Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Update: Bremen Alewife Fishery Status

David Wilkins, Contributing Blogger

On March 26th, at the Bremen Town meeting, voters approved unanimously to not operate an alewife fishery in either Muscongus Harbor, nor Muscongus Brook. Recent federal regulations require municipalities managing alewives, to operate them in ways promoting sustainability. Beginning in 2012, federal regulators are closing all U.S. ocean target fishing of alewives and the majority of in-river alewife fisheries.  These actions are in response to a steep decline in alewife numbers along their entire Atlantic seaboard range.  Towns granted harvesting rights will have needed  to provide a history of spawning count data as well as catch samples.

Presently Bremen’s alewife numbers in Muscongus are small and their spawning is limited by the 2 RT 32 road crossings.  The DOT has been working on design and engineering of these 2 road crossings, with some talk of their fish friendly replacements  in the next year or two.

When Bremen approved conservation measures at town meeting, it tells regulators that Bremen is committed to the restoration of this recourse

Monday, March 28, 2011

Working Together

TOWNSHIP 3, RANGE 8, Maine (AP) -- The mere mention of Roxanne Quimby's name used to rile some Maine sportsmen because she wouldn't let them hunt, trap or snowmobile on her vast acreage.
But the hard feelings have eased since the multi-millionaire founder of Burt's Bees cosmetics began meeting face-to-face with sportsmen to share her conservation goals.
Quimby says she wants to give more than 70,000 acres next to Maine's cherished Baxter State Park to the federal government, hoping to create a Maine Woods National Park.
In a nod to sportsmen, she envisions allowing another 30,000 acres she owns north of Dover-Foxcroft to be managed like a state park, with hunting and snowmobiling allowed.
George Smith, former director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, says Quimby has gained trust from sportsmen by listening to their concerns.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Wildlife Habitat Protection Hearing April 1st

Here's a call for support Maine Audubon has put out regarding proposed
legislation that would roll back wildlife habitat protections,
including vernal pool protections. Visible support matters, so please
attend the hearing if you can. And calls or emails to members of the
Environment and Natural Resources Committee are also very important,
particularly if you are a constituent.
_____________________________________

As you know, a host of rollback bills have been introduced in Augusta
this winter that would gut many of the balanced, science-based
protections that keep our lakes and rivers clean and provide critical
feeding, nesting, and resting areas for wading birds, waterfowl,
coastal shorebirds, and many woodland creatures.

These destructive bills go after the best-of-the-best significant
areas that are the highest value to wildlife as well as our most
common-sense protections for Maine’s water resources. We cannot let
this happen.

Maine’s water, land, and wildlife are the heartbeat of Maine people
and the natural legacy we hold dear. They are central to our economy
and our quality of life. Preserving and protecting them is a core
value shared by families and businesses across the state. Yet these
precious natural resources are facing one of their biggest threats in
decades.

Threats to Significant Vernal Pools
Threats to Wading Bird and Waterfowl Habitat
Threats to Coastal Shorebirds

Attend the public hearing before the Environment and Natural Resources
Committee on Friday, April 1st at 9:30am in room 216 of the State
Office Building in Augusta (map).
Call or email members of the Environment and Natural Resources
Committee and urge them to reject LD 872 and other devastating threats
to our water quality and significant wildlife habitat. Click here for
contact information.

Visit our website for more information and other ways to take action:
www.maineaudubon.org/act

If you care about Maine's water, land, and wildlife, and the
opportunities for good jobs and quality of life they provide to all of
us, please take action today!

Jenn Burns Gray
Maine Audubon Staff attorney and advocate

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Open Space Protection in the Midcoast

MEACC will hold a regional meeting in Waldoboro on March 9, 2011, from
4-6:00 p.m. at University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service
office, 45 Manktown Road, Waldoboro. The event will feature two
presentations regarding open space protection in the Mid-Coast area of
interest to both area conservation commissioners and land trust
members:

Beginning with Habitat has developed a variety of planning tools that
will be of interest to any group interested in open space and habitat
protection. Steve Walker, director of Beginning with Habitat, will
review those tools and how they can be used effectively.

The Twelve Rivers Collaborative is a regional land protection
initiative being spearheaded by nine Mid-Coast area land trusts to
protect lands within the one million acre region between the Kennebec
and Penobscot Rivers. Maureen Hoffman of the Sheepscot Valley
Conservation Association and Liz Petruska of the Medomak Valley Land
Trust will describe the vision driving that initiative and discuss the
role area conservation commissions might play in that project.

The event is open to conservation commissioners, land trust members
and other people interested in open space protection at a municipal
and regional level. The agenda will include both presentations and
ample time for participant / presenter discussion.

There is no charge for the event, but pre-registration is required via
MEACC’s website, www.meacc.net. Please register by March 4th.