Based on the recommendations of a bi-partisan, independent study committee, the legislation replaces the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) with a new land-use board and refocuses its mission on both conservation and economic development. The new agency, which is a division under the Maine Department of Conservation, also focuses on local input and improved permitting processes.

“We have found common ground,” said Gov. Paul LePage, in signing L.D. 1798 into law. “We have retained planning and permitting in theUnorganizedTerritories, yet we also have replaced reactive rezoning with forward-looking planning.

“Best of all, this is a bi-partisan outcome that should stand the test of time,” the Governor said.

“The signing of L.D. 1798 provides a great opportunity to set aside old battles that often pitted landowners against those who see the Great Maine Woods as a public good,” Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley said. “L.D. 1798 is a major step toward a shared vision of ruralMaine.”

“We are ready to implement this important directive from the Maine Legislature,” said Samantha Horn Olsen, LURC acting director. “As we move forward, we will be mindful that success can only happen with the involvement of individuals and organizations in the areas that the Commission serves.”

The Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) was created by the Maine Legislature in 1971 to serve as the planning, zoning and permitting authority for areas that do not have the capacity to administer land use controls, known as the Unorganized Territories (UT). The Commission was charged with comprehensive planning, zoning and issuing permits for most development activities, including business and wind-power projects.

Governor LePage, Maine Senate President Kevin Raye, and Maine House Speaker Robert Nutting last year appointed a 13-member commission to study reforms to the agency. The commission last fall presented a unified report with reform recommendations that resulted in legislation.

As a result, L.D. 1798 establishes a new land use board, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, with nine members, rather than the current seven, nominated by both the Governor and the eight counties with the most unorganized areas. The Commission members serve for four years.

The purpose and scope of the new Commission is expanded to include “the well-planned and well-managed multiple use, including conservation, of land and resources and to encourage and facilitate regional economic vitality.”

Other directives include:

• To hold Commission meetings in a location within the Commission’s jurisdiction, with project-review meetings to be held as close as possible to the project site;
• To move land-use staff out ofAugustainto field offices closer to the Commission’s jurisdiction;
• To reform the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for the UT. to reflect the new legislation;
• To identify areas of the UT that display significant potential for economic investment and job creation;
• To provide an annual report to the legislative oversight committee.

Grid-scale wind projects in the UT now will be reviewed and permitted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Regulation of forestry activities in the UT will be handled by the Maine Forest Service.

In addition, one environmental specialist will be transferred from LURC to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Commissioner Beardsley outlined several steps already being taken to initiate reform. Some LURC staff offices have been moved closer to the UT; State Planning Office planners have been moved to offices adjacent to MDOC planners: and the department is in conversation with numerous UT landowners and residents, counties and other organizations.

“Our goal is to engage these individuals and organizations that have their feet on the ground,” the commissioner stressed, “then build a comprehensive land use plan and develop prospective zoning and permitting processes that reflect the aspirations of the UT.”

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WHAT:

WHEN: 1 p.m.  Reception, with performances by Longfellow Elementary School pupils, light refreshments; 1:30 p.m. Ceremony; Tuesday, May 22;

WHERE:  Longfellow Elementary School, Portland.

Project Canopy, which is the Maine Forest Service’s urban forestry program, under the Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC), will hold its annual Arbor Week Celebration and Awards Ceremony next week.

As part of the celebration, MDOC Commissioner Bill Beardsley will present the 2012 Frank Knight Community Forestry Excellence Award to Robert and Beverly Dutton, of Dutton’s Nursery, Morrill, who last year donated more than 1,000 trees toMaineschools, municipalities and non-profit community organizations.

Recognition of the 22Maineschools that have received the Maine Arbor Week School Planting Grants also will be made.

In addition, the 2011 Tree City USA Awards will be presented.

The celebration will include the pupils from theLongfellowElementary SchoolinPortland, which received one of the planting grants.

Directions:

From the north:

• Take I-295 south towardBrunswick;
• Take exit 6B fromU.S.302/Maine 100/Forest Ave.
• Turn right ontoForest Avenue;
• Turn Left ontoWoodford Street;

·Turn right ontoStevens Avenue;

• LongfellowSchoolis on the left.

From the south:

• Take I-295 north and follow the same directions for traveling north.

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Request Our Brochures

Maine Windjammer Association Home Page

2012 Special Events

The Fleet

In this Issue

Boothbay Windjammer Days Kicks Off 50th Anniversary with “Jammers and Joggers” Land and Sea Race

History Spotlight: MWA Vessels That Served in WWII

Maine’s Flora: an Unexpected Delight

Turn Off the Lights, Here Come the Stars!

The Tiny Little Ship That Could: Mistress

Specialty Cruises: Nature Lovers love Maine’s Windjammers!

Fresh From the Galley: National Salad Month

Boothbay Windjammer Days Kicks Off 50th Anniversary with “Jammers and Joggers” Land and Sea Race

For 50 years, the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce has celebrated Maine’s fleet of windjammers every summer with fun events, a parade of sail and fireworks. This year, they’re kicking off the event with a “Jammers and Joggers” land and sea race featuring the schoonerTimberwind.
[FULL STORY]

History Spotlight: MWA Vessels That Served in WWII
This Memorial Day, the Maine Windjammer Association salutes all veterans. As we pause to remember their service, we also note that several of our member vessels have a special connection with the veterans of WWII.
[FULL STORY]

Maine’s Flora: an Unexpected Delight
Don’t know the difference between a pine, spruce and a balsam fir? Well, the Captains do, and they’re glad to share that information!
[FULL STORY]

Turn Off the Lights, Here Come the Stars!
It may be hard to believe but far away from nightclubs, movie theaters and the perpetual glow of bright city lights, Maine’s windjammer passengers have the best night time activity anywhere, and all they have to do is look up!
[FULL STORY]

The Tiny Little Ship That Could: Mistress
Carrying only six passengers, Mistress is the smallest vessel in the Maine Windjammer Association fleet. Built on Deer Isle, Maine, in 1960, she is the perfect blend of a traditional schooner and private yacht.
[FULL STORY]

Specialty Cruises: Nature Lovers love Maine’s Windjammers!
Life is most abundant where the ocean meets the shore and Maine’s windjammer passengers find that Mother Nature never disappoints. That’s why every coastal cruise aboard a Maine Windjammer Association vessel promises wildlife galore.
[FULL STORY]

Fresh From the Galley: National Salad Month
In honor of National Salad Month and with the crisp salad greens just beginning to sprout, we’re bringing you three salad recipes.
[FULL STORY]

Archives

April 2012
April 26, 2012
Vol. 11 Issue 4

March 2012
March 21, 2012
Vol. 11 Issue 3

February 2012
February 27, 2012
Vol. 11 Issue 2

January 2012
January 26, 2012
Vol. 10 Issue 1

December 2011
December 18, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 11

November 2011
November 19, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 10

October 2011
October 26, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 9

September 2011
September 30, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 8

August 2011
August 23, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 7

July 2011
July 28, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 6

June 2011
June 30, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 5

April 2011
April 30, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 4

March 2011
March 30, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 3

February 2011
February 23, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 2

January 2011
January 23, 2011
Vol. 10 Issue 1

December 2010
December 22, 2010
Vol. 9 Issue 10

November 2010
November 19, 2010
Vol. 9 Issue 9

October 2010
October 6, 2010
Vol. 9 Issue 8

July 2010
July 23, 2010
Vol. 9 Issue 7

June 2010
June 25, 2010
Vol. 9 Issue 6

[MORE]

The Maine Windjammer Association is proud to be
featured on page 640 of this New York Times bestseller.

The Maine Windjammer Association is committed to
preserving our nation’s natural areas through our partnership
with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics,
an organization that promotes responsible
outdoor skills and ethics.

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On Monday, May 21, the Gardiner Conservation Committee, Buildings and Grounds and Public Works will be planting trees purchased with a grant from Project Canopy at the Arcade Parking lot and on the Gardiner Common. Trees make our world a better place. They filter the air we breath, they give us shade on a hot day and healthy trees beautify our surroundings.

Volunteers are needed to fertilize, stake and mulch the new trees.

We will begin about 8:30 at the Arcade Parking lot. Bring a spade or rake or edger.

Please help!

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Lisa Turner

AUGUSTA, Maine – Lisa Turner, author of The Eat Local Cookbook by Down East books, will close Lithgow Public Library’s series on sustainability on Thursday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. The sustainability series, titled “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” included informational talks from solar energy and home efficiency experts, along with presentations about the proposed North Woods national park.

The author talk will take place in the Reading Room, and is free and open to the public. There will be an opportunity to purchase the cookbook at the program.

Turner is the owner of Laughing Stock Farm in Freeport a four season, certified organic, family-owned vegetable farm.  The Eat Local Cookbook began as a collection of recipes Turner compiled for the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members in 2010.  The collection caught the attention of Down East editors, and she was asked to write a cookbook.  Turner will talk about growing and cooking local, seasonal food.

More information about the cookbook and Laughing Stock Farm is available at www.laughingstockfarm.com .

Lithgow Library is located at 45 Winthrop Street in Augusta.  For more information, call the library at 626-2415 or visit www.lithgow.lib.me.us.

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Bipartisan Majority Rejects the Costly, Extreme, and Risky Proposal

Among its actions this week, the Legislature defeated a controversial “regulatory takings” bill that would have cost Maine taxpayers millions of dollars, caused a proliferation of lawsuits, and blocked future laws that may be necessary to protect Maine’s environment, people, and communities. This action came when the House and Senate voted to “indefinitely postpone” LD 1810—which means the bill is now officially dead.

“This risky, costly, and radical proposal would have undermined the laws that protect Maine’s environment and communities,” said NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim. “Despite a massive effort by lobbyists to force this dangerous bill through the legislature, a bipartisan majority held firm and refused to support it.  Common sense won the day over ideology.”

The original bill would have allowed property owners to receive payments from the State Treasury to compensate them for claimed losses in property values resulting from future land use regulations.  Property owners would be allowed to ignore Maine law if theState did not make the compensation payments.

Such proposals have been broadly defeated nationwide based on concerns about their high costs and negative consequences, and previous takings bills have been rejected by the Maine Legislature at least five times since 1995.

In March, a majority of the Judiciary Committee rejected LD 1810, and proposed a complete substitute that would avoid the litigation, costs, and harm to the environment that would have resulted from the bill. But supporters of the original bill worked relentlessly to keep their proposal alive. These efforts peaked during the week of April 9, when the Majority Report from the Judiciary Committee was blocked in the House, and the Minority Report was voted on instead, passing by a one-vote margin.  (See http://www.downeast.com/georges-outdoor-news/2012/april/knight-beating-takings)

Lobbyists then attempted for several days to force the bill forward in the Senate, but they faced a bipartisan block of 20 Senators—including Republican Senators Tom Saviello, Roger Katz, Chris Rector, and Earl McCormick—who were firmly opposed to the Minority Report.  The Senate adjourned at 2:30 a.m. on April 14 without taking a vote on LD 1810, leaving it to be considered when they reconvened May 15. When the bill finally was scheduled for consideration in the Senate, it was clear that supporters of the Minority Report had failed to recruit any additional support, so they offered a motion to “indefinitely postpone” the bill—and the House followed suit.

“We greatly appreciate the strong leadership provided by both Republicans and Democrats who saw the takings bill for what it was—a thinly veiled attempt to prevent the Legislature from passing laws in the future that will be needed to protect our communities, wildlife habitat, and the character of Maine,” said Maine Audubon’s Staff Attorney Jenn Burns Gray.

The Majority Report proposal from the Judiciary Committee was drafted by Rep. Brad Moulton (R-York) and Rep. Charles Priest (D-Brunswick), with input from Sen. Tom Saviello (R-Franklin), Rep. Bob Duchesne (D-Hudson) and other lawmakers.  This proposal would have created a Regulatory Fairness Committee to evaluate the impact of regulations on property owners and initiate legislative solutions.  The motions to indefinitely postpone the bill had the result of blocking adoption of the Majority Report.

“The takings bill finally hit the brick wall of reality,” said Sean Mahoney, Maine Director of the Conservation Law Foundation. “The Minority Report was so complex, convoluted, costly, and extreme that it would have been a disaster if passed into law.  We’re very pleased that a majority of Maine legislators understood this and voted to kill the bill.”

Maine taxpayers would have had to pay millions of dollars over time to fund implementation of the Minority Report.  The fiscal note over the first three years alone was pegged at $1.28 million, and this estimate did not include any of the funds that would be needed to pay possible compensation payments of up to $400,000 per case.

In the very few states in the U.S. that have adopted legislation anything like the Minority Report, studies have revealed that corporate interests, large-scale developers, and attorneys have been the primary beneficiaries. Former State Senator Peter Mills made this point to legislators this year, saying “The primary impact—and its intended impact—is to stymie regulation for the benefit of large landowners with ample resources to paralyze state agencies.  That is, in fact, how takings laws have been used in the few states that have enacted them.  It’s not a statute for the little guy.”

“The Minority Report would have created multiple paths for developers to receive waivers from Maine law, allowing them to build developments that otherwise would be illegal,” said Didisheim.  “Such waivers would have caused an unraveling of the laws that protect Maine’s environment and triggered lawsuits by people who suddenly learned that a massive development, waste dump, or energy project was landing next door to them because the developer had received a waiver from the law.”

“The Minority Report posed a major threat to Maine’s environmental safeguards,” said Maine Conservation Voters Executive Director Maureen Drouin. “That’s why defeating the bill was a top priority for people and organizations throughout Maine who love our clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.” The Maine Clammers Association, Congress of Lakes Association, Maine Municipal Association, and all of Maine’s major conservation and environmental organizations opposed the Minority Report for LD 1810.

Passage of takings bills like LD 1810 has been a high priority for the ultra-right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has promoted model legislation to state legislatures since the early 1990s.

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That’s because the latest publication is the French version of the Maine Forest Service’s notable logging manual, “Best Management Practices for Forestry: Protecting Maine’s Water Quality.”

Responding to requests from loggers, land managers and timber companies around the state, the Maine Forest Service (MFS) published the new version just this month and already is getting a positive response from the forest-products industry, according to MFS officials.

“Over the past year alone, we have had at least three requests from landowners working with French-speaking loggers for a French book,” said Keith Kanoti, MFS water resources forester. “French-speaking loggers were a set of clientele we weren’t able to serve with our BMP manual until we got this done.”

The federal Clean Water Act came about in 1972 to regulate the discharge of pollutants into water bodies in the U.S. Silviculture activities, such as timber harvests, are exempted from getting required permits from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency if “Best Management Practices (BMPs)” are used, Kanoti explained.

BMPs are voluntary logging techniques designed to protect water quality on timber harvests developed through practical experience and research. Not only does their use protectMaine’s water quality, they are cost effective and inexpensive to use, particularly in comparison to the cost of pollution clean-up, according to the MFS.

“BMPs are a toolbox of practices people can use to protect water quality when harvesting timber and with all related activities, such as road construction, stream-crossing construction, etc.,” Kanoti said.

The state agency first developed a brochure on BMPs in 1992, which was replaced in 2004 with a new, comprehensive manual, Kanoti said. That edition, published in English, had two printings of several thousand each, he said.

“We’ve distributed at least 10,000 copies to loggers, foresters and landowners over the years,” Kanoti said, adding that the publication and the specific information about BMPs also has been picked and used by otherNew Englandstates and Canadian provinces.

The new French version is intended not only for French-speaking Canadian loggers who come intoMaine, but particularly for those woods-industry workers inMainewho have French as their first language, Kanoti said.

The 2010 U.S. Census lists 7.1 percent of the state’s population as speaking a language other than English at home, and 25 percent list their ancestry as French or French-Canadian. The largest number of French-speakers by county is found inAroostookCountyat 22.4 percent andAndroscogginCountyat 14.3 percent.

“There probably are not as many French-speaking loggers as there used to be, but there is enough of a French-speaking workforce that it seemed worthwhile to produce manual,” Kanoti said.

New Brunswickprovince has a bilingual version of a BMP manual, whileQuebecprovince has a completely French version, Kanoti said. “They’re different from ours, and we’ve pointed people to them in the past, but we really wanted our own version in French,” he said.

The new French version took about two months to prepare. Translation was done by a state contract vendor, Kanoti said. “Then we had it reviewed by a French-speaking industry forester to make sure it made sense,” he said.

Some 200 copies have been published, and the manual also can be found on line in a .PDF format. The French manual is being used by the forest-products industry, in logger education, and as a reference tool, Kanoti said. It also has been offered to other states, such asNew Hampshire, which took and republished the English version, the MFS forester said.

“I don’t think it’s on the best-seller list, but people have been requesting it,” Kanoti said.

Individual copies of the manual are free, or can be downloaded from this link: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/pubs/pdf/bmp_manual/bmp_manual_french_final.pdf

Copies bought in bulk are $5 each. To order, contact: Jen Wright, MaineForestService, at (207) 287-4980.

For more information, contact Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service water resources forester, at: 1-800-367-0223 (in-state only) or 207-287-1073 email: keith.kanoti@maine.gov

For more information about the Maine Forest Service, go to: http://www.maineforestservice.org

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Reveals True Intentions to Bring Tar Sands Oil Toward Maine

Last night Canadian pipeline giant Enbridge announced plans for a massive increase in pipeline capacity to bring dirty tar sands oil from Canada to global markets via the United States. One of the biggest components of the plan is to reverse the flow of its entire crude oil pipeline between Ontario and Montreal, for the purpose of transporting tar sands crude oil east. This would be the full build-out of Enbridge’s portion of the so-called “Trailbreaker” pipeline project in development for several years. This announcement could bring tar sands oil nearly to New England. The rest of the original Trailbreaker plan would bring tar sands oil by also reversing the flow of an existing pipeline from Montreal to Portland, Maine.

“This announcement reveals Enbridge’s true intentions to bring tar sands oil to our region,” said Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “This is exactly why NRCM and others have been raising concerns since last August about dirty and dangerous tar sands coming our way. This announcement brings one of the world’s dirtiest fuels one step closer to Maine.”

In August 2011, Enbridge filed for fast-track approval of “Phase I” of this pipeline reversal. That fast-track request was rejected after NRCM and other groups opposed it, arguing that Enbridge was purposefully breaking a large pipeline project into smaller phases to attempt to hide their intentions. After months of preparation, the National Energy Board of Canada is scheduled to hold hearings next week in Ontario about the “Phase I” reversal. Given the new announcement of further expansion, it is unclear what will happen with these proceedings limited to “Phase I.”

“This announcement seems to prove that Enbridge was pursuing a deliberate strategy by Enbridge to avoid complete environmental review and public scrutiny for the full project,” said Voorhees. “Enbridge repeatedly said that it is no longer pursuing Trailbreaker, but their intentions are now obvious—the only thing that has changed is the name. Even now the public doesn’t have an honest picture from Enbridge and the Portland-Montreal Pipeline Company about the plan to bring tar sands oil from Ontario to Portland for export to global markets. This entire scheme deserves full scrutiny from environmental regulators and from the public.”

In April, 41,000 citizens from the U.S. and Canada, including several thousand from Maine, wrote comments to the Canadian Energy Board opposing “Phase I” of the Trailbreaker project and requesting a broader environmental review.

“This announcement is a massive proposal to bring huge amounts of one of world’s dirtiest fuels out of Canada to North America,” Voorhees said. “Not only does it have huge implications for U.S. energy policy and efforts to curb global warming, but tar sands could threaten Maine’s environment directly.” The oil pipeline from Montreal to Portland passes right alongside Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply to the entire Portland area. Tar sand oil is a thick, gooey substance that is more corrosive and acidic than conventional oil, making those pipes more susceptible to corrosion and bringing a higher risk of spills. And tar sands oil spills themselves are more toxic and difficult to clean up.

Yesterday’s announced expansion includes a proposed doubling in size of Enbridge’s Michigan pipeline, which in 2010 spilled 1.2 million gallons of tar sands crude into the Kalamazoo River—a massive spill that has still not been cleaned up and is still affecting local communities.

“What if a spill like the Enbridge Kalamazoo River fiasco happened here in Maine next to Sebago Lake?” asked Voorhees. “Maine people deserve to know the facts, not only about the full scope of this pipeline reversal, but about what kind of oil would flow through the pipeline and a clear assessment of the risks to Maine people and places.”

As further evidence of the piecemeal approach to Trailbreaker, Enbridge affiliates had separately applied for a permit to build a pumping station near the Vermont-Quebec border for the purpose of reversing the flow of oil between Montreal and Portland, Maine. That permit was initially denied in March, but a re-application by the company is expected.

Natural Resources Council of Maine
3 Wade St
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 430-0112 (Direct)
dylan@nrcm.org

Otherwise, they will have to wait until 9 a.m. for the gate to open in order to access the day use portion of the park in Casco, according to park officials.

This is the second year that the park has offered the Early Launch Permit, said Park Manager Matt McGuire.

“We have had a really good response to the Early Launch Permit, and we encourage anyone interested in finding out more to stop by the park office,” McGuire said.

Sebago Lake State Park will resume its normal schedule of closing the Day Use entrance gates at sunset on Friday, May 11. The park gates normally are closed and locked at sunset each evening and opened at 9 a.m. daily.

The Early Launch Permit is $10 and includes the gate combination. The pass is available at the park office at 11 Park Access Road in Casco (Phone: 207-693-6231).

In a related matter, McGuire said that fishing is “very good right now – now is the time to be fishing” at the park. Reports are that salmon fishing is excellent, with fishermen quickly reaching their limits. Those who don’t have boats also are finding success at Songo Locks, McGuire said.

“The fishermen are getting more successful every day,” he said.

For more information about Sebago Lake State Park, go to: http://www.maine.gov/sebagolake

For more information about Maine state parks, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

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(Follow the signs to the Gardiner Common)

PAGES

• About
• Vendors
• Music & Events
• Recipes & Food Storage
• Rules & Application
• Food Links
• Kennebec Local Food Initiative
• Contact Us

_____________________________________________________________________________

EBT CARDS & WIC ACCEPTED

The Gardiner Farmers’ Market processes EBT cards through a wireless terminal.  The card is swiped through the machine in exchange for tokens which can be used at any of the vendor tables.

Some of the vendors also accept WIC.

Bring any questions to the information table at Wednesday’s market.

____________________________________________

FOOD DONATIONS

BRING CANNED GOODS FROM HOME  or  BUY A LITTLE EXTRA AT THE MARKET & PASS IT ALONG

Every week, vendors pass along unsold products to people who might not otherwise have easy access to fresh and local foods.

We will also gladly accept any food donations you choose to leave.

Just look for the plastic deposit bin.  ALL DONATIONS GO TO THE FAITH CHRISTIAN FOOD PANTRY

THANK YOU!EAT FRESH. EAT LOCAL. ALL YEAR LONG.

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WHEN

WHAT TIME
5:00pm – 7:30pm

WHERE
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center
208 Bates Street
Click Here For Map

Hey Market Friends, yes it really is that time of year can you believe it!?!  And despite all the wet weather we’re not letting it stop us from having a rocking good,SPRINGTIME farmers’ market this Thursday, May 17th.  So come out and help us leave winter behind and usher in summer with a local beef burger- AND beet burger, barbecue! Besides enjoying a tasty meal, you can visit with your favorite winter AND summer vendors, shop for garden flowers and plants or pick up that weeks’ grocery needs.  There will be a warm dry kitchen, plenty of seating, and good friends and fun.

**Additional parking is available in the Community Concepts parking lot at St. Patrick’s church next door.

Our market accepts credit, debit, and EBT(foodstamp) cards for your convenience.

Bring Your Appetite for the Barbecue!

We’ll be offering juicy beef burgers featuring tender ground beef from Clay Hill Farm in Peru, Maine as well as Zesty Beet Burgers from locally grown beets! Top those off with your choice of our yummy home-made chili lime aoili or tangy catsup.  Sides will include a fresh spring  salad with greens harvested from the Lots to Gardens’ greenhouse and a variety of suprise recipes cooked up by our Bates’ student interns and volunteers.  All proceeds from the cafe benefit the Nutrition Center’s cooking education and gardening programs.

MOMS EAT FOR HALF OFF!
In honor of Mother’s Day the Lewiston Farmers’ Market will be thanking all the moms that visit the market with half price burgers. Just stop by the market cafe and let us know your a mom! No mom will be turned away.  Proof of child not necessary.

RSVP through Facebook and help us spread the word!

We have created an event on our facebook page for our Spring into Summer Market.  You can help us spread the word by clicking on this link http://www.facebook.com/events/364905133558865/  then after you RSVP that you’re attending, you can click on the link under the event photo to invite your friends.  Or if you prefer, feel free to simply share the event on your facebook wall.

Check out our daily facebook page updates for more information and updates on special items our vendors will have available this Thursday.

Our friends from Revelation Massage
will be joining us as well!

We’ll see you Thursday!

Not sure where you’re going? No problem!
Click here for a map:
St. Mary’s Nutrition Center

Lewiston Farmers’ Market · PO Box 7291 · Lewiston, Maine 04210

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The two-year Freeport study, published in 2012, is the most exacting analysis of water withdrawal from this watershed done to date, and the study approach already is being applied to another site, said Dr. Robert Marvinney, Maine state geologist and project manager.

“This is the most rigorous analysis of the impact of water withdrawals in this watershed, and it now provides watershed managers with a robust tool to consider future water-use scenarios under varying climatic conditions,” Marvinney said. “This effort married the respective strengths of the Maine Geological Survey (MGS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in a well-coordinated and useful study.”

The newly developed computer model is “a detailed model of the aquifer system that explicitly shows how the groundwater system and streams interact in the study area,” said Martha Nielsen, USGS hydrologist and study author. “The purpose was to understand how climate and aquifer management affect overall water availability and changes in stream flow.”

The extensive study was directed by the Water Resources Planning Committee, a statewide advisory group composed of water professionals, such as water district officials, state and federal officials, commercial water users, environmental groups and geologists. Marvinney, the committee’s chairman, said the group meets several times a year to discuss water issues in Maine and to recommend where state agencies should focus resources and research.

A watershed is defined as a geographic area in which all precipitation flows to a common point such as a river or lake. In 2006, MGS did a study of smaller watersheds in Maine that had the potential for “too much water use for what was available,” Marvinney said. Out of 973 watersheds examined – each about 35 square miles in size – about a dozen sites, including Freeport, were shown to have relatively high water use compared to supply.

That earlier study “was used as a guidance tool for where we should focus additional work,” the state geologist said.

The Freeport watershed was chosen collectively for the detailed study, begun in 2009, because it is a relatively small watershed, at 19 square miles, with a use of 100 million gallons a year; it has a major water user, the Freeport Water District utility; and there is a well-defined aquifer, or underground water source, Marvinney said.

For Freeport, “the overall goal was to look at how ground water and surface water [flowing streams, ponds and rivers] are tied together and how withdrawals from ground water would affect surface-water flows,” the state geologist explained. Environmental water need for aquatic habitats also was taken into consideration along with human use, he said.

In building the computer model, the purpose was to look at different climate and demographic risks and pumping scenarios, he continued. “What happens if there’s a drought? What happens if the population grows? So managers can begin to use the model as a planning tool,” Marvinney said.

As part of the project, Dan Locke, MGS hydrogeologist and study author, made numerous stream-flow measurements during 2009 and 2010 at five sites along Harvey and Merrill brooks in the Freeport-Pownal area. The measurements were made under different flow conditions and through the changing seasons. He also compiled information on groundwater levels and oversaw the drilling of two new observational wells. In addition, the Freeport aquifer also was studied in detail to understand its dimensions and thickness of sand, gravel, mud and clay layers, Marvinney noted.

Compiling data into the computer model resulted in “the most detailed analysis we’ve done on a small watershed in Maine,” Nielsen said. As a result, “what we have now is a tool that can help water resources managers look at future impacts on water resources, as in drought conditions and population increases. It gives us a framework that we can use for other watersheds.”

For Freeport, the computer model indicates there is an adequate water supply to meet direct demand, both human and environmental, the state geologist said. “With current usage, there is not an issue of annual supply,” he said.

The same modeling approach now is being used in an investigation of the Branch Brook watershed in York County where data collection is under way, Marvinney said.

The state geologist pointed out that the USGS is initiating a water census for the entire nation, and the analytical approach, designed for small watersheds, “undoubtedly” could be used in the Northeast and the type of geology found there.

“Our work can be part of this national effort,” Marvinney said.

To view the Freeport report, go to: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5227

For a summary of the study, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/water/sites/may10.htm

For more information about the Maine Geological Survey, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/water/sites/may10.htm

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Maine State Senator Roger Katz

AUGUSTA –Hunters, fishermen, snowmobilers, sportsmen, conservationists and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle will gather at the State House on Monday to call on the Maine Legislature to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program.  Lawmakers will be asked to support LD 852, a $5 million bond proposal designed to help fund working waterfronts, farmlands, and forests; wildlife habitat; and special recreation lands across the state. If passed, Maine voters will have the opportunity to vote on an LMF bond this November.

Supporters will herald the economic and community benefits of conserving Maine’s natural resources.  They will discuss the LMF program’s long-standing popularity and its importance to Maine’s agriculture, forest products, fishing, and tourism/recreation industries.

Since its inception, the LMF program has conserved land in each of Maine’s 16 counties, including working farms, commercial fishing waterfronts, timberland, and important tourism and recreation sites. Nearly 200 projects have been completed statewide, ensuring more than 500,000 acres of land remains open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor recreation.

Senator Roger Katz, a Republican from Augusta who is sponsoring the legislation states, “Our natural resources are what set Maine apart – they are our biggest competitive advantage.  Preserving and conserving them has got to be a top priority as we develop and grow.  This is a value shared by families and businesses across the state.”

WHAT: Land for Maine’s Future press conference

WHEN: Monday, May 14th at 12:30 PM

WHERE: Hall of Flags, State House, Augusta

WHO:

• Senator Roger Katz, Augusta
• Representative Jeff McCabe, Skowhegan
• Carole Dyer, hunter from Bowdoinham
• Dave Ramsey, sportsman and President of the Brownville Snowmobile Club
• Melanee Osier-Gilbert, fisherman from Bremen

WHAT ELSE: Graphics from recent economic impact study

The Maine Land Bond Coalition is comprised of more than 350 supporting organizations, including sportsmen, business leaders, citizens, health organizations, conservationists, recreational enthusiasts and environmentalists.

Natural Resources Council of Maine
3 Wade Street
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 430-0103
fax (207) 622-4343
www.nrcm.org

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Wolfe's Neck State Park

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport is offering nature programs at 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays through May 28, weather permitting.

Starting at the benches at the end of the second parking lot at the park, these one-hour-long guided programs may include walks, talks, and activities in a beautiful natural setting.

No reservations are needed except for group use, and the programs are free with park admission.

Admission is $1 for ages 5-11, $3.00 for Maine residents ages 12-64; $4.50 for non residents ages 12 – 64; $1.50 for non residents 65 and older; people under age five and Maine residents 65 and older are free.

For more information or to arrange for group visits, please call 865-4465.

For more information about Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, go to: http://www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods

For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

Calendar Entries for May 12-28

5/12 — Wild Flower Walk – Come for a walk in the woods to enjoy the spring wild flowers of Wolfe’s Neck Woods with a knowledgeable guide. 2 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, one hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

5/13 — Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2 to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission.Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

5/19 — Hike with the Ranger – Enjoy the best that the park has to offer in this season with a knowledgeable guide.  2 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, one hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission.Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

5/20 — Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2 to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

5/26 — Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2 to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission.Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

5/27 — Stroll with the Ranger – Enjoy a leisurely stroll on the accessible White Pines Trail with a knowledgeable guide. 2 p.m., weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s NeckWoods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

5/28 — Wild Flower Walk – Come for a walk in the woods to enjoy the spring wild flowers of Wolfe’s Neck Woods with a knowledgeable guide. 2 p.m. at benches by second parking lot, one hour, weather permitting.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

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Otherwise, they will have to wait until 9 a.m. for the gate to open in order to access the day use portion of the park in Casco, according to park officials.

This is the second year that the park has offered the Early Launch Permit, said Park Manager Matt McGuire.

“We have had a really good response to the Early Launch Permit, and we encourage anyone interested in finding out more to stop by the park office,” McGuire said.

SebagoLake State Park will resume its normal schedule of closing the Day Use entrance gates at sunset on Friday, May 11.  The park gates normally are closed and locked at sunset each evening and opened at 9 a.m. daily.

The Early Launch Permit is $10 and includes the gate combination. The pass is available at the park office at11 Park Access Roadin Casco (Phone: 207-693-6231).

In a related matter, McGuire said that fishing is “very good right now – now is the time to be fishing” at the park. Reports are that salmon fishing is excellent, with fishermen quickly reaching their limits. Those who don’t have boats also are finding success at Songo Locks, McGuire said.

“The fishermen are getting more successful every day,” he said.

For more information about Sebago Lake State Park, go to: http://www.maine.gov/sebagolake

For more information about Maine state parks, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

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(photo courtesy of Mark LaRoche) Matt LaRoche, Allagash Wilderness Waterway superintendent, shows off a mess of brookies caught at his secret fishing location on the waterway.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) is the largest watershed inMainewhere the Eastern brook trout is still the top predator fish in the ecosystem. From Telos Dam toAllagashFalls, big brookies rule the lakes and river that makeup the 92-mile-long wilderness waterway.

Springtime — May and June — is when brook trout are most active and feed ravenously. They are fairly easy to catch when they are on a feeding frenzy and will hit almost anything. As fishermen, we just need to find that special place where the fish congregate at the right time.

These special places abound in the waterway and are too numerous to list. It seems that the spring fishing groups that return to the waterway year after year at the same time have found their special places.

I’m not going to tell you exactly where to go, but a good bet is anywhere that water runs into a lake or dead water. Go find that spot that you will never forget and come back to every year.

My brother Mark and I were fishing one spring at one of our favorite spots just outside of the AWW. We decided to go check out this spot that we just knew lunker trout would be lurking. It was a long walk through pristine woods to that place where we just knew big, hungry trout would be holed up waiting to take the first fly that was drifted over them. When we got there, we were disappointed to find the water too high to even give the spot a good try.

We made the long hike back to where we left our canoe a little disappointed with ourselves for not anticipating that the water would be so high. On the way back, we came upon a mother partridge and her brood of chicks. She tried the wing-dragging routine and acting like she was injured to draw us away from her chicks. It was quite a show!

When we finally got back to our canoe, we were famished. So I built a fire at the campsite and sliced some Spam for lunch. We grilled the famous canned meat on sticks — like you would a hotdog. Hot, grilled Spam on bread with mustard –something you might turn your nose up to at home never tasted so good! There is just something about lunch cooked over an open fire when you’re really hungry.

Spring fishing can be excellent when you hit it right. There are many variables to contend with; water levels, weather, insect hatches, and water temperature, just to name a few. When it all comes together, you will be rewarded with the fishing of a lifetime! One thing is sure — if you don’t go, you won’t hit the good fishing.

I suggest that you come up to the waterway, set up on a campsite for as many days as you can get off and make forays to different spots in the Allagash. You just might find that special spot that you will return to year after year.

For information on the AWW, go to: www.maine.gov/doc/parks/ or call 207-941-4014, email heidi.j.johnson@maine.gov or write to the Bureau of Parks & Lands,106 Hogan Road,Bangor,ME04401

Waterway notes: The new management plan for the AWW should be coming out for public review and comment very soon. Check the website above to view the plan. We would like to hear feedback from you regarding the plan that will guide management of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway over the next 15 years.

The ice should be out by the time this article goes to press. Call Heidi at the number above for current conditions on the waterway.

Check out Matt’s new blog spot: http://theallagash.wordpress.com/

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Maine

AUGUSTA,Maine–Mainefamilies who never before have camped will have the opportunity to experience the fun of family camping in a supportive way with the First Time Campers raffle, sponsored by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Now in its fifth year, the First Time Campers program will offer 44 lucky families a free weekend of camping this summer at one of 11Mainestate park campgrounds, according to Park Manager Fritz Appleby ofBradburyMountainState Parkin Pownal. Appleby is organizing the popular program for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), under the Maine Department of Conservation.

“It’s a great program, a great opportunity for families or anyone who wants to get out and camp for the first time,” said Appleby. “There’s nothing to be afraid of — it’s a lot of fun, and we show our First Time Campers how to be prepared to have fun.”

“Camping is one of the best ways for families to have fun outside,” Will Harris, BPL director, added. “We are pleased to be able to provideMainefamilies the opportunity to get outside and enjoy some of the best of whatMainehas to offer in our state parks.”

The First Time Campers program will randomly select 44Mainefamilies to win a free weekend of camping. The raffle is open only toMainefamilies who have never before gone camping. Each selected family will get the free use of camping equipment, receive gifts from sponsors and be supported throughout the weekend by park staff.

One of those fortunate families also will be the grand-prize recipient of a $1,000 gift certificate from the program’s major sponsor, L.L.Bean.

“Our sponsors, particularly L.L. Bean, which is celebrating its 100^th anniversary, go out of their way to help us make this a successful program,” Appleby said. “Maine is all about the outdoors and the camping experience, and why shouldn’tMaine families enjoy all that?”

The unique program, part of BPL’s “Take It Outside” initiative, is designed to encourageMainefamilies to experience the rewards of summer camping atMainestate park campgrounds. This year, the program is sponsored by L.L.Bean, Kittery Trading Post, Hannaford, and Wicked Joe Coffee.

The selected families will get the use of camping equipment for the weekend, plus receive up to four sleeping bags to keep, Hannaford gift certificates and complete support from park staff in setting up, using and taking down camping equipment. Participants must provide their own provisions for the weekend.

In the past, selected families have commented in a follow-up survey on how much they have enjoyed their camping weekend.

“It’s really helpful, and the rangers/staff are all friendly,” wrote one participant. “That’s why we’re going to camp again.”

“My family had the time of their lives on their camping trip,” stated another First Time Camper. “It was a memory for sure.”

Raffle applications are available on line. They will be accepted until May 31. The recipient families will be chosen in a random drawing held on Friday, June 1, with the families notified the week of June 4. There will be four weekends of camping from which the lucky winners can choose, from July 13-14 to Aug. 3-4.

The state park campgrounds include: Bradbury Mountain, Pownal; Rangeley Lake, Rangeley; Aroostook, Presque Isle; Camden Hills, Camden; Sebago Lake, Naples; Mt. Blue, Weld; Cobscook Bay, Edmunds Township; Lamoine, Ellsworth; Peaks-Kenny, Dover-Foxcroft; Lily Bay, Beaver Cove; and Lake St. George, Liberty.

For more information about the First Time Campers program or to get an application, call Fritz Appleby, park manager,BradburyMountainState Park, at (207) 688-4712.

Or go to: http://www.take-it-outside.com

For more information about Mainestate parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

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Researchers find that harmful methane leaks into the air at twice the amounts estimated by the EPA.

(Christian Lagerek /Shutterstock)
From Pacific Standard Magazine

By Paul Tullis

The recent boom in U.S. natural gas production has been hailed as thecure to all America’s ills. Gas, its boosters say, can reduce household heating expenses, enhance energy security, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

That last part is crucial to winning over environmentalists. “Over its full cycle of production, distribution, and use, natural gas emits just over half as many greenhouse gas emissions as coal for equivalent energy output,” the green group Worldwatch Institute reported last August. But all of that may amount to a lot of hot air if researchers from Cornell University and the Environmental Defense Fund are right. Thanks to the little-known problem of methane leakage, in the short term at least, natural gas may be worse for the climate than other fossil fuels.

Natural gas is mostly methane, which is itself a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. And it leaks into the air at every point of the process of getting and using the fuel. The technology exists to capture the leaking gas at hydraulic fracturing – aka fracking – sites, but industry officials say it’s not worth the cost. With the price of natural gas having dropped 90 percent since 2005, that attitude is not likely to change soon.

Ramon Alvarez, a physical chemist who works at the Environmental Defense Fund, co-authored a study, published in April in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that compares the impacts of natural gas with gasoline, diesel, and coal on the climate. His conclusion: “The amount of methane released can affect whether or not natural gas is a better fuel for the climate than other fuels.”

In February, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyzed air samples from a region of Colorado where a lot of gas is being extracted through fracking. They found the air contained twice as much methane as the EPA had estimated there would be, suggesting a lot more methane than previously thought was leaking during extraction.

NOAA’s findings lent support to an earlier study, by Cornell researchersRobert Howarth and Anthony Ingraffea, who found natural gas to be no cleaner than coal when you factor in methane leakage. But that study was heavily criticized by the gas industry and other Cornell researchers, who contended the estimates of methane leakage were too high. The EPA stepped into the debate in April when it issued air pollution standards that will force producers to reduce methane leakage caused by fracking by 25 percent.

Figuring out the net effect on climate change of natural gas, and how that compares to other fuel sources, is complicated. Methane is more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most prevalent in the burning of coal and liquid transport fuels. But the methane doesn’t persist in the atmosphere as long.

That means, according to Alvarez, the methane emitted from powering a fleet of natural gas driven vehicles, for example, only presents a climate benefit over a gasoline-powered fleet after about 40 years. By his calculations, methane leakage would have to be cut by at least twice as much as the new EPA mandate for natural gas to become less harmful to the climate than gas or diesel in the short term. Compared to coal, though, he found climate benefits are immediate and increase over time.

Those figures, however, are based on the EPA’s official estimate that 2.4 percent of natural gas leaks out during production. When Alvarez and his co-authors ran their model using the median estimate from the Cornell study, 7 percent, natural gas for vehicle transport offers no benefits for at least 100 years. Compared to coal, natural gas would take 30 to 60 years to offer a benefit.

All of that may still seem to give natural gas the advantage. Not so, says James E. Hansen, the physicist who heads NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and is one of the earliest and most credible authorities to sound the alarm over global warming.

“If we reduce carbon dioxide emissions six percent a year starting in 2015,” he says, “we’ll level out at 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in about 2100.” Hansen and others believe 350 parts per million is the maximum amount of carbon dioxide the atmosphere can sustain for long periods without warming a disastrous 2º Celsius. The last time the planet was that warm—three million years ago—primates left Europe, alligators moved in, and the ocean was 25 meters above current levels–which would put Calcutta, Miami, and much of New York and Tokyo under water.

But even if we start bringing carbon dioxide levels down in the coming years, we may find ourselves in even worse shape if we accomplish it by switching wholesale to natural gas and releasing huge amounts of methane in the process. In the fight against climate change, Hansen maintains, time is one thing we don’t have.

More like this: Environment
Tags: Climate Change, Fracking, Methane, Natural Gas

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Mark your calendars!!!

Including Unused Medications Plus– Television and Computer Monitor, E-waste recycling – BOTH FREE OF CHARGE

A regional 1-day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event will be held on Saturday, May 19^th, 2012 at the Augusta Public Works Complex located at 55 North Street in Augusta.  The following communities are participating:  Augusta, Belgrade, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth,  Readfield, Wayne, and Winthrop.   Kennebec Valley Council of Governments is assisting with project coordination. Residents of these communities need to register with their individual town.  Pre-registration is required.

Environmental Projects Inc. of Auburn, Maine will collect, recycle, and dispose of household hazardous materials.

E-waste Solutions of Auburn, Maine will collect and recycle televisions, computer monitors, and e-waste free of charge, limit of 7 pieces per vehicle.

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area along with Community Pharmacies will collect unused, unwanted, outdated medications.  All medication will be disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner. Leave medications in original containers, feel free to black out personal information on the container.

More detailed information on what items that can be brought to this drop-off event are available at your local town office.  Information is also posted on many of the communities web pages.

Augusta 2012 HHW Brochure.pdf
93K   View Download

Augusta 2012 HHW Brochure.pdf
93K   View Download

Starting this month, a total of 955 distinctive, purple bug traps will be placed high up in the canopy of local ash trees at specified locations to see if the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect that has destroyed millions of acres of ash trees in other parts of the U.S., is present in Maine.

The survey – the 2012 National Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Survey in Maine– is the collaboration of federal, state and tribal agencies, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is part of a national survey effort taking place in 46 states. Because of the insect’s potential adverse impact throughout Maine, the survey also is supported by numerous private businesses and landowners.

Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb emphasized the importance of the survey, commenting that “we’re heading off an invasion.” He stressed the value of ash trees in Maine, describing the species as a “much-desired tree” that he personally has harvested around his farm.

Whitcomb also praised the collaborative survey effort, saying, “It’s an example of how we work in the state.” Preventing  in Maine the kind of devastation that has occurred in other states “is worth the effort of all our agencies and the public,” the commissioner said

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a highly destructive insect not yet found in Maine that has destroyed millions of acres of trees in other Midwest and eastern states and Canadian provinces, including New York and Quebec.

The survey project in Maine is a combined effort of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Maine Department of Agriculture; Maine Forest Service (MFS), under the Maine Department of Conservation; and the Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources. The cost of the federally funded survey is about $90,000, with in-kind services provided by the three Maine agencies.

Earlier this year, MFS Forest Rangers found most of the sites, and all cooperating agencies will begin hanging the traps this month. The sites include trees at private businesses and lands, state parks, and campgrounds. A high proportion are being placed in Franklin and Oxford counties, determined by the USDA to be high-risks zones because they are within 100 miles of Quebec and the Catskill Mountains in New York, both infested areas.

The purple traps will be monitored in July and then again in September, when they will be removed. The analysis of the traps’ contents should be completed by December, according to state entomologists.

Introducing Thursday’s event, Colleen Teerling, Maine Forest Service forest entomologist, stressed the need for public awareness. “Having people look for [EAB] is great,” she said. Pointing out that the Maine Forest Service welcomes public support and reports of possible invasive insect infestations, Teerling said that so far those reports have been of a harmless nature and just “look-alike” insects.

Terry Bourgoin, State Plant Health director, with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, also commented on the combined effort and noted the economic and cultural loss to Maine should the EAB become established in this state. In particular, he cited the loss to American Indian culture, as ash is used byMaine tribes to make traditional baskets.

Rick Abare, Maine Campground Owners Association (MECOA) executive director, said his organization, which includes about 200 members, was very supportive of the survey effort.

“Tourists love Maine, love the forests of Maine, and we want to keep them,” Abare said, adding that protecting Maine’s forests “is very important to our industry.”

Some 35 traps will be placed at Maine campgrounds as part of the survey. Campground owners also have actively supported the Maine Legislature’s ban on out-of-state firewood – one of the primary ways EAB is spread — by providing local firewood to campers.

“This is an opportunity for the public-private partnership that is so important today,” Abare noted.

To report suspected findings in Maine, call: (207) 287-2431 or 1-800-367-0223 (in state).

For more information on EAB, go to:

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/InvasiveThreats.htm
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/pestsurvey/pestinfo/EAB/EAB.htm
www.purpleEABsurvey.info

National Cooperative EAB Survey in Maine
Fact Sheet

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small, metallic-green, wood-boring beetle from Asia that has invaded North American forests:

 It is believed that EAB hitchhiked to the U.S. in solid wood packing material used to import goods from Asian countries. EAB also is known to spread through moving firewood.

 EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002.

 There currently are EAB infestations in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. The closest infestations to Maine are in New York and Quebec.

 The emerald ash borer has not been found in Maine.

There are almost 424 million ash (white and black ash species) trees in Maine; ash makes up 4 percent of all Maine hardwood, and 2 percent of all tree species in Maine.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2012 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Survey will employ the purple, prism-shaped tree “trap” to monitor known EAB infestations and locate other unknown beetle populations. Using risk-based survey strategies, approximately 50,000 traps will be deployed in 46 states at specified sites.

The Maine agencies involved with this program include: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Maine Department of Agriculture; Maine Forest Service, under the Maine Department of Conservation, including about 50 MFS Forest Rangers; and the Penobscot Indian Nation.

The EAB survey is funded by USDA-APHIS at $90 a trap, with in-kind services provided by Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Agriculture and Penobscot Indian Nation.

A total of 955 EAB traps will be placed around Maine: 115 by USDA-APHIS; 50 by MeAg; 60 by Penobscot Indian Nation; and the remaining, 730, by MFS.

MFS Forest Rangers found most of the sites, and all cooperating agencies will begin hanging the traps this month (May). The sites include trees at private businesses and lands; state parks, and campgrounds.

 A high proportion are in Franklin and Oxford counties, determined to be high-risks zones because they are within 100 miles of Quebec and the Catskill Mountains in New York, all infested areas (see map).

Details about the purple trap:

 The traps are sticky and contain two chemicals that smell like ash trees to EAB;

 The color purple is slightly attractive to EAB;

 EAB is attracted to the silhouette of the trap; the trap shape mimics the trunk of the tree;

 The trap is hung high in the tree because EAB attacks the tree crown and works down.

 The trap attracts only from the site tree and neighboring trees and won’t cause an infestation.

Project Timeline:

May – traps are hung

July – traps are monitored for EAB

September – traps are monitored and removed

November/December – analysis completed

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/InvasiveThreats.htm

http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/pestsurvey/pestinfo/EAB/EAB.htm

www.purpleEABsurvey.info

Report Suspected Findings in Maine to: (207) 287-2431 or 1-800-367-0223 (in state)

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