 July 2023
Governor Mills and partners celebrate the conservation of 13,600 acres in Maine’s High Peaks region
I was thrilled to attend a festive celebration with Governor Mills in Rangeley recently, recognizing the conservation of 13,600 acres in Maine’s High Peaks region. The Quill Hill to Perham Stream project, encompassing a conservation easement, state-owned working forest, and state-owned ecological reserve, is the state’s largest conservation deal in the Mills administration. It marks just the latest in a series of conservation successes (Roque’s Bluff State Park, Kennebec Highlands, Little Concord Pond, East Grand Lake) administered through the Bureau’s Planning and Acquisition Division.
Conserving land is complicated, involving landowner negotiations, real estate appraisals, funding proposals, ecological and wildlife assessments, agreement on easement terms, and legal review and analysis. With a dedicated but small staff, BPL relies on countless partners to complete conservation deals. In the case of Quill Hill and Perham Stream, the Trust for Public Lands and The Nature Conservancy were our aces in the hole, and in recent years we’ve worked with The Conservation Fund, the High Peaks Alliance, Appalachian Trail Land Trust, Forest Society of Maine, Seven Lakes Alliance, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Royal River Conservation Trust, and many more! I’ve been extremely pleased and impressed with the spirit of cooperation and teamwork that our non-profit partners bring to each collaboration. When organizational missions converge and successful conservation projects flourish, all of Maine benefits.
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Every day Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands staff work hard to make your visits the best they can be. An email arrived recently from a visitor in praise of Scarlet Sparke. I'd like to share it, in part, with you.
Loren D. Porr, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army, wrote, "My wife is suffering from a neurodegenerative disease and cannot walk without falling. It has been years since she has been to the beach. Her Army Battle Buddy from Texas was visiting, and we decided to take Carol to Popham on Monday, June 19, 2023.
I called Popham and spoke with Ms. Sparke, asking about the availability of the beach wheelchairs I had read about in the newspaper and online. Scarlet was well-informed, extremely friendly, and well-spoken. She assured us that the demand for the chairs was low so far that day and she was sure that one would be available for our use.
Upon arrival, I identified myself and mentioned my call. Scarlet immediately recognized me and was even more friendly in person than on the phone. I mentioned my Maine State Park Veteran Pass and that all three of us were retired veterans. Before I could find the pass in my wallet, Scarlet noted that my car had Maine veteran plates, that that was sufficient, and a handicapped beach wheelchair was parked behind the entrance building awaiting our use.
We had a wonderful time walking the beach together, which without Scarlet and the beach wheelchair, would have been impossible. While not yet a "Mainer" for over a month, Scarlet set the standard for service as far as this "old soldier" is concerned as I am "from away" and have only lived in Maine for 28 years."
Please join me in thanking Scarlet for her exemplary customer service!
~Sean Vaillancourt, Park Manager of Popham Beach State Park, Fort Popham, Fort Baldwin, and Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator.
Photo: Scarlet Sparke on the job at the park entrance booth at Popham Beach State Park.
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All vehicles with a Maine loon license plate receive free admission to Maine State Parks and Historic Sites* on Sunday, July 16, 2023. This is a thank you to all who purchase this special plate that supports the conservation efforts of both Maine's State Parks and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Purchase a Loon/Conservation license plate from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles online or at your local town office.
*Please Note:
- No rain date available
- 9 AM to closing; day use only
- Open admission does not apply to Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Peacock Beach, the ME Wildlife Park, Scarborough Beach State Park, Swan Island, the Penobscot River Corridor, or the Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect, though admission to Fort Knox Historic Site will be free with the Loon Plate.
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Bradbury Mt. State Park, Pownal
Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, New Harbor
Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Brooksville
Mount Blue State Park, Weld
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport
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Summer is the time to pick up your Maine State Park Passport to start on your park stamp collecting and geocaching adventures! You'll have fun exploring and can win prizes along the way.
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The bold coast of Culter Coast Public Land.
The Maine Coast is formidable, stunningly beautiful, and is rich in history. As an AmeriCorps program focused on conservation projects, Maine Conservation Corps gets to experience pockets of Maine that are often excluded from travel plans. One area we recently accomplished projects in is Downeast Maine, beyond Ellsworth. While we focus on more remote projects requiring hiking in gear, tools, and materials, you can still enjoy this part of Maine.
A couple of nice spots to get out of the car and stretch your legs are Roque Bluffs State Park, Fort O’Brien, Quoddy Head State Park, and Shackford Head. Each is unique and offers a slightly different experience. Roque Bluffs has both a saltwater crescent beach and freshwater pond. Fort O’Brien was built in 1775 and destroyed by the British in the same year, and that is only one facet of its interesting history. Quoddy Head offers 5 miles of scenic trails, and a view to the red cliffs of Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick. Shackford Head encompasses 90 acres on Moose Island overlooking Cobscook Bay, and ornithologists have documented 28 different bird species nesting on the headland.
Downeast the coast gets more rugged, the traffic seems to almost cease, and many roadside stops are perfect for a picnic and a couple hours reading a book. We recommend the following books for connecting with this part of Maine, ideally to be read in the salt air and sunshine.
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An Upriver Passamaquoddy by Allen Sockabasin
When Allen was a child in the 1940s and 1950s, his village was isolated and depended largely on subsistence hunting and fishing, working in the woods, and seasonal harvesting work for its survival. Passamaquoddy was its first language, and the tribal traditions of sharing and helping one another ensured the survival of the group. To the outside world, they lived in poverty, but Allen remembers a life that was rich and rewarding in many ways. He recalls the storytellers, tribal leaders, craftsmen, basketmakers, hunters, musicians, and elders who are still his heroes, and he explains why preserving the Passamaquoddy traditions and language is so critical to his people's survival in modern times. Many rare photographs illustrate this fascinating memoir.
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Hidden History of Maine by Harry Gratwick
Discover four hundred years of Maine's history through the tales of its unique residents.
Maine history would be bare but for the contributions of hardy and impassioned individuals whose lives make up the story of Maine's "hidden history." Author Harry Gratwick creates intimate and detailed portraits of these Mainers, from the controversial missionary Sebastien Rale to Woolwich native William Phips, whose seafaring attacks against French Canada earned him the first governorship of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Gratwick also profiles inventors such as Robert Benjamin Lewis, an African American from Gardiner who patented a hair growth product in the 1830s, and Margaret Knight, a York native who defied nineteenth-century sexism to earn the nickname "the female Edison." From soprano Lillian Nordica, who left Farmington to become the most glamorous American opera singer of her day, to slugger George "Piano Legs" Gore, the only Mainer to have ever won a Major League batting championship.
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Down East: An Illustrated History of Maritime Maine by Lincoln Payne
This engaging overview of Maine's maritime history ranges from early Native American travel and fishing to pre-Plymouth European settlements, wars, international trade, shipbuilding, boom-and-bust fisheries, immigrant quarrymen, quick-lime production, yachting, and modern port facilities, all unfolding against one of the most dramatic seascapes on the planet. Down East can be read in an evening but will be referred to again and again. When the first edition was published in 2000, Walter Cronkite―a veteran Maine coastal sailor as well as The Most Trusted Man in America―wrote that “Paine's economy of phrase and clarity of purpose make this book a delight.” Paine went on to write his monumental opus The Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World (PW starred review), but now returns to his first and most abiding love, the coast of Maine, to revise and update this gem of a book. The new edition is printed in a large, full-color format with a stunning complement of historical photos, paintings, charts, and illustrations, making this a truly visual journey along a storied coast.
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~ Deidrah Stanchfield, Program Manager for Environmental Stewards, Maine Conservation Corps - Americorps
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Photo of the repaired bridge at Reid State Park by Matt McGuire.
Reid State Park is currently open to all visitation. Please be cautious when entering the Park as construction is still on-going at the entrance. There will be two more closure days to complete the paving. The dates have not yet been assigned, but please sign up for the Reid State Park text alerts (text REID to 888-514-7527) to to stay informed about all upcoming closures and events.
Bridge construction has been completed and we look forward to everyone enjoying the new bridge and walkway!
~ Haylee Parsons, Park Manager of Reid State Park
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A concerned rider emailed the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to report having spotted nearly 90 turtles digging nests on the Sunrise Trail. In response, I wanted to share this reminder regarding our local turtle population.
Firstly, BPL takes proactive measures to ensure the safety of the turtles during their nesting period. We have installed turtle signs and adjusted our maintenance schedules to avoid potential harm. For instance, our grading activities are completed before the middle of June to minimize any impact on the nesting process.
Fortunately, the turtles commonly choose to make their nests away from the main traffic areas, which has resulted in no documented incidents of ATV use causing harm to their eggs. We greatly appreciate the responsible behavior of our ATV users in avoiding the turtles and ensuring their well-being.
With the end of the nesting season upon us, we will encounter the turtles again when they hatch in September. However, we must remain watchful in protecting them during this incubation phase.
One of the biggest threats to the turtles is posed by predators such as foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and even dogs, which may dig up the eggs. With that in mind, please always keep your dogs under control while on the trail to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
We can actively safeguard these cool creatures and preserve their natural habitat by working together. Let us continue to show our respect for wildlife and maintain our commitment to responsible ATV riding.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Enjoy your rides, and let's keep our trails a safe space for all.
Warm regards,
~ Brian Bronson, ATV Program Supervisor
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Looking for local firewood? Go to www.maine.gov/firewood
Greetings from the University of Maine.
You may have read it in the news, or worse, experienced it, but browntail moth has been the bane of Maine for the past few years. From its itchy toxic hairs to eating a buffet of Maine’s beautiful trees, wanting to control this pest is on many Mainers’ minds. Graduate students McK Mollner (School of Economics) and Devin Rowe (School of Biology and Ecology) invite you to take this short research survey to hear your views about browntail moth. To take part, you must be at least 18 years old.
The survey is confidential and will take 20 minutes. Once you reach the end of the survey, you can enter a raffle for a $75 LL Bean gift card.
The survey will be open until the first week of August 2023.
If you have already submitted this survey via postal invitation, thank you for doing so. Please do not respond to the survey again. If you have any questions about this research, you may contact the research team at BrowntailMaine@gmail.com or (207) 814-8505.
Please use your computer to respond to the survey.
Sincerely,
McK Mollner
Advisor: Dr. Mario Teisl
Devin Rowe
Advisor: Dr. Angela Mech
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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.
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