May 4, 2021 (Augusta, ME) – Maine Governor Janet Mills has proposed distributing American Rescue Plan funding to make critical investments in energy efficiency, broadband, wastewater clean-up, State Parks, and other essential programs that will help Maine emerge from the pandemic stronger, support local jobs, and lead to cleaner air and water for Maine people, Read More
Waters
Clean, healthy waterways are vital to our day-to-day lives. They help ensure safe drinking water, suitable habitat for fish and other wildlife, and recreational opportunities that make Maine a special place to live, work, and visit. NRCM has been working on clean water issues since we were founded in 1959 to protect the Allagash.
NRCM continues to advocate for clean and healthy waters across Maine. Read more news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's beautiful rivers, lakes, and streams.
Mainers Call for Removal of Dams to Restore a Healthy Kennebec & Save Salmon
Kennebec Coalition News Release Augusta, ME (March 11, 2021) – Endangered Atlantic salmon are on the brink of dying out in Maine’s Kennebec River because of four antiquated dams between Waterville and Skowhegan, according to state and federal officials. A broad coalition of Maine people and organizations are speaking out in support of removing the Read More
Opposition to LD 390, An Act Regarding the Mapping of Shoreland Zones
Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker and distinguished member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: My name is Nick Bennett. I am the staff scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group with more than 25,000 members and supporters. I am testifying in opposition to LD 390. NRCM Read More
Continuing the Restoration of Maine’s Kennebec River
Atlantic salmon are on the brink of dying out in the Kennebec River because of Brookfield Renewables’ four dams between Waterville and Skowhegan. The Natural Resources Council of Maine is working as part of the Kennebec Coalition to restore a healthy, free-flowing Kennebec River for Atlantic salmon by removing all four dams. Maine’s Department of Read More
Support of LD 164, An Act To Establish Maximum Contaminant Levels Under the State’s Drinking Water Rules for Certain Perflouroalkyl and Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Senator Claxton, Representative Meyer, and distinguished members of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee: I am testifying on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) in support of LD 164. NRCM is Maine’s largest environmental advocacy group, with more than 25,000 members and supporters. PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid Read More
Reopening the Legendary Penobscot River
Book details how organizations came together to create a model for ecological restoration Islandport Press news release November 10, 2020 (Augusta, Maine)—In June 2016, an Atlantic salmon swam through the town of Howland bound for upriver spawning grounds that had been blocked for nearly two centuries. The historic event followed the remarkable removal of long-standing Read More
New Book Shares Stories of Penobscot River Restoration
A new book, From Mountains to the Sea, captures inspiring stories from the Penobscot River Restoration Project, a collaborative effort including the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) that worked to balance fisheries restoration and hydropower production in Maine’s largest watershed. The project removed two dams—the Great Works and the Veazie—that had blocked fish migrations Read More
Mainers Oppose Wolfden Mine Proposal
Dozens of local residents, sporting camp owners, and tribal representatives have raised concerns about Wolfden Resources’ proposed metal mine at Pickett Mountain, not far from Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument. These Mainers have all joined the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) in submitting comments to the Land Use Planning Read More
Wolfden Trying to Bypass LUPC Rules for Katahdin-area Mine Proposal
NRCM news release Augusta, ME (September 15, 2020) — The virtually unknown company seeking to operate a mine in the shadow of Katahdin has asked the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) to carry out only a narrow review of its rezoning proposal, a move the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) called an egregious attempt Read More