’s migratory birds at risk and have already resulted in potentially hundreds of thousands of fatalities, according to an issue brief released today Read More
Naked Guy and Other Abuses Cause Landowner to Post Her Land
By George Smith, Maine Woods blog post Bangor Daily News After posting three columns about the sad state of landowner relations in Maine, it’s time to start telling the stories of some long-suffering private landowners. After reading the initial columns in this series on landowner relations, Pam Wells emailed me her story. Pam and her Read More
Businesses Gather in Portland to Consider Economic Benefits of State, Regional, Federal Climate Programs
Senator King, U.S. EPA Deputy, business panel, tell audience cutting carbon is helping Maine NRCM news release Facts about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Twin Rivers case study Letter signed by more than 300 Maine businesses in support of climate action Nine-state letter to EPA in support of RGGI Portland, ME – About 150 Read More
