From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Aug 4 08:37:32 2009 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 08:37:32 -0400 Subject: [woodswisewire] Woods Wise Wire - August 4, 2009 Message-ID: >From Forest to Faucet: Forests, Water and People 7pm. August 6th, Alfond Auditorium, St Joseph's College, free Presumpscot Watershed Rates #1.... Unfortunately. At 7pm on August 6th at St. Joseph's College Alfond Auditorium, Dr. Paul Barten, Department of Natural Resource Conservation, UMass Amherst will present the findings of the U.S.Forestry Service/UMass study, Forests, Water and People: Drinking Water Supply and Forested Lands in the Northeastern U.S. The Forests, Water and People assessment uses maps produced in a geographic information system (GIS) to highlight the connection between forests and the protection of surface drinking water quality. Dr. Barten's "Forest, Water, and People" study concludes that the Maine's Presumpscot watershed is the most vulnerable public drinking water reservoir watershed in the northestern quadrant of the U.S. primarily due to the high percentage of privately owned land in the watershed. Approximately 1/6 of Maine, 200,000 people, rely upon clean drinking water from the Portland Water District's Sebago Lake reservoir. Sebago Lake's water quality relies in part on the health of the headwaters of the Crooked and Songo Rivers. The evening which is sponsored by the Portland Water District, The Western Foothills Land Trust, The Maine Community Foundation, Friends of the Presumpscot River, and the Casco Bay Estuary Project, is part of the Crooked River Initiative, a multi-year collaboration between conservation organizations, regional land trusts, and the Portland Water District. The assessment developed maps for 540 watersheds* in the Northeast and Midwest, using a four-step process to describe current and future conditions. The next step identified the total water consumers served by surface water supplies in each watershed and scores these watersheds in terms of their importance in providing drinking water to the greatest number of people. The third step highlighted watersheds that are both critical for water supply to a large population and contain a high percentage of unprotected private forest lands. Finally, Step 4 highlighted areas where the greatest development pressure threatens private forests that are important to the protection of surface drinking water supplies. Following Dr. Barten's big picture presentation about the relationship between land use and water quality, Paul Hunt, environmental director for the Portland Water District will address specific water quality research that the PWD has undertaken in the Sebago/Crooked River watershed. For directions to St Josephs College, Windham: http://www.sjcme.edu/visit/directions.htm For information about the Forest to Faucet project: http://wetpartnership.org/ 2009 Tree Farm Photo Contest with STIHL Submit Your Photos Now! Due to the overwhelming success of the past two contests, our partner in Sustainable Forestry, STIHL Inc., is sponsoring the 2009 Tree Farm Photo Contest to find another photo for their upcoming trade advertising campaign. This means your photos of a Tree Farm could be featured as part of this national promotion and you could win a $500 gift certificate for STIHL products! So if you are a Tree Farmer or inspect Tree Farm properties we need your photos of Tree Farms to make this contest a success! The deadline for this contest is August 7, 2009. To participate, please read the contest rules and send us your pictures along with the contest submission form. Take a look at last year's winning photos: Morning light in pine plantation 20 yr old Ponderosa Pine trees at 4500ft Cottonwood Lane Farm Maine Department of Conservation Newsletter is now available The July edition of From the Field is now available and can be viewed at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/pdf/from_the_field_%20July.pdf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/woodswisewire/attachments/20090804/0453d804/attachment.html From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Aug 11 10:56:45 2009 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:56:45 -0400 Subject: [woodswisewire] Woods Wise Wire - August 11, 2009 Message-ID: DEPUTY SECRETARY MERRIGAN ANNOUNCES FIRST NATIONAL SIGN-UP FOR NEW CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin continuous sign-up for the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) on August 10 with the first signup period cutoff scheduled for September 30. CSP is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations. For more information, go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/new_csp/ Or contact your local USDA Service Center. To see the full announcement, go to http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true &contentid=2009/08/0367.xml North Maine Woods offers unequalled opportunities for backwoods recreation By Andrew Kekacs Reprinted from Fresh from the Woods (July 24, 2009) Few would argue that the 205,000-acre Baxter State Park is a national treasure, but there is another - largely hidden - jewel in the forests of Maine. It's a nonprofit organization called North Maine Woods, which manages access to almost 3.7 million acres of private timberland that is open to the public. Larger than 18 Baxter State Parks, NMW is located in one of the most remote swaths of forestland in the East. It includes 3.5 million acres in the crown of Maine, and a separate block of 175,000 acres between Greenville, Millinocket and Brownville. The land has thousands of miles of logging roads, hundreds of lakes and ponds, dozens of mountains, and endless opportunities for hiking, paddling, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, wild food gathering and other outdoor activities. Albro Cowperthwaite is the long-time executive director of North Maine Woods. Based in Ashland, he traveled to the KI Jo-Mary gatehouse at Katahdin Iron Works (near Brownville) to talk about his work. Cowperthwaite has spent his entire career at North Maine Woods. He arrived for a 10-week internship after graduating from college 33 years ago, and he's still there. According to Cowperthwaite, NMW was set up by landowners in 1971. It has three goals: 1. Manage public access to the region through 18 checkpoints, and maintain some 620 campsites. 2. Provide a measure of security for landowners against fire, vandalism, theft and other threats. 3. Welcome visitors to the region and explain its unique function as private timberland that sustains a myriad of public uses. When Cowperthwaite came to NMW in 1976, much of the forestland was still owned by paper companies - including Great Northern Paper, Diamond International and International Paper. Now, the woods are largely held by non-industrial owners, from old-line family holdings like Pingree Associates and Prentiss & Carlisle to newer firms like Canopy Timberland and Merriweather. Forestland owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Appalachian Mountain Club is also part of the North Maine Woods system. Originally, NMW managed access only in far northern Maine. In 1986, however, a group of landowners in the Katahdin Ironworks/Jo-Mary region asked the organization to operate there, too. Cowperthwaite says about 175,000 visitors passed through North Maine Woods gates in 2008. To serve them, he has a full-time staff of three (including himself), 80 seasonal workers and an annual budget of about $1 million. "We're a frugal outfit," he says. By contrast, Baxter State Park welcomed about 60,000 people and had a budget of about $3 million. There is no real comparison between Baxter and NMW, however. Baxter has a far more extensive, expensive and concentrated system of trails and camping facilities. People who go to the North Maine Woods area get an old-fashioned, backwoods experience. Campsites are widely scatted over the 3.7 million acres, and typically have nothing but a fire ring, picnic table and outhouse. Some have even fewer amenities, although NMW is also managing the Jo-Mary Campground, which offers flush toilets, ice and a laundry, along with a boat launch and a sand beach. While the landowners and managers who created North Maine Woods initially contributed some funding, the organization is now self-sufficient. It receives no state or federal funding. The largest share of its budget comes from day-use, camping and bear baiting fees (hunting guides pay $100 for each of about 2,800 bear baiting sites). "It [the revenue from baiting sites] allows us to keep the gate fees reasonable," says Cowperthwaite, "and the bear population has never been healthier." The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife estimates there are about 23,000 black bears in the state, up from 18,000 in the early 1990s. Due to differences in operating costs and management objectives, there are slightly different fees in the NMW and KI Jo-Mary regions (see "The Bottom Dollar.") Youngsters and seniors pay nothing for day use. But North Maine Woods says it charges landowners, their staffs and even the employees of NMW when they visit the area for recreation. "None of the revenues collected can be distributed to the landowners in this program," the organization notes in its brochure. "Income is budgeted to meet expenses, and fees reflect this arrangement." The issue of fees has been a sore point for some people who hunt or have small landholdings behind the NMW gates. There was a long and highly publicized battle by the Millinocket Fin & Feather Club to overturn gate fees (the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ultimately ruled against the club). A recent article in Down East magazine demonstrated that some sporting camp and vacation home owners are still upset with the system. Cowperthwaite says most visitors, however, do not find the costs excessive. The fees are similar to those charged at Baxter, Acadia National Park and in the state park system. Still, visitor numbers are down (not only at NMW, but at most other outdoor recreation spots as well). It's a long-term trend - North Maine Woods usage peaked at about 300,000 visitors in 1980 - and it has Cowperthwaite worried. "I'm very concerned about keeping the woods affordable," he says. "Sadly, it's part of a national trend [a decline in outdoor recreation that some attribute to the rise of computer games and single-parent families]. People are not coming, and they aren't bringing their kids. We're challenged to keep everything running off user fees." Even so, Cowperthwaite says recreational opportunities on NMW lands are better than ever. The KI Jo-Mary area, for example, includes the well-known Gulf Hagas ("the Grand Canyon of the East") and a section of the Appalachian Trail called the Hundred-Mile Wilderness (for hiking purists, it's really 88 miles). Since buying almost 37,000 acres from International Paper Co. in 2003, the Appalachian Mountain Club has built another 50 miles of hiking trails in the region. "Nobody knows they are here," says Cowperthwaite. "[The AMC] wants the general public to enjoy the land, not just their members." You even have a chance to help wildlife biologists with their research. This year, visitors are being asked to report information about any snakes that they encounter. In 2010, the focus will be on butterflies. If you don't mind traveling well off the beaten path, the North Maine Woods/KI Jo-Mary system offer unparalleled recreational opportunities. The rules are few and simple, according to Cowperthwaite. "Don't litter," he said. "Don't burn the place down. Treat others like you'd like to be treated. Behave yourself, and respect the property." For more information about North Maine Woods, visit www.northmainewoods.org or contact Al Cowperthwaite at info at northmainewoods.org or North Maine Woods Inc., PO Box 425, Ashland, ME 04732. >From the secret life of vernal pools to the potential for bio-fuels from the forest, you can find in-depth, factual and objective information at forestsformainesfuture.org. Invasive Plant Species Workshop in Farmington (Pesticide Applicator and SAF Certification Credits available) The Maine Forest Service in cooperation with the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding an invasive plant identification and control workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 1-5 at the Downstairs Conference Room of the Farmington Municipal Building. This training will help participants identify common upland invasive plants common to Maine's forests and develop mechanical and chemical control strategies for invasive plants. Anyone with an interest in invasive plants is encouraged to attend. Tom Rawinski, Botanist for the USFS out of Durham ,NH., will be speaking on invasive plant identification issues, and Ron Lemin of CPS Timberland, Vegetation Management Solutions, Bangor, will be speaking on the control of invasive plants. Patty Cormier, of the Maine Forest Service, will be the facilitator. The inside session will be followed by a field component in Flint Wood Park, so bring appropriate field gear for forecasted weather conditions. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for the workshop. Fee for the workshop is $12.00 per person. To reserve your space, send checks to: Franklin County SWCD - 107 Park St - Farmington Maine 04938. Continuing education credits are available: Maine Pesticide Applicator - 3 hours; Maine Licensed Forester (SAF) - 2.5 Category 1 SFE's. Discounts available We are offering a $2 per person discount for groups of 5 or more Must Pre-register by sending a check with registration form: Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ Town: ________________________________________________________________________ State & Zip: ____________________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________ Email: ____________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/woodswisewire/attachments/20090811/0eac8570/attachment-0001.html From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Aug 18 05:54:07 2009 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:54:07 -0400 Subject: [woodswisewire] Woods Wise Wire - August 18, 2009 Message-ID: Maine Farm Days - August 21st and 22nd Leeds, Maine: The 2009 Maine Farm Days will be on Friday and Saturday, August 21st and 22nd at the Barker Farm. Your can learn more at www.androscogginswcd.net by clicking on Maine Farm Days (MFD) link on the home page. Go to the above website and download a MFD exhibitor or vendor contract/agreement, a brochure, or the map to the Barker Farm. The Barker Farm is located in Leeds at 9 Barker Road. This is in North Leeds on Route 106 and just north of where the railroad tracks cross Route 106. The Maine Farm Days Theme for 2009 is Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources. Presentations are scheduled pertaining to solar and wind energy, with presentations on farmland preservation from groups like Androscoggin Land Trust and Maine Farm Land Protection. Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District Executive Director Susan Gammon will speak about Carbon Sequestration and the potential financial gain for farmers and landowners. This year a new opportunity is offered at Maine Farm Days. A Farmers Market, vendors exhibiting and selling their fresh grown Maine produce. The contract/agreements are available by going to www.androscogginswcd.net , clicking on Maine Farm Days and downloading contract/agreements on that page for vendors, exhibitors and farm markets. This is the same weekend as the Balloon Festival giving an opportunity to see the balloons launch in the morning, take in the events at Maine Farm Days and end the day watching the balloons land in the early evening. Annually vendors sell agricultural equipment, products, craft and food items. Agricultural organizations have displays; groups give presentations and training sessions offered with continuing learning credits. Please come and join us August 21 and 22 at the Barker Farm and experience the Maine Farm Days. Barker Farm, Inc., a fifth-generation farm owned and operated by David and Vicky Barker, is a conventional dairy farm located in Leeds (Androscoggin County), Maine. They milk 110 Holstein dairy cattle and raise their own replacement animals. Vicky handles all aspects of the dairy herd, milking the animals daily and managing the herd health with assistance from David and their sons. David and his father handle the field work and all the maintenance issues that arise with managing 215 acres of high density grain corn and 175 acres of hay. The Barkers have done an exemplary job maintaining their land, water and animal resources in such a way as to have minimal detrimental impact on the environment. The Barker Farm is at 9 Barker Rd. It is located in North Leeds just east of Rt. 106 and just north of where the railroad tracks cross Rt. 106 [also called the Leeds/Livermore Falls Rd]. To get to the farm, the Leeds Road [Rt. 106] leaves Rt. 133 and goes south to Barker Rd. and the Barker Farm. Or, Rt. 106 leaves Rt. 219 on Livermore Falls Road [Rt. 106] and goes north to the Barker Farm. Trouble in the Forest Soaring timberland prices could be chopped in half in coming years. Video: Is Timber an Overhyped Investment To read more: http://online.barrons.com/article_email/SB124969600764816273-lMyQjAxMDI5 NDE5MDYxOTA2Wj.html Managing for Wildlife Workshop - Farmington On Wednesday, September 23rd, from Noon to 5:00 p.m., there will be a forestry workshop titled "Managing for Wildlife". This workshop will teach you the basic elements of wildlife habitat and how to recognize habitat elements out in your woodlot. In addition, you will learn about USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service financial assistance available for planning and managing your forest for wildlife. It will include an indoor and outdoor discussion on the diversity of wildlife in the forest as well as key wildlife requirements needed. Displays and lots of written material will also be available from various state and federal agencies. The indoor session will be held at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Office, 138 Pleasant St., Farmington, ME (new downtown location). The field tour will be held at two close-by town-owned properties, Flint and Bonney Woods. Appropriate attire is recommended for a walk in the woods in late September. Space is limited so register early. An early registration fee of $10 is due by September 8th to Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, 107 Park St., Farmington, ME 04938. After September 8, the registration fee will increase to $12.50 and at the door the fee will be $15.00. For more information about the meeting location, registration or other accommodations, please contact the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District Office at 207-778-4279 or info at franklincswcd.org Maine Forest Service 2008 Forestry BMP Monitoring Report is now available The Maine Forest Service 2008 Forestry BMP Monitoring Report is now available on the Maine Forest Service website at http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/pubs.htm#bmp_rpt_08 BMPs were used appropriately at 41% of the monitored harvests in 2000. In 2008, BMPs prevented measurable sediment from reaching the waterbody at 72% of stream crossings and 92% of approaches to the crossings. For this reporting period, key findings regarding the use and effectiveness of BMPs are: * Of the 615 opportunities to observe soil conditions, 87% showed no sediment reached the waterbody, the same level as 2006-2007 and a 4% improvement from the 2005 reporting period.[1] * BMPs were not applied on 4% of crossings, the same level as 2006-2007. BMPs were not applied at 2% of approaches, also the same as 2006-2007. * Sedimentation events were most often related to the inadequate application of BMPs rather than a lack of BMP application. * Forty-four percent of the sample units did not have water crossings. This may be due to no water present in the sample unit or a stream crossing purposely avoided through pre-harvest planning. Pre-harvest planning and harvest layout can help identify and protect sensitive areas, reduce skid trails, and avoid unnecessary stream crossings. * 11% more structures spanned the bankfull channel width in 2008 than 2006-2007. Stream channel bankfull width is measured from the average high water mark that is expected to occur two out of every three years. Crossings that span the bankfull width are less likely to impede the movement of aquatic organisms and are at lower risk of catastrophic failure due to high flow events. For a hard copy of the report or for more information please contact: Keith Kanoti Maine Forest Service Water Resources Forester 22 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Ph: 207-287-1073 Cell Ph: 207-441-5282 email: keith.kanoti at maine.gov [1] Note: Due to small sample sizes, movement of percentages up or down by 5% or less is considered insignificant. Wonder of Wood Fair - Portland Saturday, September 19, 2009 Join us for a celebration of Maine forests at the Wonder of Wood Fair, Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 10am - 3pm at the USM Sullivan Gym, Portland. The Wonder of Wood is a free public event full of family-friendly activities! There will be workshops specifically for children about the wonderful critters and other sights to be seen in the Maine woods, as well as fun-for-all-ages performances from the Great Maine Lumberjack Show. There will also be hands-on opportunities to try something new like papermaking, tree identification, or learn to shoot a bow and arrow! There's something for everyone, so save the date! Learn about the latest products and services the industry has to offer from exhibitors, all while enjoying the fair with family and friends! Wonder of Wood is presented by Forests for Maine's Future, a collaboration of the following organizations; Maine Forest Service, University of Maine Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, The Maine TREE Foundation, and Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine. For more information contact: Green Tree Event Consultants at 207.781.2982 or visit forestsformainesfuture.org. Directions to the USM Portland Campus >From Interstate 295 (North and South) take exit 6B (Forest Avenue North) onto Forest Avenue. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Bedford Street. Visitors are asked to park in the Parking Garage. Sullivan Gym, academic and administrative buildings on campus are located on the right side of the street. >From the Maine turnpike traveling South from Lewiston , take Exit 47 (Rand Road) (formerly Exit 7B). At the end of the toll access road, turn right at the light and follow Rand Road to the end. At Forest City Chevrolet bear to the right and travel on Route 25 East (Brighton Avenue) and proceed for about two miles. The campus is located at the intersection of Falmouth Street and Route 25. Follow the road around as it curves. Sullivan Gym, academic and administrative buildings on campus are located on your left. >From the Maine turnpike traveling North from Kittery , take Exit 45 (Maine Mall Road/South Portland) (formerly Exit 7). Proceed though the former toll plaza and take the 2nd exit (295- Portland) and take Exit 6B to Forest Avenue. At the first traffic light turn left on to Bedford Street. Sullivan Gym, academic and administrative buildings on campus are located on the right side of the street. Forests, Water and People Analysis FINAL REPORT, STATE MAPS AND FACT SHEETS AVAILABLE The USFS just released a study of watersheds in the Northeast (Maine to Minnesota to Missouri to Maryland) that looks at their ability to produce clean drinking water in relation to the health of forested lands and development pressure. There is a general regional report, as well as state specific reports that identify what watersheds are at greatest risk for drinking water impacts due to development pressure. For more information visit: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/watershed/fwp_preview.shtm Eastern Forest Insect & Disease Leaflets available online The US Forest Service has information online about eastern forest insects and diseases and can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fid/wo-fidls/fidls-east.shtml#foliage-dis _____ [1] Note: Due to small sample sizes, movement of percentages up or down by 5% or less is considered insignificant. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/woodswisewire/attachments/20090818/3058febb/attachment-0001.html From Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov Tue Aug 25 09:09:48 2009 From: Gregory.R.Lord at maine.gov (Lord, Gregory R.) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:09:48 -0400 Subject: [woodswisewire] Woods Wise Wire - August 25, 2009 Message-ID: Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways publication USDA and Forest Service have published a booklet "Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways", or downloadable pdf on conservation buffers. It can be downloaded here: http://www.bufferguidelines.net/ Maine Department of Agriculture receives grant for Asian Longhorned Beetle Outreach The Maine Department of Agriculture has received a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct an outreach and survey program for Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), an invasive insect already responsible for the destruction of more than 25,000 trees in Massachusetts this past year. Asian longhorned beetle was first detected in New York in 1996 and subsequently in Illinois and New Jersey. To help promote this effort the Governor has proclaimed August as "Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month", because this is the time when the adult beetles are most active. The program, currently underway, is focused on informing the general public about ALB and how to recognize and report it. Three training sessions have been conducted around the state for individuals associated with land trusts, conservation districts, tree care, and other green industries. Over 60 volunteers have been trained to recognize ALB and its associated damage to trees, as well as how to communicate this knowledge to the general public. To date, these volunteers have conducted almost 200 outreach events and activities in their respective communities. The Maine Forest Service personnel have been helping conduct training and outreach sessions. During August and early September survey events are planned in Portland and Bangor. These surveys will be using trained volunteers and targeting street trees near industrial areas that could serve as a pathway for ALB coming in on solid wood packing material. If you think you have seen ALB or would like more information on the project visit www.maine.gov/alb. Kennebec Land Trust September 2009 Programs Conserving Forest Land For the Next Generation Friday, September 11 ~ Woodland Owners Short Course This free course, taught by Morten Moesswilde, Maine Forest Service (MFS), will highlight the basic elements of successful woodland stewardship and point landowners toward the resources to achieve them. The course will address developing landowner goals, basic woodland ecology & assessment, essential administrative/planning decisions, & key elements of a successful timber harvest. The goal is to make woodland owners, and others who work with woodland owners in different capacities, more familiar with the basics of forest stewardship. Morten Moesswilde, Midcoast District Forester for MFS, has been with the MFS for 10 years, prior to which he worked in Mid-coast Maine as a private consulting forester. Sponsored by the Maine Forest Service and Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) Location: Camp Mechuwana, Narrows Pond, Winthrop Registration ~ 8 am ~ coffee, pastry, Course: 8:30-12:30, bring a bag lunch To register call KLT 377-2848 ************************************************************** Saturday, Sept. 12 ~ Tour: Readfield Town Forest & KLT Macdonald Conservation Area with Harold Burnett, Two Trees Forestry; Readfield Conservation Commission, and Howard Lake, steward, KLT Macdonald Conservation Area. The 110-acre Town Forest is managed for conservation, recreation, and as a woodlot. Twenty-five acres were selectively harvested during January, 2009, under the supervision of forester Harold Burnett. Prior to the logging operation, a Maine Project Canopy grant funded an effort to control invasive shrub honeysuckle adjacent to the harvest site. We will view the recently harvested section, evaluate the honeysuckle control project, as well as enjoy woodland trails, observing stonework dating from the time when this land was the Readfield Town Farm. KLT's 100 acre Macdonald Woods is adjacent to the Town Forest. Beautiful hiking trails link both properties. Meet at the parking area for the Readfield Town Forest on the Belz Road, Winthrop. See KLT website for directions: www.tklt.org Registration is not necessary. Founded in 1988, KLT focuses on protecting the important natural areas and working landscapes of the Kennebec River and Lakes region of Kennebec County. As a regional land trust, we work cooperatively with landowners in a twenty-two town area centered around the state capital. For more information and directions to all KLT properties contact: Kennebec Land Trust 207-377-2848 ~ www.tklt.org Tar Leaf Spot of Norway Maple (Rhytisma acerinum) Fact Sheet A new fact sheet describing the disease affecting Norway maples in many areas of the state is now available at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/TarLeafSpotofMaple.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/woodswisewire/attachments/20090825/a90ad28e/attachment-0001.html