Visit a Scenic Byway

 When the Federal Government creates a National Scenic Byway or All-American Road, it means something. Only the prettiest, most historic and most enjoyable drives in the country earn these titles. Maine has four:

The 40-mile Acadia All-American Road is so special that it’s been designated an All-American Road, considered the gold standard of scenic routes. The journey begins on Route 3 on the mainland before moving onto Mt. Desert Island and through the town of Bar Harbor. From there, it rolls into the primary section of Acadia National Park.

Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway travels 78 miles along Route 201 through Maine forests from Solon to the Canadian border. Towns such as Bingham and Jackman offer relaxing places to stop. Spectacular foliage, abundant moose and other wildlife make for enjoyable touring.

Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway offers many locations for outdoor fun including golfing, boating, fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing and snowmobiling. The 35-mile route winds past clear lakes and tree-covered mountains. The Height of Land on Route 17 is one of Maine’s most picturesque overlooks.

Schoodic National Scenic Byway explores the quieter, less-developed side of Acadia National Park and its neighboring communities. Visitors drive the 29-mile route through small fishing towns, sheltered harbors and dramatic coastline.

In addition to these Federal routes, there are many picturesque Maine state byways as well.

Make a Plan for Fall Foliage Hikes, Rides and Paddles

Autumn in Maine is a glorious time of year. The foliage puts on a spectacular show of colors. Below are resources to help plan your fall foliage hike, ride or paddle.

Recommended locations:

• Androscoggin Riverlands State Park(Foliage Zone 3*) - Kayak the Androscoggin River along the park. Park Guide & Map (PDF 1.7MB, 24x9-inches)
• Bigelow Preserve and Flagstaff Lake Public Lands (PDF 2MB)(Foliage Zone 5*) - Take in the foliage on the flanks of Bigelow Mountain by paddling on Flagstaff Lake at one of several access points in the Bigelow Preserve.
• Bradbury Mt. State Park(Foliage Zone 1*) - Hike to the top of the Mountain for picturesque views that extend all the way to the ocean on a clear day. (Summit Trail is 1/4-mile - a steep short 15-minutes of moderate difficulty; longer routes are available.)
• Aroostook State Park(Foliage Zone 7*) - Hike the trails or paddle Echo Lake. Park Guide & Map (PDF 2MB, 24x18-inches)
• Camden Hills State Park(Foliage Zone 1*) - Hike or drive to the top of Mt. Battie for fall colors and ocean view.
• Down East Sunrise Trail(Foliage Zone 2*) - Enjoy the DEST by bike, foot, horseback, or ATV.
• Grafton State Park & Mahoosuc Public Lands (PDF 1.5MB)(Foliage Zone 5*) - Route 26 is a scenic drive and the waterfalls at the park pullouts are great picnic spots. The Old Speck Trail provides a challenging but rewarding hike with great views 3.5 miles from the trailhead at the tower.
• Lily Bay State Park (PDF 846KB)(Foliage Zone 6*) - Hike along the shoreline trail or paddle along the shore of iconic Moosehead Lake.
• Mount Blue State Park(Foliage Zone 5*) - Drive to the interpretive lookout on Center Hill then hike the (0.5mi) Center Hill Trail. Or paddle Webb Lake. Park Guide & Map (PDF 1.6MB, 24x18-inches)
• Seboeis Public Lands (PDF 1.5MB)(Foliage Zone 4*) - Take in autumn's glory from Seboeis Lake. Waterside campsites; one trailerable and one hand-carry boat launch available for boaters and paddlers.

*Foliage Zones correspond to the Maine Foliage Conditions map.

Track Foliage Change & Learn about Trees

• Peak foliage listingsby region visit the Maine Foliage Reports provided by the Maine Forest Service.
• Forest Trees of Maineis the guide to Maine's Trees. Order or download it from the Maine Forest Service.
• For tourism information visit the Maine Office of Tourism website.

Drought Conditions Worsen Across Maine As Little Precipitation Is Expected

Maine's Drought Task Force met virtually today to discuss the worsening drought conditions across the state. Since the Task Force met two weeks ago, more than 56% of the State is now under severe drought conditions. Conditions in parts of Aroostook County have fallen into extreme drought conditions, prompting the Small Business Association to enact a drought declaration for Aroostook County. The Drought Declaration enables applicants across Aroostook and the contiguous counties of Penobscot, Washington, Piscataquis, and Somerset to submit to SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans program.

There are currently no mandatory conservation measures, though some are voluntarily conserving. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drinking Water Program (DWP) and MEMA have received several reports of dry wells.

With little to no relief in sight, we encourage anyone experiencing a dry well to report it via our Dry Well Survey, said MEMA Director Peter Rogers.

MEMA launched the Dry Well Survey last month and has received some feedback of dry wells in Somerset, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Penobscot, Kennebec, Franklin, Knox and Washington Counties. The reported wells range between drilled and dug wells used for residential, irrigation, livestock, and/or "other" purposes. Anyone wishing to complete the survey without internet access can call 2-1-1. Completing the survey does not guarantee any type of assistance but helps the Task Force determine how widespread the problem may be and what resources may be needed.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that surface water levels are worsening statewide, nearing record low levels during what is already the lowest period of the year, while ground water levels are receding, and slowly worsening.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reported a continued impact to most crops across the state, especially in Aroostook County, noting that special FSA Farm Programs have been triggered to assist farmers, ranchers and small businesses as the drought continues. The Small Business Administration also reported a declaration of disaster, prompting the availability for disaster loan assistance. The FSA Farm Programs automatically trigger once a county has been at D2 drought status for eight consecutive weeks or immediately upon hitting D3 status for any length of time, as reported weekly by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Programs available are:

• Livestock Forage Program (LFP)- provides payments to livestock producer for grazing losses
• Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP)- provides financial assistance to livestock producers for losses resulting from the additional cost of transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought
• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)provides cost share to provide emergency water during periods of severe drought (specifically for grazing and confined livestock and existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards)
• Non-insurable Crop Assistance Program (NAP)- acts like crop insurance but is for non-insurable crops and covers drought related losses. In this case, the crop loss acts as the trigger for the program.

Citizens who may be experiencing low water levels in wells are also encouraged to take the following steps:

• Avoid filling wells by a water hauler or fire department. This could contaminate the owner's well because water from an unknown source may contain toxins and water would likely leak out in a short amount of time.
• Check water systems for leaks and fix them. This can also save money for those on public water.
• Ensure you have a full load before running dishwashers and washing machines.
• Space out water usage to avoid a temporary shortage that could damage the pump.
• If using drinking water from an outside source, make sure containers and the water source are clean.
• Use a licensed well driller or pump installer to check water levels in wells for the most accurate assessment and advice and to avoid contamination.

IC Benefits Now Available Through EBT Card Statewide

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program has completed the transition from paper food vouchers to an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card more than a month before a deadline established by the federal government. The new system is called eWIC.

The WIC program, administered by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), works to improve the health and nutrition of women, infants, and children during critical times of growth and development. WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and supplies, and referrals to other services. Participants statewide at nutritional risk receive WIC benefits through local WIC agencies in their communities.

The WIC program serves more than 16,500 individuals. Pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 are eligible. Participants must meet income guidelines, live in Maine, and be determined by a health professional to be at "nutritional risk.”

Through the new eWIC system, benefits for WIC-approved foods are automatically entered onto an EBT card similar to a debit card. This card replaces the current paper-based food instruments and cash-value vouchers that were redeemed at WIC-authorized stores statewide.

Maine rolled out eWIC in phases by county. Penobscot and Piscataquis counties went live on June 22. Aroostook, Hancock, Washington, Kennebec and Somerset WIC participants began receiving cards on July 20. Participants in Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Lincoln, Knox, Cumberland and York counties started receiving cards on August 31.

Recognizing the value of eWIC, the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandated that each state WIC agency implement an electronic benefit transfer system throughout the state by October 1, 2020. Benefits of conversion to an electronic system include smoother and faster transactions at the register and automatic electronic payments to vendors.

During the implementation period, Maine WIC paused its enrollment of new vendors. This pause has now been lifted. Enrollment information for stores can be found at www.maine.gov/WIC.

For more information about the benefits of WIC, how to enroll as a new participant, or store locations, please go to www.maine.gov/WIC.

Mainers Invited to Dispose of Unusable Pesticides

Free disposal, pre-registration by October 9 required

Thanks to a project sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Mainers can dispose of unusable and unwanted pesticides for free. The Obsolete Pesticides Collection Program has kept more than 109 tons of pesticides out of the waste stream since its start in 1982.

This free annual program is open to homeowners, family-owned farms and greenhouses. Collections will occur at four sites: Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland. Participants must pre-register by October 9, 2020. Drop-ins are not permitted. Collected pesticides are taken to an out-of-state disposal facility licensed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Information to register and fill out your obsolete pesticide inventory form may be found under "Resources" on the BPC website: www.thinkfirstspraylast.org.

Pesticides accepted include: herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home. Past participants in the program have reported finding obsolete pesticides in barns of family properties, garages of newly purchased homes and other unexpected places. While removal of these pesticides can seem daunting, it is important for the protection of public, wildlife and environmental health, that they are dealt with properly and not thrown in the trash or poured down the drain, where they can contaminate land and water resources.

• More information about Maine Board of Pesticides Control can be found at  thinkfirstspraylast.org.
• More information about Maine Department of Environmental Protection.