Trees on Maine Street - March 13, 2024

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry sent this bulletin at 03/13/2024 08:15 AM EDT

Project Canopy

Tree planting time is almost here! If you have not already placed your tree orders, many local sales still have availability of quality planting stock. See our list of local sales below. When selecting trees from local sales or at the nursery, be sure to check for quality including the presence of insects or disease, girdling roots, crossing branches, excessive pruning, and damage to the root flare and main stem. For a full guide on how to plan for, select, plant and maintain trees please see the USDA "Tree Owner's Manual".

Hundreds of trees to be removed in Portland to help protect others

The city of Portland is taking steps to remove roughly two-thirds of all Ash trees in the city to protect and preserve the rest of the ash trees. The removal is all part of ongoing efforts to combat the emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest. The insects were first discovered in the city in 2019 and the city forestry team has been working with the state to deal with the infestation. The city has inventoried more than 600 ash street trees and they are working to save as many as possible through the use of treatments and organic bio-controls, but officials say many will succumb to the pest and need to be removed and replaced over the next three to five years. It is expected that approximately 350 to 400 inventoried Ash street trees will be removed over the coming years while approximately 150 to 200 will be preserved through a long-term treatment and monitoring program. Read more....

Stream Smart for Municipalities

Maine Audubon, Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District and Midcoast Council of Governments will be holding a free informational Stream Smart workshop at the Topham Town Hall in Topsham Maine. Applying the Stream Smart principles to your road crossings can help connect and maintain fish and wildlife habitat while protecting roads and public safety. Stream Smart crossings can also help you prepare for the large and frequent storm events that have been washing out roads around the state and the northeast. This workshop is specifically aimed at informing municipalities of the value of Stream Smart crossings as well as providing information about funding that is currently available to help offset the costs of these culvert replacement projects. Cost: FREE, registration required. Learn more...

Help Shape Maine’s Forest Education!

The Maine Forest Service is dedicated to understanding and meeting our communities' needs regarding forest resources, management, protection, and health. To help achieve this, we've developed an educational interest survey tailored to Maine residents and all those interested in our state's forests. Your input is invaluable in shaping our programs and initiatives. Completing this 34-question survey, which should only take 10 to 20 minutes, will provide crucial insights into topics like woodland management, fire protection, community forestry, and preferred methods of receiving information and education. The survey is open now and will remain online until Friday, March 15, at 5:00 PM. We appreciate your participation in helping us serve you better. Thank you for being part of our efforts! Take the Survey!