On Day 2 of our spring trip, Brian and I split up for a few hours. Brian had had great luck catching brook trout below the old dam, and I wanted to search for arriving migratory birds, especially warblers. The colorful, palm-sized species journey hundreds and thousands of miles north to nest and breed in Read More
Outdoor Recreation
Maine's environment offers many opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, whether it be paddling, bird watching, hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, or other activities, Maine has beautiful lakes, forests, trails, and coastline to explore. Outdoor recreation is an important part of Maine's economy as well as a reason for Maine to preserve and protect as much public land as we can, so it is available for us to enjoy now, as well as for future generations.
Spring: Day 2 on Fifth Pond, Headwaters of the St. John River
After a delicious breakfast at Pittston Farm – complete with Guy’s homemade donuts – we packed camping and fishing gear into the car. In our beat up Ford Explorer we had miles to go on dirt roads before we made it to an access point for Fifth Pond. From the road, we flushed both Gray Read More
Opposition to Chapter 200: Metallic Mineral Exploration, Advanced Exploration and Mining
Good morning Chairman Parker and members of the Board of Environmental Protection. My name is Nick Bennett, I am the Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and I am testifying in opposition to these proposed rules. Previous versions of these rules were not protective of Maine’s water quality or its taxpayers, and Read More
It’s Worth the Trip: Katahdin Loop Road Has So Much to Offer
The way into the new national monument is full of scenic views and hiking possibilities. By Josh Christie Portland Press Herald news story On Aug. 24, President Barack Obama established a huge swath of Maine’s northern woods as a national monument. Named the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the 87,500 acres cover a vast Read More
Opinions Still Split on Tourism in Katahdin Woods Region
By Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff Boston Globe news story MILLINOCKET, Maine — It has been a cherished land for so long, the majestic Katahdin woods overlooking this old paper mill town, the streams and the East Branch Penobscot River, the trails and turns that provide sweeping views of the fabled Mount Katahdin. Now the Read More
Interior Secretary Test-drives Newest National Monument
Sally Jewell experiences ‘the bounty of the Maine woods’ as part of the park service’s 100th year. By Leslie Bridgers, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story TOWNSHIP 5, RANGE 8 — U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell arrived by canoe at Haskell Deadwater on Saturday afternoon escorted by two guides on stand-up paddleboards. Read More
North Woods Monument Will Bring New Energy, People to Region
By Lucas St. Clair, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed With President Barack Obama’s proclamation, Maine is now home to our country’s newest national monument. While I know that the journey to this point has, at times, been contentious, all of us who care about the Katahdin region can work together to make Read More
Quimby’s Historic Gift Marks New Era for Maine
Some of the sting of the paper industry’s retreat could be eased by a more diverse economy. By The Editorial Board Kennebec Journal editorial When historians look back on Aug. 24, 2016, what will they say about the decision to take 87,000 acres of land in the heart of Maine’s northern forest out of production Read More
‘Is There a More Glorious Place on Earth Than This?’
by Lou Ureneck Boston Globe op-ed I made my first trip to Maine’s north woods when I was 15. It was a late November deer-hunting trip in the autumn of 1965. I didn’t shoot a deer, but the immensity and wildness of the place left an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime. I Read More
