CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENT

Blue carbon: Wetlands Nature’s filters for a healthier environment

Picture credit: “Blue carbon” by CIFOR is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has published a very informative graphic depicting the way ” wetlands sequester carbon from the atmosphere through plant photosynthesis and by acting as sediment traps for runoff.” The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines Blue Carbon as ” […]

ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY

VERNAL POOLS

Picture credit: by  geckzilla at Creative Commons According to Maine’s DEP, vernal pools serve as essential breeding habitats for certain species of wildlife, including salamanders and frogs (amphibians). Juvenile and adult amphibians associated with vernal pools provide an important food source for small carnivores as well as large game species. Vernal pools or “spring pools” are […]

** CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY

Flood insurance spike expected to hit Seacoast homeowners hard

Picture credit : Mathew at Unsplash Ian Lehanan writing for the Portsmouth Herald reported an anticipated increase in flood insurance premiums for residents of the Seacoast. many flood insurance holders in the United States who is likely to see a hike in premium rates this fall, as FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is set to introduce a […]

OCEAN VIDEO ARCHIVE

Maine’s Ocean: a video presentation

During the month of February we featured video highlights Maine Public Television’s Age of Nature Lecture Series: Maine’s Ocean. Naturalists, environmentalists, and scientists sharing their experiences and viewpoints on the changing equation of man and nature. This is the third of three free, open-to-the-public zoom lectures each with a featured speaker and an array of […]

SUSTAINABILITY WATERSHED

Federal legislation backs ‘wild and scenic’ protections for York River

Picture credit: Tomwys / Creative Commons Could the Ogunquit River be next? As reported by Gillian Graham in the Portland Herald “… The designation as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River could lead to federal funding for habitat restoration and other projects to protect the York River and its tributaries.” The wild and scenic partnership […]

RAIN BARRELS SUSTAINABILITY WATER QUALITY

Soak Up the Rain: Rain Barrels

Picture credit: Suhyeon Choi The Environmental Protection Agency wants to remind you that as rain water flows over a roof surface it can pick up pollutants such as bacteria from birds and other animals, and chemicals from roof materials – factors to consider when thinking about using rain barrel water on edible plantings.  Please follow […]

RAIN BARRELS TIPS AND STRATEGIES WATER QUALITY WATERSHED

Harvesting Rainwater with Rain Barrels, an Old Idea with a New Following

Picture credit: Harry Cuningham Collecting rainwater for use during dry months in rain barrels or other depositories is an ancient and traditional practice. Historical records show that rainwater was collected in simple clay containers as far back as 2,000 years ago in Thailand, and throughout other areas of the world after that. With the rising […]

ENERGY ENVIRONMENT FEATURED ARTICLES

Maine going big on Heat Pumps

Picture credit : Vlad smolyakov / Unsplash According to Justin Gerdes writing for GTM:, ” … Maine is the most heating-oil-dependent state in the country. More than 60 percent of the state’s 550,000 households rely on heating oil as their primary energy source for heat.” She quoted Michael Stoddard Executive Director of Efficiency Maine Trust: […]

** OGUNQUIT WATER QUALITY

State of Maine: Mandatory Shoreland Zoning

Picture credit: Jim Dollar at Creative Commons For an expanded description of the MSZ go to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection The Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (MSZA) requires municipalities to adopt, administer, and enforce local ordinances that regulate land use activities in the shoreland zone. The shoreland zone is comprised of all land areas […]

ENERGY ENVIRONMENT FEATURED ARTICLES

Maine Bill Calls for Increased Funding of Electric School Buses

Picture credit: Agustín Pacheco – Unsplash As reported by Ryan Green in the School Transportation News. Read the entire article at STNews Legislation that was introduced in December would require all school buses statewide to operate with electric power by 2040. There are currently 3,000 school buses in operation statewide. The bill does not specify […]