NRCM member Patricia Williams of Pelham, Massachusetts, shares her beautiful, peaceful photo of Nahmakanta Lake as this week’s featured photograph. Do you have a favorite lake or place to paddle? If so, we would love to see your photos and may feature them as upcoming My Maine This Weeks. Please send them to nrcm@nrcm.org.
public lands
Maine’s Ecological Reserves: A Vision for “Saving All the Pieces”
Maine’s natural environment provides us with so much: healthy air, clean water, flood control, crop pollination, carbon sequestration, inspiration, recreation, and much more. Though our scientific knowledge grows every year, there are species and relationships in nature we know little about or haven’t even discovered. Maine’s ecological reserve system was created by the Legislature in Read More
A Jaunt in the Bigelows
The Bigelow mountain range is one of Maine’s true gems. The stark ridgeline thrust up by tectonic movement millions of years ago was made even more dramatic by glacial scouring within the last 20 millennia, resulting in a bedrock spine extending 18 miles along the entire length of Flagstaff Lake. The range is home to Read More
My Maine This Week: Emma Bourget
This week’s feature comes from Emma Bourget of Gardiner, Maine, who writes, “My boyfriend and I enjoyed a beautiful hike of Roundtop on the Kennebec Highlands on a sunny day recently. After several miles of hiking through the beautiful Maine woods, the trail opened to reveal rewarding scenic views.” We agree! That view is spectacular! Read More
New Law Will Expand Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
Maine Audubon and Natural Resources Council of Maine news release A bill that will expand Maine’s network of ecological reserves to protect more habitat for the state’s rich array of plants, animals, and other species was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on Tuesday March 29, 2022. State-owned ecological reserves cover less than 1% Read More
Expansion of Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
A bill that will expand the Maine Ecological Reserve System and thereby better protect the state’s natural habitats and resources was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on March 29th, 2022. This law, titled An Act To Enhance the Ecological Reserve System, enables Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) to add to its Read More
Role of Maine’s Ecological Reserves More Critical Than Ever
Did you know that the Mahoosuc ecological reserve is one of only a few places in Maine where Cutler’s goldenrod occurs? This delicate yellow flower is endemic to a naturally scarce habitat type. It is also one of many powerful messengers demonstrating why Maine’s ecological reserve system is so vitally important—and should be expanded. Maine’s Read More
Support of LD 736, An Act to Enhance Maine’s Ecological Reserve System
Senator Dill, Representative O’Neil, and Members of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, I am Melanie Sturm, Forests and Wildlife Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). I am testifying in support of LD 736, as proposed to be amended by the sponsor. This bill would play a significant role in helping Maine Read More
Exploring Community Trails, Big and Small, in Maine
With new funding streams coming in and plans progressing to improve our walking and biking paths, we have a lot to be hopeful for in Maine. In the coming years there will be myriad opportunities to engage at the local, state, and federal levels to advocate for community trails. Such an investment would be not Read More
