Forestry Workshop Notice: BMPs to Protect Water Quality on Haul Roads and Skid Trails

This workshop is designed for foresters and loggers and includes indoor presentations and an outdoor session at two field sites.  The workshop will focus on the Fundamental BMPs with an emphasis on controlling the flow of water and minimizing/stabilizing exposed mineral soil.  The content was developed by Maine SFI and the Maine Forest Service as a level one BMP training.  The workshop is being offered at three locations during October 2021 and registration is limited to 25 per session.  To register for a specific location, click on the “Register” link under the appropriate location.  Note: If you are a sponsor organization and wish to attend one of the workshops, please contact one of the district foresters directly and do not register online.

Location 1: 

Maine Forest Service office in Ashland at 45 Radar Road.

Date and Start Time: October 7^th at 8 am

For More Information:  Contact Dan Jacobs at 441-4128 or Randy Lagasse at 557-1086
Register for Ashland

Location 2: 

Deblois fire house on Route 193.

Date and Start Time: October 15^th at 8 am

For More Information:  Contact Kenny Fergusson at 215-9092 or Michael Jensen at 441-4924
Register for Deblois

Location 3: 

Farmington town office at 153 Farmington Falls Road

Date and Start Time:  October 19^th at 8 am

For More Information:  Contact Julie Davenport at 592-2238 or Mike Richard at 441-3276
Register for Farmington

Lunch will be provided at all three sessions.

All sessions have been approved for the following continuing education credit:

LPF = 4.5 Category 1

SAF = 4.5 Category 1

CLP = ½ day certification

QLP = 4 hrs

This series of workshops is sponsored by American Forest Management, ND Paper, and Prentiss and Carlisle.  These workshops are provided through the partnership of Maine SFI, the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Maine Forest Service.

Maine Slows Spread of Emerald Ash Borer with Continued Ash Movement Restrictions

Emergency Order announced to restrict movement of ash tree products and hardwood firewood from additional areas of Oxford County.

AUGUSTA – The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Maine Forest Service (MFS) has issued an Emergency Order to restrict the movement of ash from areas likely to harbor emerald ash borer (EAB). This order is in response to detections of EAB in northern Cumberland County and is in addition to the state quarantine rule on EAB. Both the order and the quarantine exist to help slow the spread of EAB within Maine. 

Moving ash infested with EAB can spread this invasive insect to new areas. An estimated 90 percent of Maine's ash trees are outside of Maine's currently regulated areas. Ash is an important cultural resource for the Wabanaki, an important street tree and a valuable timber species, accounting for around four percent of Maine's hardwood forest inventory. EAB threatens all ash tree species (excluding mountain-ash) and will have significant ecological and economic impacts on the state. Although pesticide treatments can protect individual trees, there are no practical means to control EAB in forested areas.

What does the order do? The order limits the movement of ash trees for planting and ash tree products such as logs, pulpwood, green lumber, and hardwood firewood from the order area. 

What is the order area? The order area covers Albany Twp, Lovell, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Stoneham, Stow, Sweden, and Waterford in Oxford County. This order area is in addition to areas described in the existing state quarantine, Maine DACF, Agriculture Rules, Chapter 275, which includes areas in Maine and other states and Canada.

How does this impact firewood movement from out-of-state into Maine, such as wood harvested or processed in New Hampshire? Despite the spread of EAB into Maine, the ban on movement of untreated firewood from out-of-state into Maine remains. Many tree-killing insects and diseases in addition to EAB can be moved with firewood. We urge everyone who uses firewood to choose local or heat-treated firewood.

If I'm only moving ash tree products within the order or quarantine area, do I need to worry about spreading EAB? EAB is not found everywhere within the order and quarantine areas. The MFS and our partners concerned with the future of ash trees in Maine encourage those involved in moving ash tree material within the regulated areas to follow Best Management Practices to reduce the spread of EAB.

More information on EAB can be found on the department’s EAB website.

Questions about the order can be directed to foresthealth@maine.gov or by telephone at 207-287-2431.