From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Dec 16 12:42:54 2008 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:42:54 -0500 Subject: [mfs_test] listserv test #1 Message-ID: Week ending Dec. 12, 2008 Conserving Maine's Special Places for Maine People 22 State House Station, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta, Maine 04333 htttp://www.maine.gov/doc WELCOME ... to the first edition of the Maine Department of Conservation newsletter! We intend to make this a regular publication, appearing every two weeks or so, to keep you informed about all the things that we do at the MDOC. The department consists of four bureaus: the Bureau of Parks and Lands; the Maine Forest Service; the Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas; and the Land Use Regulation Commission. These bureaus cover a lot of area - literally. Collectively, they oversee the management, development and protection of some of Maine's most special places: 17 million acres of forest land, 10.4 million acres of unorganized territory, 47 parks and historic sites and more than 480,000 acres of public reserved land. We are dedicated to promoting stewardship and ensuring responsible, balanced use of the state's land, forest, water, and mineral resources, for the benefit of all Maine people. I hope you find the newsletter interesting and informative. Please contact the department if you have any questions. Best regards, Patrick McGowan Commissioner Maine Department of Conservation Maine Forest Rangers Help Storm Recovery Effort Maine Forest Rangers responded to Thursday's bad winter ice-and-rain storm, according to Bill Williams, Maine Forest Service supervisor of Forest Protection. Forest Rangers worked locally with county emergency management agencies as needed, Williams said. The division also provided a representative to work with the Maine Department of Transportation and local utilities to provide resources for clearing trees from roadways and power lines to help restore access and power statewide. Earlier Friday, several Forest Rangers helped clear downed trees in southern Penobscot and Northern Washington counties, according to Kent Nelson, MFS fire prevention specialist. One Ranger assisted a fire department responding to a car accident by clearing downed tree limbs to allow rescue crew access. Four Rangers assisted York County EMA by staffing phones and advising residents without power how to get to local shelters. They also did triage on calls for Central Maine Power by setting priorities for reports of downed trees and power lines. An evening shift of two Rangers also was requested for Friday night. In Augusta, one Ranger worked directly with CMP, Maine DOT and Associated General Contractors of Maine to coordinate recovery efforts. Approximately eight Forest Rangers stayed on duty Friday, and a dozen more were on standby in case they were needed. All continued to keep in touch with county EMA directors and local fire and police departments to offer support and resources. Forest Rangers also were available to help as needed on Saturday. As of Monday, the York County EMA was still being aided by the Rangers. Bureau of Parks and Lands Awards Recreation Grants The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, has awarded more than $100,000 to four municipalities and one county government for outdoor recreation projects funded by a federal grants program. The funds will be used to improve and upgrade several types of recreational facilities around the state, according to BPL officials. A total of $113,885 has been approved for the government entities under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program. The program is administered annually by BPL for outdoor recreation projects for all towns, school districts and Indian tribal governments. The awards include three playground facilities; acquisition of land for trailhead access to miles of established ATV and snowmobile trails; and assisting the construction of a skateboard park. The projects are: * $25,000 for the Town of Woodland (Aroostook County) to replace an aging playground at the Woodland Community School; * $25,000 for the City of Gardiner to replace the playground at the Town Common; * $20,000 for the Town of Skowhegan to upgrade the playground at Memorial Field; * $23,885 to the Piscataquis County Commission for acquisition of a 2-acre parcel in Greenville Junction for trailhead access; * $20,000 for assistance to the City of Portland for its skateboard park. Only seven applications were received this year for the funding. The federal funds come from off-shore leases. The grant approvals now go to the National Parks Service for final authorization, expected sometime in January. For more information on the program, contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Community Recreation Division at (207) 287-4962. Meet the Beetles A predatory beetle that likes to munch on hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was successfully released on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the York Water District. Entomologist Allison Kanoti of the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, and Wayne Searles, MFS entomology technician, released about 500 of Laricobius nigrinus, a tiny, black beetle sent from a Virginia Tech lab. It is expected that the Laricobius will get established and their descendants will help reduce HWA populations. HWA is an invasive insect that destroys hemlocks, a tree species that helps preserve Maine's water quality and one that is important to the woods industry. Biological control is the best hope for long-term control of HWA in Maine's forests. The Laricobius was released at this time of year because it feeds during the winter months. Winters in southern and coastal areas in Maine are suitable for their survival, though a colder-than-average winter could hinder their establishment. The cost of the beetles was paid for by the federal government. The HWA has been found in a number of locations in southern Maine. Local residents in the Kennebunkport area are being asked to examine their trees for HWA signs and to report their findings to the Maine Forest Service. To report HWA, call or email: Allison Kanoti, Maine Forest Service Insect and Disease Lab, 50 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330; (207) 287-3147; Allison.m.kanoti at maine.gov . For more information, go to: http://www.maineforestservice.org/HemlockWoolyAdelgid.htm Maine Loggers Continue To Use Best Practices To Protect State Water Quality Most Maine loggers are using best logging practices to protect the state's water quality, according to a Maine Forest Service report issued in November. A survey of 250 randomly chosen timber harvest sites shows that in 2006 and 2007, more than three-quarters of Maine loggers are using "best management practices" (BMPs) - or appropriate logging methods - to protect water quality at their harvest sites. The survey results indicate that most Maine loggers are highly conscientious about using BMPs, even under difficult weather and climate conditions, and are working cooperatively with the forest service to protect water quality and wetland areas in Maine's forests, according to the MFS. For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml LURC Members Handle Heavy Workload The Land Use Regulation Commission essentially is the planning and zoning board for Maine's Unorganized Territories, those areas that have no local government, as well as townships and plantations that choose to use its services rather than form a planning board. The Commission is responsible for guiding development in more than 10.4 million acres, half of all the land in Maine and the largest contiguous undeveloped area in the Northeast. The seven volunteer members of the commission had a heavy workload this past year. After 300 hours of hearings and four days of deliberations, the Commission reached a preliminary decision to approve the Plum Creek concept plan. They also approved wind power facilities on Kibby Mountain in Franklin County and Stetson Mountain in Washington County, approved the construction of a lodge near Flagstaff Lake by Maine Huts and Trails and a 10-year phased development at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley. Finally, the commission adopted rules for wind power development in order to implement a new statute. For the past several years, staff members have been gathering information in order to revise and update the Commission's comprehensive plan. Last spring, they held a series of informal public sessions throughout the state to discuss the current draft. In January the Commission will hold four facilitated meetings for a working group to discuss the issue of development in the Unorganized Territories. Formal public hearings on a final draft report will be held in the spring of 2009. Snowmobile Clubs and Municipalities to Get More Trail Funds Snowmobile clubs and municipalities with snowmobile trails this year are receiving more grant money for trail maintenance, according to Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands officials. Eligible clubs will receive in total about $100,000 more this year than last year, while municipalities will see their grants increase in total by about $280,000, Scott Ramsay, director of the BPL Off Road Vehicle Division said this week. It is the first increase in the grant awards seen in four years, Ramsay said. The funding will go toward maintaining about 8,443 miles of club trails and 5,497 miles of municipal trails, he said. The funding, generated by increased snowmobile registration fees, was requested by snowmobile users and approved last year by the state Legislature. Qualified clubs still can apply for the Club Trail Maintenance Grant until Wednesday, Dec. 31. Municipalities will receive their awards by Dec. 19 For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/snowmobile Parks work making progress John Picher, director of engineering and realty for the Bureau of Parks and Lands, reports that the bureau's infrastructure projects funded by the November 2007 bond should all be completed on time before Memorial Day weekend 2009. Picher says progress has been very good on most projects, and all buildings are expected to have roofs up before winter shutdown. Winter shutdown, which varies from project to project, occurs when the weather becomes too adverse for work to continue or ground work becomes too difficult. Projects already completed on time include shoreline stabilization and masonry (bastion) repairs at Eagle Island State Historic Site, home of Admiral Robert Peary, explorer of the North Pole, and the installation of the Webb Beach septic system at Mount Blue State Park. Projects on schedule include: showers at Rangeley Lake and Peaks-Kenny state parks; the bathhouse construction at Damariscotta Lake State Park; restrooms at Moose Point State Park; phase one of masonry repairs at Fort Popham State Historic Site; and phase one of the installation of a new septic system at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, to be completed by Dec. 15. Projects expected to be on schedule before winter shutdown include the new Popham Beach bathhouses; and the construction of showers and a group shelter at Lake St. George State Park. All this construction is made possible by the overwhelming support of Maine residents and the state Legislature for the November 2007 bond. Maine Forest Service Holds Regional Congress Sessions The Maine Forest Service has been holding a series of six Logger/Trucker Congresses around the state, with MDOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan in attendance at several of the gatherings along with MFS officials. The gatherings - the first of their kind to be held by the forest service -- are designed to secure the supply chain of the forest products industry by seeking grassroots involvement in developing recommendations to strengthen the logging and forest products-trucking community. Many loggers and truckers so far have attended the dinner sessions held to date in Lincoln, Houlton, Fort Kent, Ellsworth and Farmington. Those attending have been asked to consider the current strengths of the supply chain and what needs to be maintained; opportunities for improvement; and solutions to specific problems. "These sessions have been extremely informative and productive," Commissioner McGowan said. "I certainly enjoyed meeting with the group of professionals in Fort Kent and Farmington and hearing their insightful comments. We need to assure that our logging and trucking community - an integral part of one of Maine's most valuable resources -- is adequately supported and continues to be profitable, especially in these precarious economic times." Sandy Brawders of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, which helped organize the congresses, praised Commissioner McGowan and MFS Director Alec Giffen for their attendance, saying they "came prepared to listen for possible solutions, short-term and long-term, which loggers are suggesting to keep all the components of the supply chain healthy. "Maine's past and future is in its natural resources, and it is not just through tourism," Brawders said Friday. "Working forests are healthy forests, and we need loggers to harvest. None of us will let this profession slip away." The final Congress will be held tonight in Gray. Loggers and truckers interested in attending are encouraged to respond to Ausilia Evans at 688-8195 or email at: ausilia at tcnef.org Space is limited to the first 40 signups. Maine Geological Survey investigates Freeport watersheds Daniel Locke, a hydrogeologist with the Maine Geological Survey, is conducting and managing data collection efforts in a water-resource investigation in the Freeport watersheds. The watersheds supply wells for the Freeport Division of Aqua Maine (FDAM). Aqua Maine Inc. is a public utility that owns or manages 15 water systems in Maine. FDAM's primary source wells are in a large, sand-and-gravel aquifer, or ground water source, first mapped by the Maine Geological Survey in the 1980s. Selection of these watersheds for detailed investigations was made using criteria established by the Water Resources Planning Committee, a stakeholder group established by the Legislature in 2007 to focus on water issues in individual watersheds. Locke and MGS summer interns spent the majority of their time in Freeport collecting additional data on the sand and gravel aquifers. They collected more than 40 seismic refraction lines across key areas of the aquifers. Seismic refraction lines are survey lines created by sending sound waves into the earth and measuring their bounce to the surface. With this technique, we can determine the thickness of unconsolidated materials, such as sand, gravel and mud, above the solid bedrock, and establish the local water table. Water budgets determining how much water is available in the Freeport area will be compiled using the information. As part of this, Locke also has established about a dozen measurement sites to improve our understanding of natural flows into streams. He and other MGS staff will measure flows at these sites periodically in the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. Saturday and Sunday in the Park with Mother Nature This is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the best that Maine has to offer, and the Bureau of Parks and Lands has just the right events. On Saturdays, you can join Ranger Tami Bill for an afternoon hike or snowshoe expedition at Bradbury Mountain State Park and explore what nature has to offer in the winter. The hikes will be held each week, and participants will see a variety of winter ecosystems, learn how plants and animals survive, and observe those birds that stay around all year. Participants can bring their own snowshoes or rent a pair at the park. Programs start at 1 p.m. Hikers should dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and meet at the covered picnic shelter by the playground. No dogs on the program, please. The programs are free with park admission; adults 12-65, $3; children 5-11, $1; children under 5 and adults 65 and over are free. For more information, please call the park at 688-4712. At Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, guided nature programs, free with park admission, are offered on Sundays through Dec. 28. All programs start at 2 p.m. at the benches by the second parking lot, weather permitting. No reservations are needed, except for group programs. Please call the park at (207) 865-4465 the day of the program, after 10am, for updates on the programs. Landowner Relations Efforts Under Way Bob Duplessie, director of Landowner Relations for MDOC/ IF&W, works diligently to coordinate the care and management of land and trails between landowners and off-road vehicle users. Duplessie reports that work is progressing on some new brochures and a new website to help all groups in Maine understand their rights and responsibilities. The brochures, "Landowner Liability Law" and "Access to Private Land is a Privilege, Not a Right," should be ready in about three weeks. The website design should be completed and the site posted in early January. Among other projects he has undertaken, Duplessie is working to coordinate with various parties to remove an abandoned 20-foot-long boat on the Crooked River at Edes Falls at the Naples-Casco town line. Those involved include the Maine Warden Service, Western Foothills Land Trust, the town of Naples, Portland Water District, and several private individuals. The director also has spent a considerable amount of time related to some serious environmental and landscape damage along the utility corridor in Waterford. The damage seems to have been caused by ATVs and other four-by-four vehicles in three locations where they are damaging embankments and crossing through the Crooked River. Duplessie has been working to resolve the issue with all involved landowners, including the Portland/ Montreal Pipe Line Corporation, CMP and private landowners. As part of his responsibilities, Duplessie also is taking part in a sportsman's ethics class. He expects to make a presentation on landowner relations to the class on Friday, Dec. 19. The class, sponsored by DIF&W and coordinated by Safety Officer Mike Sawyer, is mandatory for all convicted violators of fish and game laws if in the future they want to get another license related to fish and game. Community Trees Make a Difference in Maine Towns Across Maine, from small populated villages to urban centers, there is growing awareness of the important economic and ecological roles trees play in our neighborhoods, communities and cities. The Maine Forest Service stands and remains poised to work with Maine's towns to preserve and restore tree canopy in order to provide these benefits for current and future generations. Project Canopy, a program administered by MFS, is Maine's urban and community forestry program. Working with community volunteers and municipal officials, Project Canopy promotes sustainable community forestry programs by providing technical advice on tree care and planting as well as offering community grants that support community forestry efforts. In 2008, the Project Canopy Assistance program funded 42 grants to communities and organizations, totaling $250,000. One such grant supports the Town of Castine in their effort to preserve their street tree canopy. The American elm, which used to shade the streets of thousands of towns across this country, was all but wiped out by Dutch elm disease in the latter part of the last century. Fortunately for the Town of Castine, Dr. Richard Campana, a University of Maine forest pathologist, developed the vaccination serum in which he experimented on Castine's elm trees. It worked, and, as a result, the town retains over 300 of the gracious elms along town streets and in public spaces. In the fall of 2007, the town experienced a severe storm which toppled thousands of trees, including 14 of the beloved elms. The experience prompted the community to take a more proactive approach to managing their public tree resources. The town hired a consulting arborist to inventory existing street trees with the assistance of volunteers from the community. The inventory will be used to establish a long term plan for continued tree care and maintenance to preserve the town's trees, particularly the elms. Project Canopy aims to grow the program in 2009 by providing educational, technical and/or financial assistance in support of community trees in the majority of our cities and towns. For more information on Project Canopy please contact Jan Santerre, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. Grant information can be obtained by visiting the Project Canopy website at http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Seeks Nominations for Big Tree Maine, more than any other state in the country, is blessed with trees, and the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, is looking for the largest specimens. Nominations for the 2009/2010 Maine Register of Big Trees can be submitted through December 31, 2008. Since 1968, the Maine Forest Service has been compiling a list of the largest known specimens of native and naturalized trees in Maine. The 2007/2008 Register contains 160 trees, representing 150 species. Of these, the Maine Forest Service has been notified that five are dead, including the National Champion Tamarack, located in Township13 Range 8. State champion big trees capture our imagination for their size and strength. There is more to a champion than just its size, however. They are symbols of all the good work that trees do for the quality of the environment and our quality of life. Big trees provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and purify more water. For more information on Maine's Register of Big Trees and to receive a copy of the 2009-2010 Register when available, contact Jan Santerre, Big Tree Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. The register also can be viewed by visiting the Project Canopy website: http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Ranger takes an extra step The Maine Forest Service recently had an opportunity to help some camp owners learn more about forest operations and the careful work Forest Rangers and professional foresters do to protect the Maine woods. Last month, Orion Timberlands called Forest Ranger Richard Martin of the MFS Allagash District to report that several people had confronted timber-harvest equipment operators in the northwestern tip of Aroostook County. The camp owners, who lease a camp lot owned by Orion Timberlands, were concerned that the timber harvest would harm their favorite deer yard and ruin the access road to their camp. Ranger Martin and a Forest Technician from the company conducted an inspection of the harvest operation and found there were no Forest Practices Act or water-quality violations. As an extra step, Ranger Martin then organized an informational "walk-through" tour for the camp owners. An Orion forester conducted the tour and provided details on the silvicultural and operational plans for the timber harvest. He also told the owners that the road would be repaired and maintained to allow traffic as it was before the harvest operation. Once they understood the reasons for the timber harvest and all the planning involved, the camp owners said they appreciated both Orion Timberlands and the Maine Forest Service for the work they do. For more information, go to: http://www.oriontimber.com/ or http://www.maineforestservice.gov Bureau of Parks and Lands at L.L. Bean Park Manager Bruce Farnham, who oversees Mt. Blue State Park, spent the weekend of Dec. 6 at L.L. Bean in Freeport at the Winter Sports Expo. BPL Director Will Harris and Bradbury Mountain Park Ranger Tami Bill also were on hand to help out with the display station at the L.L. Bean Bike, Boat and Ski store. The display included illustrations of winter activities available at Maine State Parks. Farnham and crew took the opportunity to explain what Mt. Blue and other parks throughout the state have to offer. They also let visitors know about the "Take It Outside" events scheduled for this winter. While most customers were in strict shopping mode, the BPL staff was able to tell them and the Bean staff about winter offerings at Maine's state parks. For more information, go to: http://take-it-outside.com/index Aroostook State Park on Parade Aroostook State Park staffers entered a float in the annual Presque Isle Light Parade on Dec. 6 and were a brilliant - and eye-catching -- success. Park Ranger Alan Cleaves and his family were in the lead driving the Mule, decorated with lights, a kayak on the top of the rack and a Maine State Parks sign. Park Manager Scott Thompson and his family followed with a float decorated with an Aroostook State Park sign, lights, a tent, hiking/skiing signs, skis and snowshoes, a Christmas tree, and the cross-country ski groomer. There were 66 floats entered into this year's event, with approximately 3,000 people standing along Main Street watching the parade. The park staff along with a few volunteers put the floats together and had a great opportunity to promote Aroostook State Park and Maine state parks. Thanks go out to the volunteers who helped, and especially Joe Powers a Maintenance Coordinator from BPL's Boating Division, who let the staff use his truck to pull the float. Holiday float in Presque Isle A MFS Compliment The MDOC has been selling many of its new publications, especially Your Maine Lands and Forest Trees of Maine (see following report). The department recently received this very complimentary note from a Maine resident about the tree book. We are very happy that so many Maine residents are enjoying these great books. The pleased recipient wrote as follows: "Dear Forest Service, Just received my "Tree" book (centennial edition) and want to thank you for the fabulous job in putting it together. The guides to identification and photos make it a real tool for amateur tree lovers. The size is perfect for a knapsack and the spiral binding makes it easy to handle where there are not desks or tables on the trail. In a country where they are so down on government, this book is a tribute to what good government can do in serving its people. This book will enrich my trail hikes and bring nature that much closer. Many thanks from a grateful citizen of Maine." Available for Holiday Gift Giving These Maine Department of Conservation books and DVD make excellent gifts and stocking stuffers! The department has been receiving numerous requests for all of them. Just 45 days since its release in November, Your Maine Lands now is in its third printing and is on back-order until Jan. 8. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 copies of Forest Trees of Maine have been sold to eager recipients. Author Tom Hanrahan has been very busy holding book signings and meet-the-author events around the state, including one the weekend of Dec. 13 at Borders in South Portland. A major event will take place on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 21-22, at L.L. Bean in Freeport. Hanrahan, who will sign books, will be joined by Commissioner Patrick McGowan, an avid sportsman, who also will greet visitors and discuss the recreational use of Maine's public lands. Over the past decade, the Maine Department of Conservation and its partners have successfully placed nearly 1 million acres of Maine land into state-managed conservation protection. This has been accomplished through outright purchase or the purchase or donation of conservation easements. State-managed lands have increased by more than 989,000 acres since 1996 - to a total of 1,559,911 acres - all of that acreage with guaranteed access for hunting and fishing. These books and DVD celebrate the joys of exploring and experiencing the fascinating beauty of our Maine lands. These items are being promoted especially for the holiday gift-giving season. They include: * Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide by Tom Hanrahan -available for a cost of $12, which includes tax and shipping. NOTE: ON BACK-ORDER UNTIL JAN. 8 * Forest Trees of Maine, Centennial Edition 1908-2008 - available for $7. It also is available on a CD for the same price. * Maine's Fossil Record: The Paleozoic by Lisa Churchill-Dickson - available for: Hardcover, $40 plus $2 sales tax; or soft cover, $30 plus $1.50 sales tax. * Northrunner: The Allagash Wilderness Waterway -- available for $16.50, which includes tax and shipping. Make checks out to: Treasurer, State of Maine. Mail checks to: Gale Ross Maine Department of Conservation 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0022 (207) 287-5266 Tom Hanrahan will be attending book-signing and meet-the-author events at which some Your Maine Lands copies will be available. They will be held at the following locations: * 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, Barnes & Noble, Augusta; * 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, Bangor Public Library, Harlow Street, Bangor; * 5-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19: Borders, Brunswick; * 11 a.m., Sunday, and Monday, Dec. 21-22, L.L. Bean, Freeport; * 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, Dukes Barber Shop, Augusta For more information, check out: http://maine.gov/doc If you would like to get this newsletter, please send an email to: Jeanne.curran at maine.gov --30-- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/a06d89df/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:15:20 -0500 Subject: [mfs_test] mfs_test #2 Message-ID: 22 State House Station, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta, Maine 04333 htttp://www.maine.gov/doc WELCOME ... to the first edition of the Maine Department of Conservation newsletter! We intend to make this a regular publication, appearing every two weeks or so, to keep you informed about all the things that we do at the MDOC. The department consists of four bureaus: the Bureau of Parks and Lands; the Maine Forest Service; the Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas; and the Land Use Regulation Commission. These bureaus cover a lot of area - literally. Collectively, they oversee the management, development and protection of some of Maine's most special places: 17 million acres of forest land, 10.4 million acres of unorganized territory, 47 parks and historic sites and more than 480,000 acres of public reserved land. We are dedicated to promoting stewardship and ensuring responsible, balanced use of the state's land, forest, water, and mineral resources, for the benefit of all Maine people. I hope you find the newsletter interesting and informative. Please contact the department if you have any questions. Best regards, Text Box: Commissioner Patrick McGowan Patrick McGowan Commissioner Maine Department of Conservation Maine Forest Rangers Help Storm Recovery Effort Maine Forest Rangers responded to Thursday's bad winter ice-and-rain storm, according to Bill Williams, Maine Forest Service supervisor of Forest Protection. Forest Rangers worked locally with county emergency management agencies as needed, Williams said. The division also provided a representative to work with the Maine Department of Transportation and local utilities to provide resources for clearing trees from roadways and power lines to help restore access and power statewide. Earlier Friday, several Forest Rangers helped clear downed trees in southern Penobscot and Northern Washington counties, according to Kent Nelson, MFS fire prevention specialist. One Ranger assisted a fire department responding to a car accident by clearing downed tree limbs to allow rescue crew access. Four Rangers assisted York County EMA by staffing phones and advising residents without power how to get to local shelters. They also did triage on calls for Central Maine Power by setting priorities for reports of downed trees and power lines. An evening shift of two Rangers also was requested for Friday night. In Augusta, one Ranger worked directly with CMP, Maine DOT and Associated General Text Box: MFS Forest Rangers John Leavitt and Aliesha Rautenberg at York County EMA Allison Kanoti at work Contractors of Maine to coordinate recovery efforts. Approximately eight Forest Rangers stayed on duty Friday, and a dozen more were on standby in case they were needed. All continued to keep in touch with county EMA directors and local fire and police departments to offer support and resources. Forest Rangers also were available to help as needed on Saturday. As of Monday, the York County EMA was still being aided by the Rangers. Bureau of Parks and Lands Awards Recreation Grants The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, has awarded more than $100,000 to four municipalities and one county government for outdoor recreation projects funded by a federal grants program. The funds will be used to improve and upgrade several types of recreational facilities around the state, according to BPL officials. A total of $113,885 has been approved for the government entities under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program. The program is administered annually by BPL for outdoor recreation projects for all towns, school districts and Indian tribal governments. The awards include three playground facilities; acquisition of land for trailhead access to miles of established ATV and snowmobile trails; and assisting the construction of a skateboard park. The projects are: * $25,000 for the Town of Woodland (Aroostook County) to replace an aging playground at the Woodland Community School; * $25,000 for the City of Gardiner to replace the playground at the Town Common; * $20,000 for the Town of Skowhegan to upgrade the playground at Memorial Field; * $23,885 to the Piscataquis County Commission for acquisition of a 2-acre parcel in Greenville Junction for trailhead access; * $20,000 for assistance to the City of Portland for its skateboard park. Only seven applications were received this year for the funding. The federal funds come from off-shore leases. The grant approvals now go to the National Parks Service for final authorization, expected sometime in January. For more information on the program, contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Community Recreation Division at (207) 287-4962. Meet the Beetles A predatory beetle that likes to munch on hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was successfully released on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the York Water District. Entomologist Allison Kanoti of the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, and Wayne Searles, MFS entomology technician, released about 500 of Laricobius nigrinus, a tiny, black beetle sent from a Virginia Tech lab. It is expected that the Laricobius will get established and their descendants will help reduce HWA populations. HWA is an invasive insect that destroys hemlocks, a tree species that helps preserve Maine's water quality and one that is important to the woods industry. Biological control is the best hope for long-term control of HWA in Maine's forests. The Laricobius was released at this time of year because it feeds during the winter months. Winters in southern and coastal areas in Maine are suitable for their survival, though a colder-than-average winter could hinder their establishment. The cost of the beetles was paid for by the federal government. Text Box: MFS technician Wayne Searles applies the beetles to a hemlock. Allison Kanoti at work The HWA has been found in a number of locations in southern Maine. Local residents in the Kennebunkport area are being asked to examine their trees for HWA signs and to report their findings to the Maine Forest Service. To report HWA, call or email: Allison Kanoti, Maine Forest Service Insect and Disease Lab, 50 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330; (207) 287-3147; Allison.m.kanoti at maine.gov . Text Box: MFS entomologist Allison Kanoti at work For more information, go to: http://www.maineforestservice.org/HemlockWoolyAdelgid.htm Maine Loggers Continue To Use Best Practices To Protect State Water Quality Most Maine loggers are using best logging practices to protect the state's water quality, according to a Maine Forest Service report issued in November. A survey of 250 randomly chosen timber harvest sites shows that in 2006 and 2007, more than three-quarters of Maine loggers are using "best management practices" (BMPs) - or appropriate logging methods - to protect water quality at their harvest sites. The survey results indicate that most Maine loggers are highly conscientious about using BMPs, even under difficult weather and climate conditions, and are working cooperatively with the forest service to protect water quality and wetland areas in Maine's forests, according to the MFS. For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml LURC Members Handle Heavy Workload The Land Use Regulation Commission essentially is the planning and zoning board for Maine's Unorganized Territories, those areas that have no local government, as well as townships and plantations that choose to use its services rather than form a planning board. The Commission is responsible for guiding development in more than 10.4 million acres, half of all the land in Maine and the largest contiguous undeveloped area in the Northeast. The seven volunteer members of the commission had a heavy workload this past year. After 300 hours of hearings and four days of deliberations, the Commission reached a preliminary decision to approve the Plum Creek concept plan. They also approved wind power facilities on Kibby Mountain in Franklin County and Stetson Mountain in Washington County, approved the construction of a lodge near Flagstaff Lake by Maine Huts and Trails and a 10-year phased development at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley. Finally, Text Box: Female moose and calvesthe commission adopted rules for wind power development in order to implement a new statute. For the past several years, staff members have been gathering information in order to revise and update the Commission's comprehensive plan. Last spring, they held a series of informal public sessions throughout the state to discuss the current draft. Text Box: Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley Plantation areaIn January the Commission will hold four facilitated meetings for a working group to discuss the issue of development in the Unorganized Territories. Formal public hearings on a final draft report will be held in the spring of 2009. Snowmobile Clubs and Municipalities to Get More Trail Funds Snowmobile clubs and municipalities with snowmobile trails this year are receiving more grant money for trail maintenance, according to Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands officials. Eligible clubs will receive in total about $100,000 more this year than last year, while municipalities will see their grants increase in total by about $280,000, Scott Ramsay, director of the BPL Off Road Vehicle Division said this week. It is the first increase in the grant awards seen in four years, Ramsay said. The funding will go toward maintaining about 8,443 miles of club trails and 5,497 miles of municipal trails, he said. The funding, generated by increased snowmobile registration fees, was requested by snowmobile users and approved last year by the state Legislature. Qualified clubs still can apply for the Club Trail Maintenance Grant until Wednesday, Dec. 31. Municipalities will receive their awards by Dec. 19 For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/snowmobile Parks work making progress John Picher, director of engineering and realty for the Bureau of Parks and Lands, reports that the bureau's infrastructure projects funded by the November 2007 bond should all be completed on time before Memorial Day weekend 2009. Picher says progress has been very good on most projects, and all buildings are expected to have roofs up before winter shutdown. Winter shutdown, which varies from project to project, occurs when the weather becomes too adverse for work to continue or ground work becomes too difficult. Projects already completed on time include shoreline stabilization and masonry (bastion) repairs at Eagle Island State Historic Site, home of Admiral Robert Peary, explorer of the North Pole, and the installation of the Webb Beach septic system at Mount Blue State Park. Projects on schedule include: showers at Rangeley Lake and Peaks-Kenny state parks; the bathhouse construction at Damariscotta Lake State Park; restrooms at Moose Point State Park; phase one of masonry repairs at Fort Popham State Historic Site; and phase one of the installation of a new septic system at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, to be completed by Dec. 15. Projects expected to be on schedule before winter shutdown include the new Popham Beach bathhouses; and the construction of showers and a Text Box: Changing room construction at Popham Beach group shelter at Lake St. George State Park. All this construction is made possible by the overwhelming support of Maine residents and the state Legislature for the November 2007 bond. Maine Forest Service Holds Regional Congress Sessions The Maine Forest Service has been holding a series of six Logger/Trucker Congresses around the state, with MDOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan in attendance at several of the gatherings along with MFS officials. The gatherings - the first of their kind to be held by the forest service -- are designed to secure the supply chain of the forest products industry by seeking grassroots involvement in developing recommendations to strengthen the logging and forest products-trucking community. Many loggers and truckers so far have attended the dinner sessions held to date in Lincoln, Houlton, Fort Kent, Ellsworth and Farmington. Those attending have been asked to consider the current strengths of the supply chain and what needs to be maintained; opportunities for improvement; and solutions to specific problems. "These sessions have been extremely informative and productive," Commissioner McGowan said. "I certainly enjoyed meeting with the group of professionals in Fort Kent and Farmington and hearing their insightful comments. We need to assure that our logging and trucking community - an integral part of one of Maine's most valuable resources -- is adequately supported and continues to be profitable, especially in these precarious economic times." Sandy Brawders of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, which helped organize the congresses, praised Commissioner McGowan and MFS Director Alec Giffen for their attendance, saying they "came prepared to listen for possible solutions, short-term and long-term, which loggers are suggesting to keep all the components of the supply chain healthy. "Maine's past and future is in its natural resources, and it is not just through tourism," Brawders said Friday. "Working forests are healthy forests, and we need loggers to harvest. None of us will let this profession slip away." The final Congress will be held tonight in Gray. Loggers and truckers interested in attending are encouraged to respond to Ausilia Evans at 688-8195 or email at: ausilia at tcnef.org Space is limited to the first 40 signups. Maine Geological Survey investigates Freeport watersheds Daniel Locke, a hydrogeologist with the Maine Geological Survey, is conducting and managing data collection efforts in a water-resource investigation in the Freeport watersheds. The watersheds supply wells for the Freeport Division of Aqua Maine (FDAM). Aqua Maine Inc. is a public utility that owns or manages 15 water systems in Maine. FDAM's primary source wells are in a large, sand-and-gravel aquifer, or ground water source, first mapped by the Maine Geological Survey in the 1980s. Selection of these watersheds for detailed investigations was made using criteria established by the Water Resources Planning Committee, a stakeholder group established by the Legislature in 2007 to focus on water issues in individual watersheds. Locke and MGS summer interns spent the majority of their time in Freeport collecting additional data on the sand and gravel aquifers. They collected more than 40 seismic refraction lines across key areas of the aquifers. Seismic refraction lines are survey lines created by sending sound waves into the earth and measuring their bounce to the surface. With this technique, we can determine the thickness of unconsolidated materials, such as sand, gravel and mud, above the solid bedrock, and establish the local water table. Water budgets determining how much water is available in the Freeport area will be compiled using the information. As part of this, Locke also has established about a dozen measurement sites to improve our understanding of natural flows into streams. He and other MGS staff will measure flows at these sites periodically in the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. Saturday and Sunday in the Park with Mother Nature This is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the best that Maine has to offer, and the Bureau of Parks and Lands has just the right events. On Saturdays, you can join Ranger Tami Bill for an afternoon hike or snowshoe expedition at Bradbury Mountain State Park and explore what nature has to offer in the winter. The hikes will be held each week, and participants will see a variety of winter ecosystems, learn how plants and animals survive, and observe those birds that stay around all year. Participants can bring their own snowshoes or rent a pair at the park. Programs start at 1 p.m. Hikers should dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and meet at the covered picnic shelter by the playground. No dogs on the program, please. The programs are free with park admission; adults 12-65, $3; children 5-11, $1; children under 5 and adults 65 and over are free. For more information, please call the park at 688-4712. At Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, guided nature programs, free with park admission, are offered on Sundays through Dec. 28. All programs start at 2 p.m. at the benches by the second parking lot, weather permitting. No reservations are needed, except for group programs. Please call the park at (207) 865-4465 the day of the program, after 10am, for updates on the programs. Landowner Relations Efforts Under Way Bob Duplessie, director of Landowner Relations for MDOC/ IF&W, works diligently to coordinate the care and management of land and trails between landowners and off-road vehicle users. Duplessie reports that work is progressing on some new brochures and a new website to help all groups in Maine understand their rights and responsibilities. The brochures, "Landowner Liability Law" and "Access to Private Land is a Privilege, Not a Right," should be ready in about three weeks. The website design should be completed and the site posted in early January. Among other projects he has undertaken, Duplessie is working to coordinate with various parties to remove an abandoned 20-foot-long boat on the Crooked River at Edes Falls at the Naples-Casco town line. Those involved include the Maine Warden Service, Western Foothills Land Trust, the town of Naples, Portland Water District, and several private individuals. The director also has spent a considerable amount of time related to some serious environmental and landscape damage along the utility corridor in Waterford. The damage seems to have been caused by ATVs and other four-by-four vehicles in three locations where they are damaging embankments and crossing through the Crooked River. Duplessie has been working to resolve the issue with all involved landowners, including the Portland/ Montreal Pipe Line Corporation, CMP and private landowners. As part of his responsibilities, Duplessie also is taking part in a sportsman's ethics class. He expects to make a presentation on landowner relations to the class on Friday, Dec. 19. The class, sponsored by DIF&W and coordinated by Safety Officer Mike Sawyer, is mandatory for all convicted violators of fish and game laws if in the future they want to get another license related to fish and game. Community Trees Make a Difference in Maine Towns Across Maine, from small populated villages to urban centers, there is growing awareness of the important economic and ecological roles trees play in our neighborhoods, communities and cities. The Maine Forest Service stands and remains poised to work with Maine's towns to preserve and restore tree canopy in order to provide these benefits for current and future generations. Project Canopy, a program administered by MFS, is Maine's urban and community forestry program. Working with community volunteers and municipal officials, Project Canopy promotes sustainable community forestry programs by providing technical advice on tree care and planting as well as offering community grants that support community forestry efforts. In 2008, the Project Canopy Assistance program funded 42 grants to communities and organizations, totaling $250,000. One such grant supports the Town of Castine in their effort to preserve their street tree canopy. The American elm, which used to shade the streets of thousands of towns across this country, was all but wiped out by Dutch elm disease in the latter part of the last century. Fortunately for the Town of Castine, Dr. Richard Campana, a University of Maine forest pathologist, developed the vaccination serum in which he experimented on Castine's elm trees. It worked, and, as a result, the town retains over 300 of the gracious elms along town streets and in public spaces. In the fall of 2007, the town experienced a severe storm which toppled thousands of trees, including 14 of the beloved elms. The experience prompted the community to take a more proactive approach to managing their public tree resources. The town hired a consulting arborist to inventory existing street trees with the assistance of volunteers from the community. The inventory will be used to establish a long term plan for continued tree care and maintenance to preserve the town's trees, particularly the elms. Project Canopy aims to grow the program in 2009 by providing educational, technical and/or financial assistance in support of community trees in the majority of our cities and towns. For more information on Project Canopy please contact Jan Santerre, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. Grant information can be obtained by visiting the Project Canopy website at http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Seeks Nominations for Big Tree Maine, more than any other state in the country, is blessed with trees, and the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, is looking for the largest specimens. Nominations for the 2009/2010 Maine Register of Big Trees can be submitted through December 31, 2008. Since 1968, the Maine Forest Service has been compiling a list of the largest known specimens of native and naturalized trees in Maine. The 2007/2008 Register contains 160 trees, representing 150 species. Of these, the Maine Forest Service has been notified that five are dead, including the National Champion Tamarack, located in Township13 Range 8. State champion big trees capture our imagination for their size and strength. There is more to a champion than just its size, however. They are symbols of all the good work that trees do for the quality of the environment and our quality of life. Big trees provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and purify more water. For more information on Maine's Register of Big Trees and to receive a copy of the 2009-2010 Register when available, contact Jan Santerre, Big Tree Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. Text Box: The state's largest living tree, a silver maple located in Leeds with arborist and big-tree hunter Matthew Largess of Rhode Island. The register also can be viewed by visiting the Project Canopy website: http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Ranger takes an extra step The Maine Forest Service recently had an opportunity to help some camp owners learn more about forest operations and the careful work Forest Rangers and professional foresters do to protect the Maine woods. Last month, Orion Timberlands called Forest Ranger Richard Martin of the MFS Allagash District to report that several people had confronted timber-harvest equipment operators in the northwestern tip of Aroostook County. The camp owners, who lease a camp lot owned by Orion Timberlands, were concerned that the timber harvest would harm their favorite deer yard and ruin the access road to their camp. Ranger Martin and a Forest Technician from the company conducted an inspection of the harvest operation and found there were no Forest Practices Act or water-quality violations. As an extra step, Ranger Martin then organized an informational "walk-through" tour for the camp owners. An Orion forester conducted the tour and provided details on the silvicultural and operational plans for the timber harvest. He also told the owners that the road would be repaired and maintained to allow traffic as it was before the harvest operation. Once they understood the reasons for the timber harvest and all the planning involved, the camp owners said they appreciated both Orion Timberlands and the Maine Forest Service for the work they do. For more information, go to: http://www.oriontimber.com/ or http://www.maineforestservice.gov Bureau of Parks and Lands at L.L. Bean Park Manager Bruce Farnham, who oversees Mt. Blue State Park, spent the weekend of Dec. 6 at L.L. Bean in Freeport at the Winter Sports Expo. BPL Director Will Harris and Bradbury Mountain Park Ranger Tami Bill also were on hand to help out with the display station at the L.L. Bean Bike, Boat and Ski store. The display included illustrations of winter activities available at Maine State Parks. Farnham and crew took the opportunity to explain what Mt. Blue and other parks throughout the state have to offer. They also let visitors know about the "Take It Outside" events scheduled for this winter. While most customers were in strict shopping mode, the BPL staff was able to tell them and the Bean staff about winter offerings at Maine's state parks. For more information, go to: http://take-it-outside.com/index Text Box: Park Ranger Tami Bill at L.L. Bean Aroostook State Park on Parade Aroostook State Park staffers entered a float in the annual Presque Isle Light Parade on Dec. 6 and were a brilliant - and eye-catching -- success. Park Ranger Alan Cleaves and his family were in the lead driving the Mule, decorated with lights, a kayak on the top of the rack and a Maine State Parks sign. Park Manager Scott Thompson and his family followed with a float decorated with an Aroostook State Park sign, lights, a tent, hiking/skiing signs, skis and snowshoes, a Christmas tree, and the cross-country ski groomer. There were 66 floats entered into this year's event, with approximately 3,000 people standing along Main Street watching the parade. The park staff along with a few volunteers put the floats together and had a great opportunity to promote Aroostook State Park and Maine state parks. Thanks go out to the volunteers who helped, and especially Joe Powers a Maintenance Coordinator from BPL's Boating Division, who let the staff use his truck to pull the float. Holiday float in Presque Isle A MFS Compliment The MDOC has been selling many of its new publications, especially Your Maine Lands and Forest Trees of Maine (see following report). The department recently received this very complimentary note from a Maine resident about the tree book. We are very happy that so many Maine residents are enjoying these great books. The pleased recipient wrote as follows: "Dear Forest Service, Just received my "Tree" book (centennial edition) and want to thank you for the fabulous job in putting it together. The guides to identification and photos make it a real tool for amateur tree lovers. The size is perfect for a knapsack and the spiral binding makes it easy to handle where there are not desks or tables on the trail. In a country where they are so down on government, this book is a tribute to what good government can do in serving its people. This book will enrich my trail hikes and bring nature that much closer. Many thanks from a grateful citizen of Maine." Available for Holiday Gift Giving These Maine Department of Conservation books and DVD make excellent gifts and stocking stuffers! The department has been receiving numerous requests for all of them. Just 45 days since its release in November, Your Maine Lands now is in its third printing and is on back-order until Jan. 8. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 copies of Forest Trees of Maine have been sold to eager recipients. Author Tom Hanrahan has been very busy holding book signings and meet-the-author events around the state, including one the weekend of Dec. 13 at Borders in South Portland. A major event will take place on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 21-22, at L.L. Bean in Freeport. Hanrahan, who will sign books, will be joined by Commissioner Patrick McGowan, an avid sportsman, who also will greet visitors and discuss the recreational use of Maine's public lands. Over the past decade, the Maine Department of Conservation and its partners have successfully placed nearly 1 million acres of Maine land into state-managed conservation protection. This has been accomplished through outright purchase or the purchase or donation of conservation easements. State-managed lands have increased by more than 989,000 acres since 1996 - to a total of 1,559,911 acres - all of that acreage with guaranteed access for hunting and fishing. These books and DVD celebrate the joys of exploring and experiencing the fascinating beauty of our Maine lands. These items are being promoted especially for the holiday gift-giving season. They include: * Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide by Tom Hanrahan -available for a cost of $12, which includes tax and shipping. NOTE: ON BACK-ORDER UNTIL JAN. 8 * Forest Trees of Maine, Centennial Edition 1908-2008 - available for $7. It also is available on a CD for the same price. * Maine's Fossil Record: The Paleozoic by Lisa Churchill-Dickson - available for: Hardcover, $40 plus $2 sales tax; or soft cover, $30 plus $1.50 sales tax. * Northrunner: The Allagash Wilderness Waterway -- available for $16.50, which includes tax and shipping. Make checks out to: Treasurer, State of Maine. Mail checks to: Gale Ross Maine Department of Conservation 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0022 (207) 287-5266 Tom Hanrahan will be attending book-signing and meet-the-author events at which some Your Maine Lands copies will be available. They will be held at the following locations: * 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, Barnes & Noble, Augusta; * 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, Bangor Public Library, Harlow Street, Bangor; * 5-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19: Borders, Brunswick; * 11 a.m., Sunday, and Monday, Dec. 21-22, L.L. Bean, Freeport; * 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, Dukes Barber Shop, Augusta For more information, check out: http://maine.gov/doc If you would like to get this newsletter, please send an email to: Jeanne.curran at maine.gov --30-- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 16907 bytes Desc: image015.gif Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/12a3b008/attachment-0047.gif From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Dec 16 13:18:01 2008 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:18:01 -0500 Subject: [mfs_test] mfs_test #3 Message-ID: 22 State House Station, 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, Augusta, Maine 04333 htttp://www.maine.gov/doc WELCOME ... to the first edition of the Maine Department of Conservation newsletter! We intend to make this a regular publication, appearing every two weeks or so, to keep you informed about all the things that we do at the MDOC. The department consists of four bureaus: the Bureau of Parks and Lands; the Maine Forest Service; the Bureau of Geology and Natural Areas; and the Land Use Regulation Commission. These bureaus cover a lot of area - literally. Collectively, they oversee the management, development and protection of some of Maine's most special places: 17 million acres of forest land, 10.4 million acres of unorganized territory, 47 parks and historic sites and more than 480,000 acres of public reserved land. We are dedicated to promoting stewardship and ensuring responsible, balanced use of the state's land, forest, water, and mineral resources, for the benefit of all Maine people. I hope you find the newsletter interesting and informative. Please contact the department if you have any questions. Best regards, Text Box: Commissioner Patrick McGowan Patrick McGowan Commissioner Maine Department of Conservation Maine Forest Rangers Help Storm Recovery Effort Maine Forest Rangers responded to Thursday's bad winter ice-and-rain storm, according to Bill Williams, Maine Forest Service supervisor of Forest Protection. Forest Rangers worked locally with county emergency management agencies as needed, Williams said. The division also provided a representative to work with the Maine Department of Transportation and local utilities to provide resources for clearing trees from roadways and power lines to help restore access and power statewide. Earlier Friday, several Forest Rangers helped clear downed trees in southern Penobscot and Northern Washington counties, according to Kent Nelson, MFS fire prevention specialist. One Ranger assisted a fire department responding to a car accident by clearing downed tree limbs to allow rescue crew access. Four Rangers assisted York County EMA by staffing phones and advising residents without power how to get to local shelters. They also did triage on calls for Central Maine Power by setting priorities for reports of downed trees and power lines. An evening shift of two Rangers also was requested for Friday night. In Augusta, one Ranger worked directly with CMP, Maine DOT and Associated General Text Box: MFS Forest Rangers John Leavitt and Aliesha Rautenberg at York County EMA Allison Kanoti at work Contractors of Maine to coordinate recovery efforts. Approximately eight Forest Rangers stayed on duty Friday, and a dozen more were on standby in case they were needed. All continued to keep in touch with county EMA directors and local fire and police departments to offer support and resources. Forest Rangers also were available to help as needed on Saturday. As of Monday, the York County EMA was still being aided by the Rangers. Bureau of Parks and Lands Awards Recreation Grants The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, has awarded more than $100,000 to four municipalities and one county government for outdoor recreation projects funded by a federal grants program. The funds will be used to improve and upgrade several types of recreational facilities around the state, according to BPL officials. A total of $113,885 has been approved for the government entities under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program. The program is administered annually by BPL for outdoor recreation projects for all towns, school districts and Indian tribal governments. The awards include three playground facilities; acquisition of land for trailhead access to miles of established ATV and snowmobile trails; and assisting the construction of a skateboard park. The projects are: * $25,000 for the Town of Woodland (Aroostook County) to replace an aging playground at the Woodland Community School; * $25,000 for the City of Gardiner to replace the playground at the Town Common; * $20,000 for the Town of Skowhegan to upgrade the playground at Memorial Field; * $23,885 to the Piscataquis County Commission for acquisition of a 2-acre parcel in Greenville Junction for trailhead access; * $20,000 for assistance to the City of Portland for its skateboard park. Only seven applications were received this year for the funding. The federal funds come from off-shore leases. The grant approvals now go to the National Parks Service for final authorization, expected sometime in January. For more information on the program, contact the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Community Recreation Division at (207) 287-4962. Meet the Beetles A predatory beetle that likes to munch on hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) was successfully released on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the York Water District. Entomologist Allison Kanoti of the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, and Wayne Searles, MFS entomology technician, released about 500 of Laricobius nigrinus, a tiny, black beetle sent from a Virginia Tech lab. It is expected that the Laricobius will get established and their descendants will help reduce HWA populations. HWA is an invasive insect that destroys hemlocks, a tree species that helps preserve Maine's water quality and one that is important to the woods industry. Biological control is the best hope for long-term control of HWA in Maine's forests. The Laricobius was released at this time of year because it feeds during the winter months. Winters in southern and coastal areas in Maine are suitable for their survival, though a colder-than-average winter could hinder their establishment. The cost of the beetles was paid for by the federal government. Text Box: MFS technician Wayne Searles applies the beetles to a hemlock. Allison Kanoti at work The HWA has been found in a number of locations in southern Maine. Local residents in the Kennebunkport area are being asked to examine their trees for HWA signs and to report their findings to the Maine Forest Service. To report HWA, call or email: Allison Kanoti, Maine Forest Service Insect and Disease Lab, 50 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330; (207) 287-3147; Allison.m.kanoti at maine.gov . Text Box: MFS entomologist Allison Kanoti at work For more information, go to: http://www.maineforestservice.org/HemlockWoolyAdelgid.htm Maine Loggers Continue To Use Best Practices To Protect State Water Quality Most Maine loggers are using best logging practices to protect the state's water quality, according to a Maine Forest Service report issued in November. A survey of 250 randomly chosen timber harvest sites shows that in 2006 and 2007, more than three-quarters of Maine loggers are using "best management practices" (BMPs) - or appropriate logging methods - to protect water quality at their harvest sites. The survey results indicate that most Maine loggers are highly conscientious about using BMPs, even under difficult weather and climate conditions, and are working cooperatively with the forest service to protect water quality and wetland areas in Maine's forests, according to the MFS. For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml LURC Members Handle Heavy Workload The Land Use Regulation Commission essentially is the planning and zoning board for Maine's Unorganized Territories, those areas that have no local government, as well as townships and plantations that choose to use its services rather than form a planning board. The Commission is responsible for guiding development in more than 10.4 million acres, half of all the land in Maine and the largest contiguous undeveloped area in the Northeast. The seven volunteer members of the commission had a heavy workload this past year. After 300 hours of hearings and four days of deliberations, the Commission reached a preliminary decision to approve the Plum Creek concept plan. They also approved wind power facilities on Kibby Mountain in Franklin County and Stetson Mountain in Washington County, approved the construction of a lodge near Flagstaff Lake by Maine Huts and Trails and a 10-year phased development at Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley. Finally, Text Box: Female moose and calvesthe commission adopted rules for wind power development in order to implement a new statute. For the past several years, staff members have been gathering information in order to revise and update the Commission's comprehensive plan. Last spring, they held a series of informal public sessions throughout the state to discuss the current draft. Text Box: Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley Plantation areaIn January the Commission will hold four facilitated meetings for a working group to discuss the issue of development in the Unorganized Territories. Formal public hearings on a final draft report will be held in the spring of 2009. Snowmobile Clubs and Municipalities to Get More Trail Funds Snowmobile clubs and municipalities with snowmobile trails this year are receiving more grant money for trail maintenance, according to Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands officials. Eligible clubs will receive in total about $100,000 more this year than last year, while municipalities will see their grants increase in total by about $280,000, Scott Ramsay, director of the BPL Off Road Vehicle Division said this week. It is the first increase in the grant awards seen in four years, Ramsay said. The funding will go toward maintaining about 8,443 miles of club trails and 5,497 miles of municipal trails, he said. The funding, generated by increased snowmobile registration fees, was requested by snowmobile users and approved last year by the state Legislature. Qualified clubs still can apply for the Club Trail Maintenance Grant until Wednesday, Dec. 31. Municipalities will receive their awards by Dec. 19 For more information, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/snowmobile Parks work making progress John Picher, director of engineering and realty for the Bureau of Parks and Lands, reports that the bureau's infrastructure projects funded by the November 2007 bond should all be completed on time before Memorial Day weekend 2009. Picher says progress has been very good on most projects, and all buildings are expected to have roofs up before winter shutdown. Winter shutdown, which varies from project to project, occurs when the weather becomes too adverse for work to continue or ground work becomes too difficult. Projects already completed on time include shoreline stabilization and masonry (bastion) repairs at Eagle Island State Historic Site, home of Admiral Robert Peary, explorer of the North Pole, and the installation of the Webb Beach septic system at Mount Blue State Park. Projects on schedule include: showers at Rangeley Lake and Peaks-Kenny state parks; the bathhouse construction at Damariscotta Lake State Park; restrooms at Moose Point State Park; phase one of masonry repairs at Fort Popham State Historic Site; and phase one of the installation of a new septic system at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, to be completed by Dec. 15. Projects expected to be on schedule before winter shutdown include the new Popham Beach bathhouses; and the construction of showers and a Text Box: Changing room construction at Popham Beach group shelter at Lake St. George State Park. All this construction is made possible by the overwhelming support of Maine residents and the state Legislature for the November 2007 bond. Maine Forest Service Holds Regional Congress Sessions The Maine Forest Service has been holding a series of six Logger/Trucker Congresses around the state, with MDOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan in attendance at several of the gatherings along with MFS officials. The gatherings - the first of their kind to be held by the forest service -- are designed to secure the supply chain of the forest products industry by seeking grassroots involvement in developing recommendations to strengthen the logging and forest products-trucking community. Many loggers and truckers so far have attended the dinner sessions held to date in Lincoln, Houlton, Fort Kent, Ellsworth and Farmington. Those attending have been asked to consider the current strengths of the supply chain and what needs to be maintained; opportunities for improvement; and solutions to specific problems. "These sessions have been extremely informative and productive," Commissioner McGowan said. "I certainly enjoyed meeting with the group of professionals in Fort Kent and Farmington and hearing their insightful comments. We need to assure that our logging and trucking community - an integral part of one of Maine's most valuable resources -- is adequately supported and continues to be profitable, especially in these precarious economic times." Sandy Brawders of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, which helped organize the congresses, praised Commissioner McGowan and MFS Director Alec Giffen for their attendance, saying they "came prepared to listen for possible solutions, short-term and long-term, which loggers are suggesting to keep all the components of the supply chain healthy. "Maine's past and future is in its natural resources, and it is not just through tourism," Brawders said Friday. "Working forests are healthy forests, and we need loggers to harvest. None of us will let this profession slip away." The final Congress will be held tonight in Gray. Loggers and truckers interested in attending are encouraged to respond to Ausilia Evans at 688-8195 or email at: ausilia at tcnef.org Space is limited to the first 40 signups. Maine Geological Survey investigates Freeport watersheds Daniel Locke, a hydrogeologist with the Maine Geological Survey, is conducting and managing data collection efforts in a water-resource investigation in the Freeport watersheds. The watersheds supply wells for the Freeport Division of Aqua Maine (FDAM). Aqua Maine Inc. is a public utility that owns or manages 15 water systems in Maine. FDAM's primary source wells are in a large, sand-and-gravel aquifer, or ground water source, first mapped by the Maine Geological Survey in the 1980s. Selection of these watersheds for detailed investigations was made using criteria established by the Water Resources Planning Committee, a stakeholder group established by the Legislature in 2007 to focus on water issues in individual watersheds. Locke and MGS summer interns spent the majority of their time in Freeport collecting additional data on the sand and gravel aquifers. They collected more than 40 seismic refraction lines across key areas of the aquifers. Seismic refraction lines are survey lines created by sending sound waves into the earth and measuring their bounce to the surface. With this technique, we can determine the thickness of unconsolidated materials, such as sand, gravel and mud, above the solid bedrock, and establish the local water table. Water budgets determining how much water is available in the Freeport area will be compiled using the information. As part of this, Locke also has established about a dozen measurement sites to improve our understanding of natural flows into streams. He and other MGS staff will measure flows at these sites periodically in the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. Saturday and Sunday in the Park with Mother Nature This is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the best that Maine has to offer, and the Bureau of Parks and Lands has just the right events. On Saturdays, you can join Ranger Tami Bill for an afternoon hike or snowshoe expedition at Bradbury Mountain State Park and explore what nature has to offer in the winter. The hikes will be held each week, and participants will see a variety of winter ecosystems, learn how plants and animals survive, and observe those birds that stay around all year. Participants can bring their own snowshoes or rent a pair at the park. Programs start at 1 p.m. Hikers should dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and meet at the covered picnic shelter by the playground. No dogs on the program, please. The programs are free with park admission; adults 12-65, $3; children 5-11, $1; children under 5 and adults 65 and over are free. For more information, please call the park at 688-4712. At Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, guided nature programs, free with park admission, are offered on Sundays through Dec. 28. All programs start at 2 p.m. at the benches by the second parking lot, weather permitting. No reservations are needed, except for group programs. Please call the park at (207) 865-4465 the day of the program, after 10am, for updates on the programs. Landowner Relations Efforts Under Way Bob Duplessie, director of Landowner Relations for MDOC/ IF&W, works diligently to coordinate the care and management of land and trails between landowners and off-road vehicle users. Duplessie reports that work is progressing on some new brochures and a new website to help all groups in Maine understand their rights and responsibilities. The brochures, "Landowner Liability Law" and "Access to Private Land is a Privilege, Not a Right," should be ready in about three weeks. The website design should be completed and the site posted in early January. Among other projects he has undertaken, Duplessie is working to coordinate with various parties to remove an abandoned 20-foot-long boat on the Crooked River at Edes Falls at the Naples-Casco town line. Those involved include the Maine Warden Service, Western Foothills Land Trust, the town of Naples, Portland Water District, and several private individuals. The director also has spent a considerable amount of time related to some serious environmental and landscape damage along the utility corridor in Waterford. The damage seems to have been caused by ATVs and other four-by-four vehicles in three locations where they are damaging embankments and crossing through the Crooked River. Duplessie has been working to resolve the issue with all involved landowners, including the Portland/ Montreal Pipe Line Corporation, CMP and private landowners. As part of his responsibilities, Duplessie also is taking part in a sportsman's ethics class. He expects to make a presentation on landowner relations to the class on Friday, Dec. 19. The class, sponsored by DIF&W and coordinated by Safety Officer Mike Sawyer, is mandatory for all convicted violators of fish and game laws if in the future they want to get another license related to fish and game. Community Trees Make a Difference in Maine Towns Across Maine, from small populated villages to urban centers, there is growing awareness of the important economic and ecological roles trees play in our neighborhoods, communities and cities. The Maine Forest Service stands and remains poised to work with Maine's towns to preserve and restore tree canopy in order to provide these benefits for current and future generations. Project Canopy, a program administered by MFS, is Maine's urban and community forestry program. Working with community volunteers and municipal officials, Project Canopy promotes sustainable community forestry programs by providing technical advice on tree care and planting as well as offering community grants that support community forestry efforts. In 2008, the Project Canopy Assistance program funded 42 grants to communities and organizations, totaling $250,000. One such grant supports the Town of Castine in their effort to preserve their street tree canopy. The American elm, which used to shade the streets of thousands of towns across this country, was all but wiped out by Dutch elm disease in the latter part of the last century. Fortunately for the Town of Castine, Dr. Richard Campana, a University of Maine forest pathologist, developed the vaccination serum in which he experimented on Castine's elm trees. It worked, and, as a result, the town retains over 300 of the gracious elms along town streets and in public spaces. In the fall of 2007, the town experienced a severe storm which toppled thousands of trees, including 14 of the beloved elms. The experience prompted the community to take a more proactive approach to managing their public tree resources. The town hired a consulting arborist to inventory existing street trees with the assistance of volunteers from the community. The inventory will be used to establish a long term plan for continued tree care and maintenance to preserve the town's trees, particularly the elms. Project Canopy aims to grow the program in 2009 by providing educational, technical and/or financial assistance in support of community trees in the majority of our cities and towns. For more information on Project Canopy please contact Jan Santerre, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. Grant information can be obtained by visiting the Project Canopy website at http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Seeks Nominations for Big Tree Maine, more than any other state in the country, is blessed with trees, and the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, is looking for the largest specimens. Nominations for the 2009/2010 Maine Register of Big Trees can be submitted through December 31, 2008. Since 1968, the Maine Forest Service has been compiling a list of the largest known specimens of native and naturalized trees in Maine. The 2007/2008 Register contains 160 trees, representing 150 species. Of these, the Maine Forest Service has been notified that five are dead, including the National Champion Tamarack, located in Township13 Range 8. State champion big trees capture our imagination for their size and strength. There is more to a champion than just its size, however. They are symbols of all the good work that trees do for the quality of the environment and our quality of life. Big trees provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and purify more water. For more information on Maine's Register of Big Trees and to receive a copy of the 2009-2010 Register when available, contact Jan Santerre, Big Tree Coordinator, at the Maine Forest Service, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 or call 1-800-367-0223. Text Box: The state's largest living tree, a silver maple located in Leeds with arborist and big-tree hunter Matthew Largess of Rhode Island. The register also can be viewed by visiting the Project Canopy website: http://projectcanopy.maine.gov Maine Forest Service Ranger takes an extra step The Maine Forest Service recently had an opportunity to help some camp owners learn more about forest operations and the careful work Forest Rangers and professional foresters do to protect the Maine woods. Last month, Orion Timberlands called Forest Ranger Richard Martin of the MFS Allagash District to report that several people had confronted timber-harvest equipment operators in the northwestern tip of Aroostook County. The camp owners, who lease a camp lot owned by Orion Timberlands, were concerned that the timber harvest would harm their favorite deer yard and ruin the access road to their camp. Ranger Martin and a Forest Technician from the company conducted an inspection of the harvest operation and found there were no Forest Practices Act or water-quality violations. As an extra step, Ranger Martin then organized an informational "walk-through" tour for the camp owners. An Orion forester conducted the tour and provided details on the silvicultural and operational plans for the timber harvest. He also told the owners that the road would be repaired and maintained to allow traffic as it was before the harvest operation. Once they understood the reasons for the timber harvest and all the planning involved, the camp owners said they appreciated both Orion Timberlands and the Maine Forest Service for the work they do. For more information, go to: http://www.oriontimber.com/ or http://www.maineforestservice.gov Bureau of Parks and Lands at L.L. Bean Park Manager Bruce Farnham, who oversees Mt. Blue State Park, spent the weekend of Dec. 6 at L.L. Bean in Freeport at the Winter Sports Expo. BPL Director Will Harris and Bradbury Mountain Park Ranger Tami Bill also were on hand to help out with the display station at the L.L. Bean Bike, Boat and Ski store. The display included illustrations of winter activities available at Maine State Parks. Farnham and crew took the opportunity to explain what Mt. Blue and other parks throughout the state have to offer. They also let visitors know about the "Take It Outside" events scheduled for this winter. While most customers were in strict shopping mode, the BPL staff was able to tell them and the Bean staff about winter offerings at Maine's state parks. For more information, go to: http://take-it-outside.com/index Text Box: Park Ranger Tami Bill at L.L. Bean Aroostook State Park on Parade Aroostook State Park staffers entered a float in the annual Presque Isle Light Parade on Dec. 6 and were a brilliant - and eye-catching -- success. Park Ranger Alan Cleaves and his family were in the lead driving the Mule, decorated with lights, a kayak on the top of the rack and a Maine State Parks sign. Park Manager Scott Thompson and his family followed with a float decorated with an Aroostook State Park sign, lights, a tent, hiking/skiing signs, skis and snowshoes, a Christmas tree, and the cross-country ski groomer. There were 66 floats entered into this year's event, with approximately 3,000 people standing along Main Street watching the parade. The park staff along with a few volunteers put the floats together and had a great opportunity to promote Aroostook State Park and Maine state parks. Thanks go out to the volunteers who helped, and especially Joe Powers a Maintenance Coordinator from BPL's Boating Division, who let the staff use his truck to pull the float. Holiday float in Presque Isle A MFS Compliment The MDOC has been selling many of its new publications, especially Your Maine Lands and Forest Trees of Maine (see following report). The department recently received this very complimentary note from a Maine resident about the tree book. We are very happy that so many Maine residents are enjoying these great books. The pleased recipient wrote as follows: "Dear Forest Service, Just received my "Tree" book (centennial edition) and want to thank you for the fabulous job in putting it together. The guides to identification and photos make it a real tool for amateur tree lovers. The size is perfect for a knapsack and the spiral binding makes it easy to handle where there are not desks or tables on the trail. In a country where they are so down on government, this book is a tribute to what good government can do in serving its people. This book will enrich my trail hikes and bring nature that much closer. Many thanks from a grateful citizen of Maine." Available for Holiday Gift Giving These Maine Department of Conservation books and DVD make excellent gifts and stocking stuffers! The department has been receiving numerous requests for all of them. Just 45 days since its release in November, Your Maine Lands now is in its third printing and is on back-order until Jan. 8. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 copies of Forest Trees of Maine have been sold to eager recipients. Author Tom Hanrahan has been very busy holding book signings and meet-the-author events around the state, including one the weekend of Dec. 13 at Borders in South Portland. A major event will take place on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 21-22, at L.L. Bean in Freeport. Hanrahan, who will sign books, will be joined by Commissioner Patrick McGowan, an avid sportsman, who also will greet visitors and discuss the recreational use of Maine's public lands. Over the past decade, the Maine Department of Conservation and its partners have successfully placed nearly 1 million acres of Maine land into state-managed conservation protection. This has been accomplished through outright purchase or the purchase or donation of conservation easements. State-managed lands have increased by more than 989,000 acres since 1996 - to a total of 1,559,911 acres - all of that acreage with guaranteed access for hunting and fishing. These books and DVD celebrate the joys of exploring and experiencing the fascinating beauty of our Maine lands. These items are being promoted especially for the holiday gift-giving season. They include: * Your Maine Lands: Reflections of a Maine Guide by Tom Hanrahan -available for a cost of $12, which includes tax and shipping. NOTE: ON BACK-ORDER UNTIL JAN. 8 * Forest Trees of Maine, Centennial Edition 1908-2008 - available for $7. It also is available on a CD for the same price. * Maine's Fossil Record: The Paleozoic by Lisa Churchill-Dickson - available for: Hardcover, $40 plus $2 sales tax; or soft cover, $30 plus $1.50 sales tax. * Northrunner: The Allagash Wilderness Waterway -- available for $16.50, which includes tax and shipping. Make checks out to: Treasurer, State of Maine. Mail checks to: Gale Ross Maine Department of Conservation 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0022 (207) 287-5266 Tom Hanrahan will be attending book-signing and meet-the-author events at which some Your Maine Lands copies will be available. They will be held at the following locations: * 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, Barnes & Noble, Augusta; * 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, Bangor Public Library, Harlow Street, Bangor; * 5-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19: Borders, Brunswick; * 11 a.m., Sunday, and Monday, Dec. 21-22, L.L. Bean, Freeport; * 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, Dukes Barber Shop, Augusta For more information, check out: http://maine.gov/doc If you would like to get this newsletter, please send an email to: Jeanne.curran at maine.gov --30-- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 11778 bytes Desc: image025.jpg Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/b1c08e1f/attachment-0064.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 11489 bytes Desc: image026.jpg Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/b1c08e1f/attachment-0065.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 18821 bytes Desc: image027.gif Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/b1c08e1f/attachment-0061.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 75 bytes Desc: image028.gif Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/b1c08e1f/attachment-0062.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 16907 bytes Desc: image029.gif Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/b1c08e1f/attachment-0063.gif From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Dec 16 13:25:33 2008 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:25:33 -0500 Subject: [mfs_test] mfs test #4 Message-ID: Maine Department of Conservation Newsletter (attached) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/dc087d05/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: dcn_newsletter_1_.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 397779 bytes Desc: dcn_newsletter_1_.pdf Url : http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081216/dc087d05/dcn_newsletter_1_-0001.obj From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Dec 30 06:07:28 2008 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:07:28 -0500 Subject: [mfs_test] test Dec 30th Message-ID: Building the Carbon Markets to Improve Forest Management Markets for carbon emissions, normally measured in metric tons of CO2 emissions or their equivalent in other gases, are created when companies are required to, or voluntarily agree to, limit their emissions. Emitters buy carbon allowances when it is cheaper for them to so than it is to reduce their emissions. Emitters sell allowances when they can reduce their emissions more cheaply than what the allowances are worth. Allowing trading in carbon allowances spurs creativity and reduces the overall cost of reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases. The global markets for carbon allowances are expected to be worth more than $100 billion by the end of the year, and if the US adopts an emissions cap-and-trade scheme, more than 3 trillion by 2020 - one of the largest commodity markets in the world. Beyond reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas levels, cap-and-trade programs, and the markets for carbon allowances and offsets which result, present an opportunity to improve forest management, provide a new revenue stream for landowners; and hence, an additional incentive for keeping forests as forests. The benefits to forests could be achieved either through offset projects, or by using the proceeds from the sale of carbon allowances (essentially permits to emit carbon) to support programs which promote keeping forests as forests and forest management which sequesters additional carbon when compared with business-as-usual management. The last session of Congress considered several bills that would have established a national cap-and-trade program, and President-Elect Obama has indicated his support for dealing effectively with climate change through such a program. The Maine Forest Service has been in the forefront of state, regional, and national discussions about how to capitalize on the opportunities that forests present for reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. For more on this topic, go to the MFS website at http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/mfs/topics/carbon/ . ########## Forest Rangers Discover Water Quality Violation in Steuben On December 5th, 2008, Forest Rangers from the Department of Conservation, Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division found what they are calling a serious water quality violation in the Washington County town of Steuben. Ranger Courtney Hammond of Jonesboro found an illegal water crossing on a timber harvest off Dyer Bay Road. He came across the violation while leading an investigation of timber trespass on an adjacent woodlot. As Ranger Hammond conducted his inspection of the timber trespass, he observed a skidder trail which led directly to a stream. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that a skidder had driven through the stream several times and allowed large amounts of sediment to enter the water and travel downstream. Soon after, Ranger Hammond observed the skidder pulling a twitch of wood across and through the stream, causing further damage. Forest Rangers found muddy water downstream from a logging operation in Steuben. District Ranger Jeff Currier, who was with Ranger Hammond on the investigation, stopped the skidder after it crossed the stream, and ordered the operator to cease using the crossing, telling the operator that it was a clear violation of state law. Maine law prohibits logging or construction activities that cause displaced soil to wash into a protected natural resource. According to the Rangers, the siltation continued all the way down to the tidal water. The skidder driver complied with the order immediately and discontinued using that skid trail. Before leaving the site, the Rangers offered suggestions to avoid stream crossings in the future. By installing temporary skidder bridges and working with a licensed forester (who could pre-plan skid trails that avoid stream crossings) water quality violations can be avoided. The Rangers then contacted the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to request an investigator inspect the violation and determine what remedial steps might be taken to prevent further damage. Jim Beyer, an investigator with the DEP's Bureau of Land and Water Quality office in Bangor joined Ranger Hammond at the Steuben site and agreed that it was a serious violation. It is likely that DEP will file charges against the logging contractor. Maine's Forest Rangers enforce rules and regulations relating to timber harvesting and routinely conduct joint investigations with the Department of Environmental Protection. Last year, Maine's 57 Forest Rangers conducted over 30,000 inspections across Maine while enforcing laws dealing with the forest and forest preservation. These inspections include looking for and preventing water quality, clearcutting, timber theft and trespass, litter and other environmental law violations. Contact information: Kent Nelson, Maine Forest Service, 287-4989 District Ranger Jeff Currier, 441-2580 ########## FRA MAINE INDUSTRIAL FORESTRY FORUM MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT >From Forest Resources Association Inc. WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 WHERE: Jeff's Catering, Brewer, Maine TIME: PLEASE NOTE EARLY STARTING TIME 3:30 - 4:00 PM Registration 4:00 - 5:30 PM Equipment Presentations 5:30 - 6:15 PM Social "Hour" 6:15 - 6:45 PM Buffet Dinner 6:45 - 7:15 PM Outstanding Logger Award 7:15 - 8:45 PM Equipment Presentations COST: FRA Members - $20 Non-members - $30 Students - $15 with valid ID Payable at the door. We anticipate a large turnout. Pre-registration is required to assure an accurate head count for meals! TOPICS: FORESTRY EQUIPMENT UPDATE - The Latest And Greatest In Wood Energy Production Equipment decisions are critical to any operation. Following last year's successful program, at this month's Forum area equipment dealers will share news on the latest developments and what's coming for equipment that can help make your operation more successful, specifically highlighting those products related to wood energy production (harvest systems, chippers, grinders, etc.) that can economically handle lower value, smaller diameter stems and currently unused, available fiber. Guest Speakers: Bandit / Chadwick-Baross / Milton Cat / Nortrax / Oliver Stores / Tigercat 2008 NORTHEAST REGION OUTSTANDING LOGGER PRESENTATION Anthony Madden, A.W. Madden Inc., Milford, ME Tony Madden comes from a family with four generations of logging experience. After starting with his father's operation, he formed his own company in 1980. Tony has built his business into a versatile, well respected operation that excels in safety, forest management and running the business. Please join us to learn more about his operation as FRA and Stihl, Inc. honor A. W. Madden, Inc. with the 2008 NE Region Outstanding Logger Award. Thanks to our local equipment dealers for generously underwriting this January Forum. We anticipate a large turnout. Pre-registration is required to assure an accurate head count for meals! Please e-mail or fax this response form by Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 to: Forest Resources Association, Jswan93426 at aol.com or FAX: 866-437-7252 Questions? Contact Joel Swanton at 207-745-2435 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ FRA Jan. 8, 2009 MAINE INDUSTRIAL FORESTRY FORUM PRE-REGISTRATION RESPONSE FORM Name(s) of people attending: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/mfs_test/attachments/20081230/72b4e945/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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