** CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY WATER QUALITY

Could the Climate Crisis Spell the End for Maine Lobster?

The state’s thriving lobster industry owes a lot to smart fishery conservation measures implemented over the past three decades. But given the Gulf of Maine’s rapid warming, how far can these interventions go? Picture credit: Louis Hansel/Unsplash Published in ecowatch.com by Nicole Greenfield, a writer at NRDC whose articles on religion, the environment, popular culture, and social […]

** BEACH EROSION SUSTAINABILITY

Quest to quell coastal erosion takes on new emphasis

Picture credit: Juanita Swart / Unsplash As reported by Tammy Wells in the BIDDEFORD-SACO-OOB COURIER the city of Saco, Maine is looking for long and short-term solutions to the erosion in Saco Bay in partnership with neighboring communities and the state. During a meeting that included state legislators, city leaders, representatives of the state Department […]

** SUSTAINABILITY WATER QUALITY

Tracking Groundwater in Maine

As published in blogs.cdc.gov /Picture credit: Alvis Taurens / Unsplash In Maine, more than half of all homes rely on private wells for drinking water. Many wells have levels of arsenic, uranium, or other chemicals that can cause serious health effects such as cancer or low birth weight. These contaminants can only be detected through […]

** CLIMATE CHANGE SUSTAINABILITY

Maine Gardener: Climate change comes to your own backyard

What should you do to keep your plants healthy and thriving despite the heat and extremes? Picture credit: Benjamin Combs/Unsplash This article was written by Tom Atwel. From his Facebook page, we learned that Tom has worked for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 1974, retiring as a copy editor in October 2011. He […]

** SUSTAINABILITY WATER QUALITY

What’s Good for the Ocean May Also Be Good for Business

Picture Credit: By Joseph Barrientos at Unsplash Writing for The New York Times, Tatiana Schlossberg explains how companies are trying to prove that conservation, sustainable fishing, and carbon sequestration are profitable. She writes about Marty Odlin, an engineer from Maine who is trying to reverse the ocean’s decline with his company, Running Tide. You can […]

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 […]

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 […]

SUSTAINABILITY

York Ready for 100% launching York EcoHomes

A new sustainability effort by our neighbors in York. A York EcoHOME is a York household that commits to receiving and considering one monthly Eco-Friendly action that will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. You can learn more about York EcoHomes at York Ready for 100%