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Bureau of Parks and Lands
[ [link removed] ]
May 2023

In this Issue:

* Director's Note: Field Work in the Smart Phone Era [ #link_1 ]
* Welcome Jacob Pliskaner [ #link_13 ]
* Camping News - Maine State Park Campgrounds Open on May 22! [ #link_4 ]
* Boating Facility Renovations are Underway at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site [ #link_11 ]
* Harbor Management and Access Grant - Open Until May 19 for Municipalities to Apply [ #link_12 ]
* Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) - Be on the Lookout! [ #link_9 ]
* Serve with the Maine Conservation Corps [ #link_2 ]
* Feathers Over Freeport - April 29 & 30 [ #link_3 ]
* Author Tom Seymour to Lead Plant Walk [ #link_15 ]
* Spring Wildflowers Await Early Season Hikers [ #link_7 ]
* Reid State Park Remains Temporarily Closed During Construction Work [ #link_10 ]
* Help Maine Trails - Leave No Trace - Mud Season Etiquette [ #link_6 ]
* Love Maine Trails Month [ #link_8 ]
* Smokey Bear Art & Wildfire Awareness [ #link_5 ]
* Forestry Friday: Tick Talk with Chuck Lubelczyk [ #link_14 ]

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Director's Note: Field Work in the Smart Phone Era

Map and a GPS unit with the Field Maps application.

I worked in the woods long enough to recall that fieldwork once required a trustworthy map (typically a USGS 1:24,000 quadrangle), a sturdy compass adjusted for declination, a write-in-the-rain field book, and if you were well-equipped, a printed copy of an aerial photo. Like phone booths, 3-wheeled ATVs, typewriters, and banana seats on bikes, those tools are mostly things of the past. Today?s field foresters, ecologists, and recreation specialists work with a sophisticated set of mobile mapping and database tools that greatly facilitate field data collection and transcription. The only downside: it takes all the fun out of getting lost ? unless your battery dies!

Along with 60 other staff from across the Department, I recently participated in an in-house webinar showcasing many of our new mapping tools in various stages of development and application. Staff are using Survey123 and Field Maps to collect and transfer field data on the spot, we?re using dashboards to simplify and summarize that data, and we?re using drones to capture real-time imagery of forests, fields, and wetlands. I?m so proud of the huge strides we?ve made in this area in just a few years, and the popularity of our recent training speaks to the traction these new tools are receiving. Enormous thanks to DACF?s GIS technical team for leading the way! Now if only I could figure out how to reset my new smartwatch?

Photo:?Mobile GIS applications like Field Maps are quickly becoming standard tools for fieldwork.?

~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

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Welcome Jacob Pliskaner

Jacob Pliskaner, Forester for the Eastern Region Public Lands.

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is pleased to welcome Jacob Pliskaner as a Forester within the Eastern Region Public Lands. In this role, Jacob will join a team that ensures sustainable forest management on Maine?s Public Reserved Lands.

Jacob grew up in Massachusetts near the border of New Hampshire and spent considerable time growing up around Parsonsfield, Maine, as he has family ties to the area. He attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where he obtained an A.S. in Forest Management and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) before transferring to the University of Maine Orono to complete his B.S. in Forestry and continuing to obtain a Master of Forestry degree. Jacob was previously employed as a Field Forester for Irving Woodlands LLC in Northern Maine. He also held numerous part-time jobs and summer internships in the forest industry for multiple large landowners. Throughout his academic and professional career, he has gained a wide variety of experience in tasks including managing tree planting and pre-commercial thinning crews, harvest and road layout, timber cruising, and assisting in aerial herbicide application along with the generation of maps. Jacob also worked for the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit during the academic year to help monitor the status of spruce budworm throughout the state.

Jacob enjoys anything that can get him outside, including upland bird hunting, canoeing, and downhill/cross-country skiing. Professionally, Jacob is interested in GIS, Silviculture, and forest operations. He is excited to join the team managing the Eastern Region?s Public Lands and to apply his interests and experience toward forest management that sustains the full range of values the resource offers.

~ Doug Reed, Region Manager, Eastern Region Public Lands

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Camping News - Maine State Park Campgrounds Open on May 22!

Camp coffee and hotdogs on the grill, and a dome tent on a wooded campsite.

Spring has officially arrived which means that another camping season is right around the corner! Beginning on Monday, May 22 the Maine State Parks Campgrounds will open their gates for the 2023 reservation camping season. Looking to go earlier? Participating parks [ [link removed] ] open on Monday, May 15 for first-come-first-serve camping.

Reservations are always highly recommended as locations can fill up fast, so plan your summer stays at Maine State Parks Campgrounds today by heading online to www.CampWithMe.com [ [link removed] ] or by calling our helpful Reservation Call Center staff?at 1-800-332-1505 within Maine or 207-624-9950 for out-of-state callers.

We hope to see you all soon!

~ Abigail Andreasen, Campground Reservations Manager

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Boating Facility Renovations are Underway at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site

Renovations are underway to the boating facilities at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.

Renovation of the boating facility and access roadway at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site is underway.

Boating facility at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.

Significant renovations to the Colonial Pemaquid boating facility and access roadway are underway and scheduled through the third week of May. Access to the site will be difficult at times as crews replace culverts, add new surface gravel, and pave the roadway and parking areas at the launch. Work is planned for completion by May 25.

Thank you for your patience during this much needed renovation.?

~ Thomas W. Linscott, Director, Boating Facilities Division



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Harbor Management and Access Grant - Open Until May 19 for Municipalities to Apply

Hydraulic lift at the City of Saco pier. A 2022 HMA Grant project.

The Submerged Lands Program?s Harbor Management and Access Grant (HMA) application season is now open for municipalities to apply to?upgrade or create new public access to coastal or great pond waters, or hardware such as lifts on municipal piers for commercial fishing use. The HMA grants provide an opportunity for the Submerged Lands Program to balance the public?s right to access state waters with demand for private and commercial use of those waters. Lease and easement revenues are used to fund this process to support harbor planning and public access improvements through grants to municipalities and state agencies.



Concrete ramp for ADA access to Nequasset Lake, Town of Woolwich. A 2022 HMA Grant project.
* *The application deadline?is May 19* for the 2023 Submerged Lands Harbor Management and Access Grant*.*
* The maximum grant amount is $15,000;
* A 25% match is required from the municipality, which can be an in-kind contribution or actual funds.
* Download and complete the application [ [link removed] ].?
* Learn more about the work of the Submerged Lands Program [ [link removed] ].

Questions? Contact John Noll at [email protected]

Photos - Top: A 2022 HMA Grant was awarded to the City of Saco to replace the hydraulic lift at the City?s pier to accommodate commercial fishermen.
Bottom: A 2022 HMA Grant was awarded to the Town of Woolwich to create ADA access to Nequasset Lake at the Town?s public park facility; the concrete ramp accommodates hand-carry boats and swimming.

~ John Noll, Chief Planner, Submerged Lands Program

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Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) - Be on the Lookout!

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) magnified, actual size on a penny, and ash baskets.

It may seem incredible that an insect, so tiny it can rest on a penny, can cause so much damage to ash trees and threaten the cultural lifeways of the Wabanaki, but it is here and the threat is real. Ash trees are important to forest ecology, and the? brown ash, AKA black ash, ("Fraxinus nigra") is used by the Wabanaki for basket making.?Maine Indian Basketmakers rely on ash to make Indian ash splint and sweetgrass baskets, the oldest documented arts tradition in New England.


* Watch this presentation by John Daigle,?citizen member of the Penobscot Nation and Professor in the UMaine School of Forest Resources [ [link removed] ] to learn more about the impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and the research that has been underway for the last nine years, and the exclusive use of black ash in basketry.
* Learn about?Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik [ [link removed] ]
* Learn the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation [ [link removed] ].
* Guide to identifying ash trees [ [link removed] ].
* Save your Ash Trees ("Fraxinus") [ [link removed] ] - a guide for homeowners and municipalities.
* Learn how to create a Trap Tree to monitor for EAB [ [link removed] ].

*Remember, please do not give insects a lift* -?*do not move firewood [ [link removed] ] into or within Maine.* Buy local and buy it where you burn it.?


* If you?ve already moved firewood, don?t leave it or bring it home ? burn it!
* If you can't burn it all within 24 hours, directions for firewood disposal and drop-off. [ [link removed] ]
* Looking for local or heat-treated firewood? Check out firewood scout [ [link removed] ].

"Thank you!"

~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

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Serve with the Maine Conservation Corps



Above: A Maine Conservation Crew packing in a "Wet Willy" and picnic table to a backcountry campsite on Nahmakanata Public Land. Below: Learn - Live - Serve. The motto of the Maine Conservation Corps is on the back of their shirts.

Learn, Live, Serve - the motto of the Maine Conservation Corps.

*Are you ready to get outside, explore, and connect with the natural world?* Join a team of dedicated members who are committed to conservation and community engagement in Maine?s diverse wilderness, coast, and mountains. Members gain hands-on experience and receive ongoing training, a weekly living allowance, discounts on outdoor gear, a Maine State Park Pass, networking opportunities, and more!

*Current AmeriCorps service opportunities include:*


* Environmental Steward Sites:
* Greenhorns (900-hour AmeriCorps term) [ [link removed] ]
Position Dates: June 5 - November 13
* The Nature Conservancy (675-hour AmeriCorps Term) [ [link removed] ]
Position Dates: June 5 - October 6

* Field Team Member (675-hour AmeriCorps term) [ [link removed] ]
* Position Dates: June 12 ? October 13
* Application Deadline: Monday, May 8

* Field Team Member (450-hour AmeriCorps term) [ [link removed] ]
* Position Dates: July 24 ? October 13
* Application Deadline: Monday, May 8

~ Sara Knowles, Director, Maine Conservation Corps

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Feathers Over Freeport - April 29 & 30

Feathers Over Freeport - April 29 & 30, 2023. [ [link removed] ]

Calling all bird lovers! Join us for fun and informative days of birdwatching and education. Feathers Over Freeport will feature hands-on activities, and plenty of opportunities to spot a variety of beautiful birds. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting out, this event is for you! Don't miss out on this chance to connect with other birders and nature enthusiasts and learn about fascinating creatures.

*Schedule:*

Saturday, April 29 - at Bradbury Mt. State Park from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 30 - at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


* View the complete?Feathers Over Freeport schedule [ [link removed] ].


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Author Tom Seymour to Lead Plant Walk

Author Tom Seymour leading a plant walk.

Maine forager and author Tom Seymour will lead a walk on the groomed trails of Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park in search of early wild edibles. Tom will identify common forest, meadow, and possibly seaside plants that have medicinal or nutritional value.

*Date:* May 13
*Time:* 1-2:30 pm
*Location:* Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Brooksville
*Meet at:*?Backshore Trailhead parking area along Indian Bar Road on Cape Rosier in Brooksville. (Three Miles Off Route 176)

Details and program flyer [ [link removed] ].

There is no fee for this program and Holbrook Island Sanctuary is always free for entry.

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Spring Wildflowers Await Early Season Hikers

Trillium photo by Rex Turner.

Hiking trails create pathways into forests and windows to seemingly timeless cycles of nature. This is perhaps never more apparent than following snow melt when certain wildflowers take advantage of the moment and burst forth from the newly unfrozen earth. Spring ephemerals - herbaceous flowering plants that sprout leaves, bloom, and produce seed early in spring- are especially connected with hardwood (deciduous) forest stands. In these temporarily open-canopy woods, ephemeral wildflowers- such as trillium, trout lily, and others ? take advantage of the open sunlight and ample moisture to spring into action.



Trout Lily photo by Rex Turner.

Where can you experience spring wildflowers? The answer is that they can be found all across the state at different times, recognizing that spring ?arrives? at different times in the mountains and in the north. Some suggested Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands hiking trails to try include the North and South Loop Trails at Pineland Public Land [ [link removed] ], trails at the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park [ [link removed] ], Dodge Point Public Land [ [link removed] ], the Sanders Hill Trail at the Kennebec Highlands Public Land [ [link removed] ],?Bald Mt. Public Land?s [ [link removed] ] hiking trail, the Ponds Loop Trail at Little Moose Public Land [ [link removed] ], Amherst Mts. Community Forest Public Land [ [link removed] ], and Aroostook State Park [ [link removed] ].?Of course, there are many more options [ [link removed] ] at other Maine State Parks and Public Lands not mentioned here.



If you?re out enjoying spring?s wildflower show, remember that many of these plants are long-lived, slow-maturing perennial plants. Let hikers enjoy these plants year after year. Do not pick or dig up these plants. It?s the ethical thing and to do otherwise is against our rules.

Photos by Rex Turner? - Top: Trillium. Bottom: Trout lily.

~ Rex Turner, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

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Reid State Park Remains Temporarily Closed During Construction Work

Bridge renovation work at Reid State Park, April 18, 2023.

Above: Bridge renovation underway at Reid State Park. Below: Park entry booth renovation underway. Photos by Park Manager, Haylee Parsons.

Booth renovation at Reid State Park. Photo taken on April 20, 2023.

Reid State Park remains closed to all visitors. This includes walk-in access. This is out of concern for the safety of our visitors during the construction of a new park entrance station, and the bridge at Griffith Head which was destroyed by a winter storm.?The improvements to Reid and other State Parks are supported by funding through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.

We look forward to everyone enjoying these new modifications this summer! Text REID to 888-514-7527 to subscribe to updates from the park and to get notified of the park's reopening.

~ Haylee Parsons, Park Manager, Reid State Park

*Note to park users:* While this construction has caused short-term inconvenience for visitors and staff, it has enhanced project efficiency and has reduced visitor risks. The project started during winter when it would impact visitors less. We apologize to all friends of Reid State Park for the project requiring extra time. We ask for your patience and support for the park staff diligently managing these projects. We intend to be open at some point in May. This inconvenience will soon be a thing of the past, and the park?s infrastructure will be strengthened for many years.
~ BPL Director Andy Cutko

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Help Maine Trails - Leave No Trace - Mud Season Etiquette

Maine Conservation Corps team reminds you of the Leave No Trace principal: Plan Ahead and Prepare.

Maine Conservation Corps field teams are?Leave No Trace [ [link removed] ] experts, as they often hike hundreds of miles and camp in remote areas during their term of service. They know how to leave a beautiful trace, too - their handiwork, born of muscle and sweat - makes for improved visitor experiences. Respect their hard work and do not hike during mud season. If the trail is mostly dry with occasional mud - walk through it. Please do not widen trails by walking around mud patches. Getting your boots muddy is better than compacting soils and killing trailside plants. As any gardener will tell you, stay out of the garden when it is wet if you want to foster healthy soil and plants.

Springtime in Maine means any weather is possible - snow at high elevations and in northern Maine and cold hard rain anywhere in the state. Snowmelt combined with rain can lead to treacherous road and trail conditions. If your tires or boots are sinking in, it is time to turn around and head toward your plan B road or trail. Otherwise, you risk harm to yourself and certain damage to the travel surface.

Please plan ahead and prepare [ [link removed] ] and stay safe out there!?"Thank you!?" [ #gd_top ]

Photo courtesy of the Maine Conservation Corps.

~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands



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Love Maine Trails Month

Love Maine Trails Month image showing people working on trail projects. [ [link removed] ]

Love Maine Trails Month (LMTM) is a collective statewide month of trail stewardship where trail maintaining organizations, municipalities, state and federal agencies, staff and volunteers come together to perform a variety of trail work projects throughout Maine, engaging volunteers and raising awareness of the ethic of care and magnitude of scale required to maintain Maine?s trails. Love Maine Trails Month is organized by the Maine Trails Coalition in partnership with Maine Trail Finder.

*When:* Saturday, June 3 - Sunday, July 2, 2023
*Kick off:* National Trails Day, Saturday, June 2, 2023
*Participate:*


* Volunteer for a work day
* Find a work day location on Maine Trail Finder [ [link removed] ].
* Volunteers who log their LMTM participation through Maine Trail Finder will earn a Virtuous Volunteer Badge and be put into a drawing for prizes from participating Maine Outdoor Brands.?

* Host a trail work day at your organization
* To host a LMTM work day visit the host page on Maine Trail Finder [ [link removed] ].
* Organizations who participate and submit the required reports may be selected to receive a $1,000 award.?

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Smokey Bear Art & Wildfire Awareness

Smokey Bear and forest friends after a fire. Art by Rudy Wendelin.

Smokey Bear artwork by Rudy Wendelin. Above is "Why?"(1990). Below is "High Five for Fire Protection" (1996).

Smokey Bear and firetruck. Art by Rudy Wendelin.

The world-famous Smokey Bear artwork of Rudy Wendelin, whose work is credited with?immortalizing Smokey in pop culture history, will be on display at the Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk, ME through May 12.

When camping at a Maine State Park Campground, please only build a campfire in an authorized fireplace. Keep your campfire small and attended. Put the campfire out completely and make sure it is cold to the touch before you leave it. No matter where you camp or build a campfire, please follow their fire safety rules. As Smokey says, "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires."

Get a burn permit [ [link removed] ] before burning brush piles, wood debris, or starting an agricultural burn.

*Fire Safety Resources from the Maine Forest Service*


* Facts about Wildfires [ [link removed] ]
* Wildfire Danger Report [ [link removed] ]?
* Maine Burn Permit System [ [link removed] ]

Thank you!

~ Kent Nelson, Fire Prevention Specialist, Maine Forest Service

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Forestry Friday: Tick Talk with Chuck Lubelczyk

*Date:*?May 12, 2023
*Time:*?12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
*Location:* Virtual - Teams meeting
*Registration Required [ [link removed] ]*

This is a timely talk during?Maine's Lyme Disease Awareness Month [ [link removed] ]?about ticks: ecology, diseases, prevention measures. Chuck Lubelczyk is a field scientist with?Maine Health Institute for Research Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory [ [link removed] ]. He has been working on tick research since the late 1990s, focusing on the interactions between ticks and mosquitoes and their host and habitat requirements. As a Vector-borne Disease Work Group member, he is the attendee most-likely-to-participate-while-conducting fieldwork. He knows ticks from a scientific, practical and personal standpoint. Join us for an engaging and informative talk from one of Maine's top tick experts for our Lyme Disease Awareness Month-Forestry Friday.

~ Courtesy reprint of a Maine Forest Service bulletin

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www.ParksAndLands.com [ [link removed] ]

Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to?Jocelyn Hubbell <[email protected]>, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.?

Read back issues of the newsletter [ [link removed] ].?Text BPLNEWS to 888-514-7527 to subscribe.




Maine State Government is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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