View as a webpage  /  Share [ [link removed] ]

[ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]

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

In this Issue:

* Director's Note: Maine Beaches in Flux [ #link_1 ]
* Remembering Will Harris [ #link_16 ]
* Welcome Jeremy Grignon [ #link_2 ]
* Staff Spotlight [ #link_8 ]
* June Programs and Maine Residents' Day [ #link_10 ]
* America's State Parks Photo Contest - Enter Now! [ #link_14 ]
* Love Maine Trails Month [ #link_18 ]
* MCC Team Leaders Get Ready for the Season by Completing Trail Improvements at Cutler Coast Public Land [ #link_19 ]
* ATV Trail Update - Most Open for Memorial Day Weekend [ #link_17 ]
* Emerald Ash Borer and Ash Resilience Research Webinar on June 5 at 2 PM. [ #link_15 ]
* Firewood - Buy It Where You Burn It! - to Protect Maine's Forests [ #link_3 ]
* News from the Wild Side - Plovers and Vernal Pools [ #link_4 ]
* Nestlings will be Fledging Soon - Tips for Helping Birds Stay Safe by Avian Haven and BirdSafe Maine [ #link_5 ]
* Grant $ - Apply Now: Recreational Trails Program Application Deadline is September 29, 2023. [ #link_6 ]
* Grant $ - Land and Water Conservation Fund - Schedule Pre-Application Site Inspection Now for the 2024 Application Round! [ #link_7 ]
* Critical 13,500-Acre Section of Western Maine Protected [ #link_11 ]
* Boating Facilities Improvements [ #link_9 ]
* Haiku for Haylee by Susan Bateson [ #link_12 ]
* Stay Safe Out There - Tick Talk [ #link_13 ]
* Embrace Safety and Fun at Maine State Park Beaches [ #link_20 ]

________________________________________________________________________



Director's Note: Maine Beaches in Flux

Popham Beach at high tide showing a very narrow band of beach between the ocean and the dunes. May, 2023.

Winter storms and rising seas have taken their toll on Popham beach.

Conservationist Aldo Leopold once said, “One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds.” Battered by winter winds, the sands at Popham Beach can shift dramatically from one year to the next, and I’m always interested, in my first visit of the season, to see how things have changed. When I stopped by Popham earlier this week, the beach looked starkly different. A series of intense storms had eroded much of the beach and shifted sands westward toward the mouth of the Morse River. For extended stretches of shoreline, this summer’s beachgoers will be hard-pressed to find blanket space at high tide. *Pro-tip:* Text POPHAM to 888-514-7527 to subscribe to beach and parking condition updates, check the tide charts for Popham Beach [ [link removed] ], and plan a weekday visit if possible to avoid the crowds.

Dune erosion at Popham Beach State Park. Winter storms and rising seas have taken their toll on Popham beach.

While the winter’s impacts on Popham Beach are the most striking, all of Maine’s coastal state parks, including the popular Ferry Beach, Crescent Beach, and Reid, are at risk from the climate-related impacts of rising waters and increased storm intensity. The sea level on Maine’s coast has risen by eight inches since 1950. Moreover, sea level rise has accelerated over the last ten years, and according to Maine’s Climate Action Plan, Maine’s sea level is expected to rise another 1.5 feet by 2050 and four more feet by 2100. (The Maine Geologic Survey has some nifty mapping tools for coastal change [ [link removed] ].) Increasingly, coastal communities are planning for climate change, and conservationists are focused on identifying and protecting coastal habitats of the future, including lowland sites for ‘marsh migration.’ Common themes are resilience and adaptation – how can we design natural landscapes and built systems to withstand the inevitable changes? In short, we must find creative ways to make the best of an unpredictable and challenging future.

The next time I plan a relaxing day at the beach, maybe I should just try to think about frisbees and sunscreen.

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

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



Remembering Will Harris

Will Harris humorously putting a staff member through their paces (push-ups) in 2010.

Will Harris had a great sense of humor when putting staff through their paces during training sessions and field visits (above). He enjoyed helping visitors and staff during his park visits. Will assisted each year at the annual Winter Family Fun Days, whether behind the grill, at an information booth, or handing out gear from the ski & snowshoe trailer.

________________________________________________________________________



Will Harris, former Director of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, helping out at a Maine State Park entry booth in 2014.

Will Harris was always an ardent supporter of Parks & Historic Sites in particular, and the entire Bureau of Parks & Lands spectrum of divisions. Will was forward looking and a fierce defender of BPL budgets, in both his positions as the Director of Administrative Services and later the Director of Parks & Lands.

He was the behind the scenes architect of the statutory change in law that enabled the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) to retain all fee revenue above the $3 and $4 base as fee increases accrued going forward into a dedicated account for AWW capital expenditures. This eventually established the model for LD 700 provisions that will soon benefit state parks and historic sites in a similar fashion. Will, as a board member of the Friends of Maine State Parks, established a pilot program for the Friends to purchase Maine State Park vehicle season passes to be donated to Maine libraries.



Will Harris in 2012 at a Winter Family Fun Day at Aroostook State Park.

I recall one of his favorite pastimes were spent at the annual spring meeting in Greenville Junction, where after his Director’s presentation the following day he would rise early in the morning to fish the East Outlet of the Kennebec for salmon. Will loved Parks & Lands and I suspect that time spent as Director of BPL were among his most satisfying.

~ Ron Hunt, Director of Operations

Read Will's Obituary [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



Welcome Jeremy Grignon

Photo of Jeremy Gignon, new BPL Forestry Technician, in front of a stack of large bole-sized logs.

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is pleased to welcome Jeremy Grignon as a Forest Technician within the Western Region Public Lands. Jeremy will join a team that ensures sustainable forest management on Maine's Public Reserved Lands.

Jeremy grew up loving the outdoors in East Dixfield, Maine. During his junior and senior years of high school, Jeremy attended the Region 9 School of Applied Technology and immersed himself in the Forestry Program. This experience defined his college and career path. He attended the University of Maine and received a B.S. in Forestry in 2019. While at the University, he worked part-time as a conventional logger with his father John Grignon. After college, Jeremy went into full-time logging for four years, doing everything from hand-cutting, trucking, and heavy equipment repairs.

Jeremy is excited to put his logging and operational experience to use as a new forest technician with the Bureau. His professional interests include GIS, silviculture, and harvest operations. In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys bass fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and skiing.

Welcome to the team Jeremy!

~ Tim Post, Region Manager, Western Region Public Lands

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



Staff Spotlight

I am pleased to announce that:

Owen Blease, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

*Owen Blease* has been promoted to Senior Planner with the Bureau of Parks and Lands to assist with planning and oversight of Maine State Park projects funded by the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.  Owen’s education includes earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Southern Maine, Gorham.  His work experience includes three seasons of experience working at Eagle Island State Historic Site and serving as the Park Manager at Sebago Lake State Park since 2020. Please join me in congratulating Owen Blease on this promotion and wishing him continued success.  Congratulations!



*Paul Baker* has been promoted to acting Park Manager at Sebago Lake State Park. Paul has worked for the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) since 2019, having held positions at Bradbury Mountain State Park, Popham Beach State Park, and Cobscook Bay State Park. Paul is one of three people working for BPL who has completed all components of Ranger Academy (Rule Compliance, Operations & Maintenance, and Interpretation). He received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Recreation and Management from the University of Maine, Machias.  Paul brings extensive experience gained from his time working at Maine State Parks and while serving as a Community Supports Supervisor with Pathways of Maine; a Recreation Technician at the United States Forest Service in Hat Creek, CA; as an Environmental and Agriculture Extension Agent with the Peace Corps in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; as a National Forest Use and Wilderness Monitoring Intern for the Sitka Conservation Society and USFS; as an Outdoor Leadership Teaching Assistant at the University of Maine, Machias; and a crew leader with the California Conservation Corps.  Please join me in congratulating Paul Baker on this promotion and wishing him continued success.  Congratulations! 

*Tim Healy* has returned to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands as the acting Park Manager of Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site.  Tim comes to us with extensive experience working at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites for 13 seasons, holding positions of Park Laborer and Park Ranger at Reid State Park, Assistant Park Ranger at Warren Island State Park, Assistant Park Ranger at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, and as Manager of Damariscotta Lake State Park, Grafton Notch State Park, and Hermon Pond State Park.  Please join me in congratulating Tim Healy on his return to the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and wishing him continued success.  Congratulations!

Photo of Casey Smedberg.

*Casey Smedberg* has been promoted to Park Manager at Mount Blue State Park. Casey has seven seasons of experience at Mount Blue State Park, ranging from working as a lifeguard at Webb Beach to all aspects of operations at the busy Mount Blue Campground Entrance Booth to maintaining campsites and bathhouses and enforcing rules. She also has park management experience that she has gained as the Park Manager II of Ferry Beach State Park, where she demonstrated excellent organizational, administrative, and leadership skills. She successfully completed Ranger Academy Rule Compliance and Enforcement, and Ranger Academy Interpretation. She is finalizing her Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Connecticut, has an M.A. in English Language and Literature from Villanova University, an M.A. in Medieval Literature from the University of York, England, and a B.A. in English Language and Literature and Political Science from Gordon College. Casey is a go-getter who accomplishes projects at a high standard. She has a passion for the stewardship of the natural and cultural resources at Mt. Blue State Park. She greatly appreciates the park’s dedicated staff and has a knack for finding ways to improve the visitor experience. This promotion is well deserved. Please join me in congratulating Casey Smedberg on this promotion, welcoming her back to Mt. Blue State Park, and wishing her continued success. Congratulations!



~ Gary Best, Southern Regional Manager, State Parks & Historic Sites

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



June Programs and Maine Residents' Day

Youngster with backpack on a hike at Androscoggin Riverlands.
Maine Residents' Day is June 18

All Maine residents receive free day-use admission to Maine State Parks and Historic Sites* from 9:00 a.m. to closing on Maine Residents' Day, June 18, 2023.
**Please Note:*


* No rain date available; day-use only.
* Free admission does not apply to: Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Peacock Beach, the Maine 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 that day.

*Where will you venture out?*


* Outdoors in Maine guide [ [link removed] ] to Maine State Parks, Historic Sites and the Public Lands.
* Parks & Lands Finder [ [link removed] ] to search by location, region, activities and facilities.


June Programs

Bradbury Mt. State Park, Pownal

* June 3 - Fronds and Fiddleheads [ [link removed] ]
* June 10 - Elfin World of Lichens and Mosses [ [link removed] ]
* June 16 - Nighttime Creatures & Sky Tour [ [link removed] ]
* June 17 - Reading Tree Leaves [ [link removed] ]

Holbrook Island State Park, Brooksville

* June 17 - Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk with author Tom Seymour [ [link removed] ]
* June 30 - Atlantic Clarion Steel Band - an evening of music & dance [ [link removed] ]

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport

* June 3 - Hike with the Ranger [ [link removed] ]
* June 4 - Osprey Watch [ [link removed] ]
* June 10 - In the Pines [ [link removed] ]
* June 11 - Osprey Watch [ [link removed] ]
* View more listings on our event finder. [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



America's State Parks Photo Contest - Enter Now!

Enter your photo of a Maine State Park into this nationwide America's State Parks contest by July 15, and you might win $5,000 courtesy of Black Folks Camp Too or a $500 Moosejaw Gift Card and a membership to the Apex Club. Read the contest details and enter now! [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Love Maine Trails Month

Love Maine Trails graphic showing people doing trail work.

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:* Thursday, June 1 - 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. 

________________________________________________________________________



MCC Team Leaders Get Ready for the Season by Completing Trail Improvements at Cutler Coast Public Land

Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders at their morning stretch circle at Cutler Coast Public Land.

Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders geteing ready for a day of trail work with a morning stretch circle at Cutler Coast Public Land.

Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders beginning installion bog bridging.

I was lucky enough to spend an entire week with the Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders at the awe-inspiring Cutler Coast Public Land [ [link removed] ]! This trip was to give folks a glimpse into backcountry living… and geesh did it do so! Collectively we were able to hike in camp gear, tools, chainsaws, and 30 gallons of fresh water several miles. The trek presented challenges as we hiked through ankle-deep mud and black flies galore, but as soon as the trail opened to a panoramic view of the Atlantic, any bad feelings seemed to drift away with the tide.



Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders with bog bridging they made at Cutler Coast Public Land.

Each morning provided a spectacular backdrop for a stretch circle that truly ignited energy for the day. The ten leaders were split up into four groups and spread out across roughly three miles of trail to work on replacing bog bridging. Conditions were buggy, muddy, and steep but complaints were few! On top of building bog bridges, the crew also had to quickly adjust to sourcing sill material on site. Many of the project sites required sills with more height than what was provided, so we were able to get permission to drop trees and cut what we needed. Bonus practice for folks!



Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders with completed bog bridge at Cutler Coast Public Land.

Overall, Team Leaders put in 20 new bog bridges, cleared 37 blowdowns from the Inland Trail, and felled five trees for rounds. The group maintained roughly three miles of trail over the course of three full service days, and I left feeling incredibly proud of each one of them. Their ability to adapt to project changes and weather constructive criticism was admirable, and I’m overjoyed that I got to be a part of this backcountry experience with them. Through gusty wind-filled evenings and mornings, we shared frustrations, ambitions, secret snacks, and coffee. The experience was everything that a trail crew hitch should be. Challenging, but rewarding.

~ Liz Thibault, Trail Planner, Grants & Community Recreation

Join the Maine Conservation Corps! [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



ATV Trail Update - Most Open for Memorial Day Weekend

Before and after shots of the damage and repair of a Flagstaff ATV trail.

Weather-damaged Flagstaff trail on left and the repair on the right.

Most ATV Trails will open on Friday, May 26th for Memorial Day weekend. All state rail trails will be open *except the Oakland to Embden trail,* which is still under construction, and will only be open from Anson northward.

The large landowners have agreed to the opening. However, there are areas that have *no trail connection* due to harvesting activities, washouts, and/or road/trail damage like *Rockwood to Jackman, and Jackman to the Forks.* Please respect the landowners’ wishes and clubs' work and avoid the areas that are closed. Check locally and obey all signs as there are several areas that remain closed.

Some of the trails have just been patched enough to get them open so please be careful and drive responsibly.


* For additional trail updates check with your local ATV club.
* Maine ATV Trails [ [link removed] ] - Find an ATV trail and get info on multi-use rail trails.
* Text ATV to 888-514-7527 to get ATV news and trail alerts.

Be Safe and Have Fun!

~ Brian Bronson, Supervisor, Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program

Before and after shots of repair of sinkhole near a bridge on the Flagstaff trail.

Weather-caused sinkhole on left, repair on the right.

________________________________________________________________________



Emerald Ash Borer and Ash Resilience Research Webinar on June 5 at 2 PM.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), EAB on a penny, and an Ash basket.

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

*June 5, 1-2:30 pm, online, free, Pre-register [ [link removed] ].*

During this Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) free online webinar, researchers will discuss their current efforts to study ash resilience in the face of emerald ash borer (EAB). A panel of Forest Service and genetic researchers will introduce current information about the spread of EAB in the Northeast, discuss new results from EAB management trials, and share recent discoveries of lingering ash and genetic resistance to EAB. We will also discuss how forest managers can support these research efforts. Our panel includes Jill Hamilton, Researcher at Penn State, Jennifer Koch, Research Biologist at the Forest Service, Nate Siegert, Forest Entomologist at the Forest Service.

~ Ella McDonald, Graduate Assistant on behalf of APCAW [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Firewood - Buy It Where You Burn It! - to Protect Maine's Forests

Image of log with invasive pets that destroy forests. [ [link removed] ]

What's in your firewood? Do not move firewood into or around Maine.

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.


* Tips on finding safe firewood and proper disposal of infected wood [ [link removed] ].
* View and learn about the invasive threats to Maine's Forests [ [link removed] ].

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



News from the Wild Side - Plovers and Vernal Pools

Piping plover and chick sitting together in their beach nest - a scrape in the sand.

Piping plover and chick. Image by Amanada Reed and courtesy of Maine Audubon.

________________________________________________________________________



Sign asking beach goers to help protect nesting plovers by staying off the dunes where the birds nest.

*Piping plovers* have arrived from their overwintering grounds. On May 1, the nesting pair count was two pairs at Scarborough Beach State Park, one pair at Crescent Beach, eight pairs at Popham Beach, and three pairs at Reid (one at Mile Beach, two at Half Mile). Now there are more pairs, and nests have been established. We’re thankful for our partners at Maine Audubon, who, through an agreement with IF&W, are monitoring these beaches along with more than 20 others across the coastline. You can do your part by staying off the dunes, away from birds foraging on and near the beach, and minding all signs and fencing.



Vernal pool in a woodland.

*Vernal pools* came alive throughout the state in late April and early May, stimulated by the relatively warm rainy nights, which trigger amphibians to wake from their winter slumber under the leaf litter and other rotting material on the forest floor and head to their breeding grounds. For wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and blue-spotted salamanders, this means heading for a vernal pool to find others and reproduce. In southern Maine, this has been happening since early April. For our friends in northern Maine, this ramped up in May. If you’re interested in learning more about vernal pools and their inhabitants, check out Of Pools and People Vernal Pools [ [link removed] ].



A wood frog and an egg mass at a woodland vernal pool.

A wood frog and an egg mass at a woodland vernal pool.

The *broad-winged hawks* have once again taken up residence in my backyard, plucking twigs and bark from nearby trees to build their nest in the red maple they’ve chosen this year. *Peregrine falcons* have started nesting at several State Park and Public Land locations across the state. By now, most *waterfowl* have laid eggs and are in a three-week plus incubation period before the hatchlings will appear in late May or early June. Some species, like wood duck, common goldeneye, and hooded merganser, nest in tree cavities or artificial boxes. Other species, like mallards, black ducks, and ring-necked ducks, will nest on the ground.

In June and July, I’ll take to the water as the sun is rising to count waterfowl and their offspring at several indicator sites throughout the state. Look for my update in August.

~ Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Nestlings will be Fledging Soon - Tips for Helping Birds Stay Safe by Avian Haven and BirdSafe Maine

Cardinal nestling at Avian Haven for care. Photo courtesy of Avian Haven. [ [link removed] ]

Nesting season is here, and many species of birds will be hatching soon. Baby birds that fall out of a nest and are not injured but cannot perch or begin to fly should be returned to the nest. These guidelines from Avian Haven [ [link removed] ] include a decision flow chart [ [link removed] ] and will help you know what to do if you find a grounded nestling or injured bird.

Help protect birds by keeping cats indoors and reduce window strikes [ [link removed] ]. See additional resources at BirdSafe Maine [ [link removed] ]. And, consider volunteering for Avian Haven [ [link removed] ] or your local wild bird rehabilitation center.

~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



Grant $ - Apply Now: Recreational Trails Program Application Deadline is September 29, 2023.

Loon Echo Land Trust trail project at Pondicherry Park in Bridgeton supported with Recreational Trail Program (RTP) funds.

Loon Echo Land Trust’s Pondicherry Park Trail - an RTP funded project in Bridgeton completed last year.

________________________________________________________________________



Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funding supports the development and maintenance of recreational trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses. Eligible projects may include:


* Maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails.
* Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages for recreational trails.
* Construction of new recreational trails.
* Acquisition of easements or fee simple title to property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors

Application and eligibility requirements are available on the RTP webpage [ [link removed] ].

~ Doug Beck, Outdoor Recreation Supervisor

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Grant $ - Land and Water Conservation Fund - Schedule Pre-Application Site Inspection Now for the 2024 Application Round!

Pemaquid Beach Park Facility funded by an LWCF grant.

The Pemaquid Beach Park facility with a pavilion contains a rental booth, restrooms, indoor/outdoor showers, ticket booth, walk-up snack bar, office and storage areas as well as an accessible walkway to the beach. This LWCF funded project was completed in 2021.

________________________________________________________________________



Pavilion and view to beach access, an LWCF funded project at Pemaquid Beach Park.

To be eligible to apply for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) assistance, project sponsors *must first request a Pre-Application Site Inspection* from LWCF program staff. This inspection assures project and project sponsor eligibility. This is also an excellent opportunity discuss the vision for the project and how to increase your chances for success. 



* Request a Pre-Application Site Inspection [ [link removed] ] by December 31, 2023 to determine eligibility for the 2024 grant cycle.
* If you had your site inspection for the 2023 grant cycle, remember that the application is due by June 30, 2023.
* Learn more about LWCF Grants [ [link removed] ].

*Questions?* Email Mathew Henion <[email protected]>, Outdoor Recreation Grant Specialist

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

Accessible walkway at Pemaquid Beach Park funded, in part, by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

LWCF funded Pemaquid Beach Park facility project.

________________________________________________________________________



Critical 13,500-Acre Section of Western Maine Protected

Map of the Quill Hill and Perham Stream parcels and surrounding properties.

Project map above. Photos of the view from Quill Hill and aerial shot of the summit below by Joseph Anderson.

View from Quill Hill. Photo by Joseph Anderson.

________________________________________________________________________



Aerial shot of Quill Hill by Joseph Anderson.

Two key properties totaling 13,640-acres in the Western Maine Mountains - Quill Hill and Perham Stream have been permanently protected. All of the acreage will be open for public use, and a majority will continue to be managed with timber harvests. This conservation project was led by Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, and The State of Maine's Bureau of Parks and Lands with lead public funding from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Navy.



These lands are part of the traditional territory and of ongoing cultural significance to the Wabanaki People. They are also key parts of a priority landscape for enhancing carbon storage and ensuring species can adapt to a changing climate. Quill Hill and Perham Stream are vitally important to the regions economy, outdoor recreation, forest products industry, climate resilience, wildlife habitat, healthy watersheds, and quality of life. They are prominent in the landscapes visible from the Appalachian Trail, Mt. Abraham, and the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway and adjacent to the wilderness training facility operated by the U.S. Navy in Redington Township. Continue reading [ [link removed] ].

~ Excerpt from the May 12, 2023 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry press release [ [link removed] ].

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Boating Facilities Improvements

Aerial of renovated boat launch facility on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.

Completed improvements to the boat launch facility on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site. Aerial image by Matt McGuire.

The Boating Division recently completed major renovations and upgrades to the *boat launch facility on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site*. Work consisted of a new concrete plank ramp, ADA boarding floats with float piles, ADA parking and toilet, and newly paved parking areas and access roadway. The project was designed by Pine Tree Engineering of Bath, ME, and constructed by Farley, Inc of Rockport, ME.

Aerial shot of the improved boat launch on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.

The renovated boat launch on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site. Aerial shot by Matt McGuire.

________________________________________________________________________



New 400’ long wave attenuator at the boat ramp at Rangeley Lake State Park.

The 400-ft. long wave attenuator installed at the boat ramp at Rangeley Lake State Park.

Crew installing the wave attenuator at the boat ramp at Rangeley Lake State Park.

The Boating Division also recently installed a new *400’ long wave attenuator at the boat ramp at Rangeley Lake State Park.* The structure will help protect the boating facility and docks from wave damage and erosion. The attenuator was designed by Pine Tree Engineering of Bath, ME, and constructed by N.F. Luce, Inc of Anson, ME. Parks staff and Navigational Aids program crews are on site to secure the structure in place. This project was paid for by a combination of funds that include Maine Jobs Recovery Plan funding. 

~ Thomas Linscott, Director, Boating Facilities Division 

Top of page [ #gd_top ]



________________________________________________________________________



Haiku for Haylee by Susan Bateson

*Haiku for Haylee*

Re-Opening Day — May 15, 2023

I

Kathy at the gate

welcoming long delayed friends

seeking Reid’s magic

II

Ignoring chill winds

and clouds, we come, craving air,

rocky coast and sand 

III

Raging winter storms

reshape beach contours again

Each spring a surprise

IV

The walk familiar

Restores slow in-out breathing

Lightening one’s load

V

Season’s pass in hand

Happy to be back on beach

Our thanks to Haylee!

Susan Bateson
Georgetown

*Editor's Note* - This haiku was sent to Haylee Parsons, Manager of Reid State Park, by Susan Bateson as an expression of her delight that park visitation has resumed - parking available at Todd's Point only while the construction continues. Please use caution and follow the cones and signs to Todd's Point. Text REID to 888-514-7527 to subscribe to updates from the park. Subscribers will receive a text when the park fully opens.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Stay Safe Out There - Tick Talk

Ticks in Maine by Maine CDCP. Photos by Griffin Dill.

*Tick Bite Prevention*


* *Wear protective clothing.* This includes light colored clothing so that ticks are easy to spot, long sleeves and pants, closed-toe shoes, and tucking pants into socks.
* *Treat clothes with permethrin. *Do not use on skin.
* *Protect pets.* Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.
* *Wear EPA-approved repellent.*
* *Stay on trails* and be aware of tick habitat.
* *Check yourself for ticks.* Check often during your outdoor activity and when you return to your campsite or home.

Learn about tick ecology, diseases, and prevention measures by watching the Forestry Friday Tick Talk [ [link removed] ] presented by Chuck Lubelczyk, field scientist with Maine Health Institute for Research Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory. [ [link removed] ]

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Embrace Safety and Fun at Maine State Park Beaches

Children playing in the surf at Reid State Park. Photo by Ellen Wood.

Children playing in the surf at Reid State Park. Photo by Ellen Wood.

*Embrace Safety and Fun at Maine State Park Beaches*
"National Beach Safety Week"

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is joining National Beach Safety Week's spirit in promoting beach safety and spreading the word to ensure a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend. With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, as we prepare to enjoy the sun, sand, and waves on Maine State Park beaches, it is time to prioritize safety while creating lasting memories. Continue reading for beach safety tips [ [link removed] ]. 

*Be in the Know Before You Go - Get our Beach Alerts:*


* Popham Beach State Park - Text POPHAM to 888-514-7527
* Reid State Park - Text REID to 888-514-7527  - Please note that Todd's Point is the only available parking due to ongoing construction.

*Pet Reminder* - No pets are allowed on State Park Beaches between April 1 and September 30. Leashed pets will be welcomed back to the beaches on October 1.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



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] ].




Maine State Government is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

[ [link removed] ]

Facebook [ [link removed] ] Twitter [ [link removed] ] Email Updates [ [link removed] ]

Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ] | Credits [ [link removed] ] | Contact Us [ [link removed] ]





________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry · 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building · Augusta, ME 04333 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]