Events & News
BPL Director Andy Cutko and ORV staff loading up in Newport.
Like every outdoor activity this summer in Maine, ATV use has been off the charts. A July article in the Portland Press Herald noted that, “From Houlton and Bangor to Oxford and across southern Maine, dealership lots are empty and dozens of ATVs are on back order…. In May, sales at many Maine dealerships were up by at least 100 percent over May 2019. By June, many ran out of inventory during a buying spree like they’ve never seen.” On a recent mid-week ride from Newport to Dover-Foxcroft on the state-owned rail trail, I saw young couples, retirees, and families enjoying a picture-perfect Maine summer day. The volume of new users and new machines on the trails shines a bright light on the dedicated work of the Bureau’s Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Office. ORV staff work tirelessly with landowners and ATV clubs across the state to maintain access and trail conditions, including the creation of new rail trails. (As the note on the KI bridge replacement indicates below, this work often occurs through diverse and productive partnerships.) In addition, Brian Bronson, the Bureau’s ATV Program Supervisor, provided invaluable support to the Governor’s ATV Task Force, whose recommendations resulted in two bills that received strong support from a legislative committee this summer. ORV staff also collaborate with IFW wardens on monitoring and enforcement, which has been particularly challenging this summer with so many new trail users. Ultimately, our goal is to create enjoyable and safe experiences for riders while meeting the many interests of participating landowners. To meet that goal, we need the willing participation of riders, landowners, and clubs, so thanks to all for a most memorable summer!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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We thank all of our Park visitors who are following the face coverings and physical distancing procedures. Your cooperation helps make everyone's visit safe and enjoyable.
Stay up to date with the COVID-19 safety precautions for Maine's Parks and Public Lands.
Have a Plan B
With the summer season drawing to a close you be may tempted to think that you do not need a back-up location in case your first choice of destination is at visitor capacity. It is still a very busy time at the parks. For many, Maine is the Autumn destination for viewing the fall colors. Plan your options and stay up to date by:
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Campsite 12 on Warren Island.
The State Park Camping Reservations Call Center will close for the season on Friday, September 11, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Special thanks to Charlene Daniels, the Bureau’s intrepid Campground Reservations Manager, for handling an incredible volume and variety of calls from all over the country this summer!
Thank you for a wonderful camping season. We hope to see you again next year!
2021 Camping Reservation Dates for Call Center & Online Reservations:
- Sebago Lake State Park only - Monday, February 1, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (Group sites reservations also begin, but are taken at each park directly by phone.)
- All Others - Friday, February 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
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Foresters are used to working alone in the woods… social distancing comes naturally for many of us!
The Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) team of foresters and Scientific Advisory Committee members represent some of the best applied and scientific forestry knowledge in Maine. Despite the challenges and precautions of Covid-19, the group gathered in early August in Old Town and visited public lands in the surrounding areas for our annual field meeting. Foresters reviewed and critiqued several planned or completed timber harvests and exchanged ideas and experience in management of wildlife habitat and recreational resources. While logistically challenging, staff adapted to the situation and found it more valuable than ever to discuss the challenges of conducting sustainable harvests in the face of markedly soft timber markets this summer. While 2020 presents challenges never before encountered, BPL foresters take pride in continuing their work to manage our busy recreational sites for a public eager to recreate outdoors - all the while finding ways to juggle timber harvests that produce revenue to support management of the land and keep loggers in our rural communities working in the woods.
~ Bill Patterson, Deputy Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Fire tower cab being delivered to Deboullie Mt. by helicopter. Photo by Andrew Wilcox.
Three fire towers received new cabs this summer through the efforts of the Bureau's Public Lands staff and funding awarded by RTP (Recreational Trails Program).
A "cab" is the cabin-like building at the top of the tower. When first built, tower cabs were for the use of Forest Service lookouts. From these high perches lookouts could scan the landscape to the horizon in all directions in search of forest fires. Maine's towers were part of a nationwide effort for early fire detection that took hold after the 3-million acre Great Fire of 1910 that tore through Washington, Idaho and Montana. Previous to the Great Fire, lookout trees and lookout campsites atop mountains were more commonly used as spotter locations. (Photo by Trevor Oleary shows view from inside the new Round Pond cab.)
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Fire tower cab being placed by helicopter on Deboullie Mt. tower. Photos by Andrew Wilcox.
Autumn is on its way... officially starting on September 22 at 9:30 a.m. Prepare now to enjoy the best of the season's fall foliage by signing up for the weekly foliage reports at mainefoliage.com
Take in the view and keep track of leaf color changes from a selection of webcams linked on the Bureau's fall foliage web page. The page also lists suggested places to visit during leaf season.
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Thank you to the amazing group of people and organizations that collaborated to restore salmon habitat through the rebuilding of a bridge over the Roaring Brook near Katahdin Ironworks.
The before and after shots show the work as of 8/24. The finish work of a bit more mulching and dragging/compacting the approaches of the road will be complete by the end of the week.
Ben Matthews, Watershed Restoration Scientist with the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, sent out special thanks to "Matt Bernier at NOAA & Scott Craig at USFWS for helping me slog through the grant paperwork and providing the funds that made this happen; to Brian Bronson and Lana LaPlant-Ellis at DACF for their willingness to work with us and lighting fast turnaround on the state permits; to John Burrows and Maranda Nemeth at ASF for taking on the construction contracting; to Randy Butler at Dirigo Engineering for designing the bridge; and let's not forgot that it was Alex Abbott, Ben Naumann and Jed Wright who found this project in the first place!" Ben noted that, "This is about 13 miles of re-opened habitat that couldn’t have happened without the diligent help of everyone"... the full team and funders for the project are listed below. Thank you all!
- The Nature Conservancy
- Atlantic Salmon Federation
- Bureau of Parks and Lands
- Dirigo Engineering
- Dirigo Timberlands and Precast
- KI Riders
- Maine Department of Marine Resources
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Project Funders: NOAA Penobscot Habitat Focus Area Grant, United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Partnership Program Grant, The Nature Conservancy and the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
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"Pup" Gretel cooling off, delivering TP during the pandemic, and on favorite roof-top perch.
Judy Holmes sent these photos of her pup, Gretel, as part of a thank you to Charlene Daniels, State Park Campground Reservations Manager. Judy's group of campers had decreased in number of people and increased by one dog, Gretel, just a few days before the planned arrival. Judy emailed the reservations office to update the reservation and Charlene replied to Judy's email one minute after it arrived. Judy sent this reply:
Camper appreciates your quick response!
Pup appreciates being included!
Thanks,
Jh
Charlene is not always able to reply to an email a minute after it arrives, but her customer service and care for the campers she serves is a trademark of her character and professionalism. She is efficient and organized and works year-round to make every camper's experience the best it can be. And, though the Camping Reservations office closes down for the summer season on September 11, she will be working hard behind-the-scenes to ready the online reservations system for the roll-out of the 2021 season.
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Experience the Allagash by enjoying this compelling short video, courtesy of The Timber Cross Film and Media.
More Allagash Wilderness Waterway Resources:
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Lunch Time Favorite - Grilled Reuben Sandwiches!
Make the dressing ahead of your camping trip and refrigerate so that the flavors will meld. Homemade is always best but if you are in a pinch, or left your fantastic dressing at home, a bottle of Russian dressing will have to do.
To make the dressing:
¼ cup mayonnaise
1½ Tbsp chili garlic sauce
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1½ teaspoon creamy horseradish
1 garlic glove, minced
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ Tablespoon onion, finely minced
⅛ teaspoon paprika
Combine all other ingredients in a wide-mouth jar. Cover and refrigerate. It may be kept for up to one week.
To make the sandwich (this will make 3 sandwiches):
½ lb corned beef
6 slices rye bread
½ cup sauerkraut, drained
6 slices of Swiss cheese
Butter, room temp OR mayo (I am partial to making grilled cheese or Reubens with mayo rather than butter, but this is personal choice!)
To assemble the Reuben:
Lightly butter/mayo one side of a slice of bread. Place the slice butter side down on a hot skillet, medium heat. Add the toppings by adding a dollop of dressing first, smear around with the back of a spoon. Then add the meat, cheese and sauerkraut. Let it heat up while you butter the second slice of bread; place it on the sandwich butter side up. Once the sandwich has been cooking for about 5 minutes (browned to your satisfaction), flip over and cook again for another 5 minutes. Cook until the cheese melts and bread is crispy. If you are working with a large skillet you should be able to make three sandwiches at a time.
~ Jen Neumeyer, Boating Facilities Secretary, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
www.ParksAndLands.com
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