 June 2023
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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, and plan a weekday visit if possible to avoid the crowds.
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.) 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
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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 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.
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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
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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
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I am pleased to announce that:
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!
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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!
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!
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~ Gary Best, Southern Regional Manager, State Parks & Historic Sites
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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?
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June Programs
Bradbury Mt. State Park, Pownal
Holbrook Island State Park, Brooksville
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport
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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!
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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.
- 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
Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders geteing ready for a day of trail work with a morning stretch circle at Cutler Coast Public Land.
I was lucky enough to spend an entire week with the Maine Conservation Corps Team Leaders at the awe-inspiring Cutler Coast Public Land! 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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Maine ATV Trails - 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
Weather-caused sinkhole on left, repair on the right.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) magnified, actual size on a penny, and ash baskets.
June 5, 1-2:30 pm, online, free, Pre-register.
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
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What's in your firewood? Do not move firewood into or around Maine.
Please do not give insects a lift - do not move firewood into or within Maine. Buy local and buy it where you burn it.
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Piping plover and chick. Image by Amanada Reed and courtesy of Maine Audubon.
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.
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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.
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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
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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 include a decision flow chart 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. See additional resources at BirdSafe Maine. And, consider volunteering for Avian Haven or your local wild bird rehabilitation center.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
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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.
~ Doug Beck, Outdoor Recreation Supervisor
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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.
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.
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Questions? Email Mathew Henion, Outdoor Recreation Grant Specialist
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LWCF funded Pemaquid Beach Park facility project.
Project map above. Photos of the view from Quill Hill and aerial shot of the summit below 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.
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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.
~ Excerpt from the May 12, 2023 Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry press release.
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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.
The renovated boat launch on the Pemaquid River at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site. Aerial shot by Matt McGuire.
The 400-ft. long wave attenuator installed 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
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Haiku for Haylee
Re-Opening Day — May 15, 2023
I
Kathy at the gate
welcoming long delayed friends
seeking Reid’s magic
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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
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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.
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Tick Bite Prevention
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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.
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Treat clothes with permethrin. Do not use on skin.
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Protect pets. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.
- Wear EPA-approved repellent.
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Stay on trails and be aware of tick habitat.
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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 presented by Chuck Lubelczyk, field scientist with Maine Health Institute for Research Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory.
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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.
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.
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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.
Read back issues of the newsletter.
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