 May 2026
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Andy at Cobscook Bay State Park, one of numerous Maine sites conserved by the Land for Maine’s Future.
When most Mainers think of our state parks, historic sites, and treasured public lands, the Maine legislature is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Nonetheless, every now and then, the legislature (which sounds like an intimidating bunch but is really just a group of concerned citizens like you and me) works its magic and, along with the Governor, makes some valuable contributions to our work. The 132nd legislature, scheduled to wrap up in late April, has produced some notable wins:
- The Supplemental Budget created a permanent funding source for the Land for Maine’s (LMF) Program. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, LMF has relied on periodic bond funding. The new source will dedicate a portion of the Budget Stabilization Fund (i.e., 'rainy day fund') to LMF. For the next fiscal year alone, the best estimates are that this will generate $7-8 million for conservation.
- The Supplemental Budget also included a $2.25 million allocation for Maine Public Lands. Our 640,000 acres of public land include world-class recreational trails, ecological reserves, pristine lakes and river shores, and extensive working forestlands. Public Land funding is largely dependent on timber sales revenue, and Maine’s challenging timber economy has constrained funding for recreation, wildlife, and public access projects. Considering uncertain timber forecasts, the Bureau is exploring alternative funding models.
Deboullie Public Land
- LD 14, supported by the Bureau, provides free access to Maine State Parks for members of Maine tribes. Similar efforts have occurred in other state park systems across the nation, recognizing the important ancestral connections between tribes, lands, and waters.
- LD 1547 creates a tiered registration fee structure for snowmobiles. We estimate that this revised registration structure will add more than $1 million annually to the Bureau’s Snowmobile Program, and those funds will be channeled to the vital clubs that groom and maintain our trails.
BPL staffers Candice Pinkham and Vanessa Haas taking a snowmobiling break in Dexter.
We are grateful to the many conservation and recreation advocates who supported these initiatives. We’re also thankful to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, which played a critical role in advancing these initiatives, along with Governor Mills, who approved them!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Left to right: AWW Rangers Bob Johnston, Jay Young, Warden Nick Raymond, AWW Chief Ranger Trevor O'Leary, CRA Caryl O'Leary, Warden Kale O'Leary, AWW Ranger Alissa Lutz, and Reid State Park Manager Haylee Parsons. Photo below: AWW Chief Ranger Trevor O'Leary with his Merit Award.
Trevor O’Leary has served for twenty years as an Allagash Waterway Ranger and has supported the work of Game Wardens as a Ranger at the Michaud Farm district of the Waterway. He has assisted with countless major searches and rescues in the Waterway and led multiple daring rescues at the Allagash Falls, specifically one this past summer when a man and woman were stranded only feet from the top of the 40-foot drop. Trevor’s calm, cool, collected demeanor and wealth of knowledge directly led to success on this rescue, as well as many others. He is always willing to assist the Maine Warden Service in any capacity, no matter how big or small.
Trevor was promoted in 2025 to Chief Ranger of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and has since expanded his commitment to assist the Warden Service mission in this role. Now, instead of being a valuable resource to northern Wardens, all the Game Wardens who work and patrol the Allagash region directly benefit from Trevor’s genuine willingness to help in any way he can. He has consistently assisted with maintaining Warden Service equipment in this area to ensure it is ready for them, also inviting Wardens to use the Allagash facilities, equipment, and gear for their missions. He is a consummate professional whose vast knowledge and skill level have saved lives and furthered the mission of the Maine Warden Service and the Waterway.
~ Kale O’Leary, Warden, Maine Warden Service and Mark Deroche, Superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
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Work in a beautiful location while making a lasting impact. You'll be helping visitors enjoy and learn about the outdoors, and stewarding iconic locations so that they will retain robust ecosystems and be healthy places to recreate for future generations.
Employment opportunities are at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites and include Rangers, Lifeguards, and Customer Representative Assistants. View the listings and apply now at BPL's Careers and Seasonal Job webpage. Resources include brochures, videos, and a link to the applications and job descriptions.
Need Experience? Consider applying with the Maine Conservation Corps.
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The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) just celebrated its 60th year of operations in 2025. Maine has nearly 1000 projects across the state. Spring is a great time to start planning your local park acquisition, development, or renovation project for the next LWCF grant round!
- The first step in the process is to request a project eligibility assessment by the end of 2026.
- The LWCF can fund up to 50% of eligible project costs.
- Eligible applicants are the State of Maine, counties, municipalities, school districts, and tribal nations.
For more information, please contact Mathew.B.Henion@Maine.gov
~ Mathew Henion, Outdoor Recreation Grants Specialist
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Riley McManus, the 2026 Allagash Wilderness Waterway Artist in Residence, on trail with his ceramics pack.
I am pleased to announce that Riley McManus has been selected as the 2026 Allagash Wilderness Waterway Artist in Residence. The judges selected Riley's artwork from a strong group of candidates from seventeen states.
Riley is a ceramic artist who uses clay as a tool to record the textures of natural and human-altered environments. His artistic journey began on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, where iron-stained clay crumbles from the cliffs. It was here his curiosity first took root with the discovery of this malleable material and all the possibilities it held for creation - a curiosity that has since grown into a practice of taking molds directly from landscapes to preserve moments in time and build an ongoing archive of wild and built environments.
Riley’s love of clay as an artistic medium deepened under the tutelage of Mark Canfield at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School in Chetek, WI, where he learned to work with clay and to throw on the wheel. He entered college as a science major but, after two years, returned to his passion, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He credits his science background for fostering his innate curiosity about the plants and animals he encounters on his clay-imprinting treks, deepening his attentiveness to the living systems his work seeks to record.
Ceramic vase by Riley McManus with the impressions of stromatolites from the petrified sea gardens at Saratoga Springs, NY.
His residency will be his first visit to Maine. He applied to the AWW Residency because it offers a landscape rich with textures shaped by natural forces and quiet histories. He is particularly drawn to the way water, ice, and time have inscribed themselves into stone and wood along the Waterway. His goal is to translate these inscriptions into lasting ceramic records that preserve a tactile moment of this remote and wild place. He will make functional vessels that incorporate these impressions directly into their surfaces.
"It is important that these objects are held and experienced through touch. Clay is inherently fragile and demands care, much like the ecosystems and landscapes from which my textures originate," Riley explained. "In this way, my work becomes a tactile link to the natural world and a quiet reminder that preservation or destruction often rests in human hands. Through use and engagement, these vessels become quiet ambassadors of the Waterway, carrying its presence beyond geographic boundaries while reminding users of the responsibility inherent in preservation."
Riley will spend two weeks during August exploring the Allagash Wilderness Waterway from the historic Lock Dam cabin, capturing and archiving the textures of the area in clay. Within a year of his stay, he will offer a public program about his residency, highlighting his favorite moments and the artwork inspired by the Waterway.
View Riley's website.
~ Mark Deroche, Superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
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Use your library card to get in free to Maine State Parks on Saturday, April 25. Free admission applies to day-use at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites from 9:00 a.m. to closing.
Free admission does not apply to:
- Acadia National Park
- Allagash Wilderness Waterway
- Baxter State Park
- Maine Wildlife Park
- Peacock Beach
- Scarborough Beach
- Swan Island
- Penobscot River Corridor
- Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect
Don't have a card? Find your nearest library and stop by to get one. Its free, and it opens the door to countless opportunities, from books and digital resources to programs and events. Visit parksandlands.com to find your nearest park.
Read the press release.
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Enjoy a self-service read along the trail. Book pages are posted along the path until you reach the end of the story.
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Cobscook Bay State Park
40 S. Edmunds Rd., Edmunds Township, Maine
(207) 726-4412
Story: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Location: Story path begins near the playground in the campground.
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Fort O'Brien State Historic Site
492 Port Rd, Machiasport, Maine
(207) 726-4412
Story: The Cod's Tail by Mark Kurlansky
Location: Story path begins next to the parking lot.
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Lamoine State Park
23 State Park Rd., Lamoine, Maine
(207) 667 4778
Story: Walk in the Woods with Me by Phinney Turner Patrice
Location: Story path begins at the Loop Trail.
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Quoddy Head State Park
973 S. Lubec Rd., Lubec, Maine
(207) 733-0911
Story: Set Sail for Pancakes by Tim Kleyn
Location: Story path begins at the Carrying Place Cove trailhead.
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Roque Bluffs State Park
145 Schoppee Point Rd., Roque Bluffs, Maine
(207) 255-3475
Story: Wicked Wild Poems by Diane Lang
Location: Story path begins by the main entrance sign in day use area.
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Shackford Head State Park
Off Route 190 in Eastport, Maine
(207) 726-4412
Story: Fraser the Forest Ranger by Matthew Schufman
Location: Story path begins on the Coney Trail out from the parking lot.
Story paths are included with park admission. To find their exact location, call the park in advance or ask at the park booth when you arrive.
Thank you to McSea Books and Penguin Random House for permitting the use of these stories.
~ Sierra Tibbetts, Manager of Cobscook Bay State Park
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Pre-register to join in on an educational morning of plant inventorying at Camden Hills State Park. Kerry Hardy, a local plant enthusiast, will lead a hike with park staff to document and take GPS coordinates of the park's unique plant species. Included in the inventory will be Brown Ash and other ash species, Spruce, Maidenhair Fern, Yellow Violets, Mayflowers, also called Trailing Arbutus (see photo), and spring ephemerals. Limited to 30 people. Park entry and the activity are free to registered participants. Pre-register by emailing charlene.hood@maine.gov and please put "May 27 plant inventory RSVP" in the subject line.
~Charlene "Sunshine" Hood, Manager of Camden Hills State Park
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Red-tailed Hawk courtesy of Mark Bohn, USFWS.
Feathers Over Freeport, a birding festival for all ages, will be held on Saturday, May 30, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal, and on Sunday, May 31, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. (Sunday's time may expand once additional activities are confirmed.)
The event includes birdwatching for all ages and activities for children.
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A multi-talented artist and dramatic performer, Firefly the Hybrid is a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, one of five traditionally-allied Wabanaki tribal nations in the Atlantic Northeast. He grew up on Panawamskek (Indian Island), a village in the Penobscot River, which runs through his ancestral homeland in central Maine.
His performances include:
- A national virtual performance with the Kennedy Center's Arts Across America.
- Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH
- University of Maine, Orono
Date: Saturday, June 20
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: 172 Indian Bar Road, Brooksville, ME 04617
Event the flyer.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Park entry is always free. Performance is free through the support of the Friends of Holbrook Island Sanctuary.
~ Charlie Cannon, Manager of Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park
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A frozen Stratton Brook as seen through trees on the newly acquired parcel at the Bigelow Preserve.
The Bureau recently had the opportunity to work with a generous and collaborative landowner to expand the boundaries of the Bigelow Preserve in Wyman TWP. This small acquisition of approximately 5 acres along Stratton Brook strengthens the management of the Bigelow Preserve by not only adding over 1,000 feet of frontage on Stratton Brook but also by extinguishing a private, legal right-of-way across the forest management road - which also serves as a snowmobile/summer non-motorized recreational trail - originating off the Stratton Brook Road near the Appalachian Trail. The road/trail runs westward south of Jones Pond and leads to the far western end of the Preserve.
The brother and sister landowners sold the parcel as a bargain sale and were pivotal in bringing the opportunity to the Bureau. The purchase price and associated project costs were paid for with funds from Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Wild East Action Fund and the High Peaks Initiative. This project is yet another example of partnerships and collaboration working to protect and enhance important ecological, recreational, and economic lands in Western Maine.
~ Rex Turner, Director of Planning and Acquisitions
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An interactive map pinpointing MCC 2026 service sites.
If you have ever wondered where in Maine the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) is serving and meeting community needs, you can now find an answer with a few clicks of your mouse. An interactive map pinpointing MCC 2026 service sites is now live on the MCC website. This season, we are again welcoming approximately 100 members to serve as Shore Corps Stewards, Community Tree Stewards, Environmental Stewards, and as part of ten Field Crews. Each dot on the map brings up information about who is serving at the site and what they are doing to support conservation efforts in Maine. As MCC members deploy across the state over the coming months, this map will be updated- so keep checking back in with the MCC!
~ Christy Owen, Director of the Maine Conservation Corps
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A Spruce Budworm larva on Fir Foliage.
Media Contact: Logan Johnson
Brewer, ME – Keeping Maine's Forests is hosting a Spruce Budworm Public Information Session on Thursday, April 30, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Jeff's Catering, located in Brewer, Maine. This important event will provide a platform for education and discussion regarding the spruce budworm outbreak affecting our state's forests.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from expert speakers representing the Maine Forest Service, the University of Maine, and the Maine Budworm Response Coalition. These speakers will share valuable insights, including a historical perspective of spruce budworm in Maine, current monitoring efforts, and effective intervention strategies being implemented to mitigate the outbreak.
The session will also include a question-and-answer segment, allowing attendees to engage directly with the experts and gain clarity on various aspects of the issue.
This free event is open to the public, and light refreshments, including coffee, will be provided (please note that lunch will not be served). For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the session will be available via YouTube to ensure access to this important information.
Mark your calendars for April 30, and join us in learning more about the spruce budworm and how we can collectively respond to this challenge.
Event Details
Spruce Budworm Public Information Session
Date: Thursday, April 30 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Jeff's Catering, Brewer, ME
The session will be available on YouTube for remote attendees.
Register
~ Courtesy Posting for Keeping Maine's Forest and Event Partners
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Black bears are most active in Maine from April 1 to November 1. Male bears and solitary females are usually up and about first. Females with yearlings are next, and females with cubs are soon to follow.
It’s time to remove, store, secure, and clean common bear attractants in your yard. Taking the following steps will help keep you, your property, and Maine’s bears safe.
- Take bird feeders down for the season. Store feeders and seed indoors. Rake up spilled seed.
- Store garbage cans indoors. Garbage cans and dumpster lids should be closed and securely latched.
- Keep grills clean and store inside when not in use.
- Secure pets and livestock in buildings at night and store their food indoors. Feed them inside when possible or clean dishes daily and remove leftover food.
Learn more about living with black bears.
~ Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, embedded with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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After the lake ice recedes and springtime brings warmer temperatures, you may forget how cold and dangerous the water still is. Water does not warm as quickly as air; it takes weeks to months to warm to safe levels. Any water colder than 70°F, a temperature that we do not expect until July, is dangerous - even a brief immersion of less than one minute can lead to cold water shock and death. In the Gulf of Maine, sea surface temperatures never warm above 70°F all year and are dangerous for boaters and paddlers all season. Almost every spring, there are multiple drowning deaths in Maine and New Hampshire, where cold water is a contributing factor.
Here are some average water temperatures, by month, in Maine:
- April: 40°F average temperatures on inland waters and the ocean.
- May: 50F in early May; 60°F in late May.
- June: 60°F in early June; 70°F in late June
- July: 70°F and higher.
Remember:
- Know the water's actual temperature. Do not forecast water temperature by air temperature.
- Water conducts heat away from your skin four times faster than air, because of its higher density. Your body will become dangerously cold very quickly; your muscles will cool, numb, and become unresponsive, leading to hypothermia. Drowning can happen very quickly.
- Below 70°F, the colder the water is, the more dangerous it becomes.
- Cold water shock is extreme at 55°F and below.
Signs of Cold Water Shock:
- Gasping for Breath & Rapid Breathing
- Sudden Spike in Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
- Cognitive Impairment
What to do if someone is in Cold Water Shock:
- Call 911
- Gradually warm the person in cold water shock:
- Remove their wet clothing and replace them with dry clothes.
- Cover them with dry blankets
- Use a hat and scarf to cover the head and neck.
- Seek contact with dry, warm surfaces that are close to normal body temperature, 98.6°F
(between 35°C and 45°C)
Safety Tips:
- Know the water temperature and stay aware of weather conditions.
- Wear a life jacket.
- Wear a wetsuit or drysuit based on conditions.
- Know the signs of Cold Water Shock and Hypothermia.
Further Reading:
Synopsis of the Gray, Maine National Weather Service article, Learn Why Cold Water is so Dangerous!, released on April 5, 2026, for Cold Water Safety Awareness Week.
~ Sean Vaillancourt, Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator & Manager of Popham Beach State Park
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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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