Spring turkey season suspended in northern Maine

By Aislinn Sarnacki, BDN Staff

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Posted April 18, 2014, at 11:10 a.m.

 

The spring wild turkey hunt has been suspended in portions of northern Maine, specifically Wildlife Management Districts 1-6, due to the effect of this year’s severe winter, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recently announced.

The hunting season will remain unchanged in all other areas of the state.

“This winter has taken a toll on younger wild turkeys, including hens,” DIF&W Commissioner Chandler Woodcock said in a recent press release. “A spring hunting season in addition to the severe winter could impact not only this turkey season, but future seasons as well.”

The National Weather Service ranked March 2014 as the third snowiest March on record in northern Maine. DIF&W biologists believe the northern Maine wild turkey population has potentially suffered above-average winter mortality rates.

In addition, state biologists are concerned that the lingering snow cover in northern parts of the state will affect the turkey’s breeding season.

“Wild turkeys breed in April and May, and there is still over two feet of snow in the northern Maine woods, and 80 percent of our fields are snow-covered, making nesting conditions extremely difficult for turkeys,” DIF&W wildlife biologist Rich Hoppe said in the release.

Wild turkeys nest on the ground at the base of trees or near brush piles. The snow and excessive water may delay their nesting and hinder overall nesting success, according to the DIF&W.

To top it all off, the wild turkey population in northern Maine is actually thought to be more vulnerable to severe winters because it is not as well established as the wild turkeys in other parts of the state.

Wild turkeys vanished from the Maine landscape in the 1800s due to a shrinking forest habitat and unrestricted hunting. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that wild turkeys returned to the state, transported to York County by DIF&W biologists in an effort to restore wild turkeys throughout their historical range in Maine.

The reintroduction program was a success, and now wild turkeys are abundant in Maine once more. Careful stewardship and partnerships with outdoor groups and landowners has helped expanded the birds’ range. And this past fall, the DIF&W expanded turkey hunting opportunities to include the entire state, including northern Maine.

To hunt wild turkey in Maine, you need a permit ($20 for Maine residents and $54 for nonresidents) and a valid hunting license that allows hunting of big game. The 2014 spring wild turkey hunting season is April 28-May 31, with the Youth Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Day (for youth 10-15 years old who possess a junior hunting license) set for April 26. The 2014 fall season is Oct. 2-31.

To learn about Maine’s wild turkey population and hunting seasons, visit state.me.us/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/wild_turkey.htm.

Warning issued after Mattawamkeag River in Maine rises above flood level

By Ryan McLaughlin, BDN Staff

Posted April 18, 2014, at 8:59 a.m.

 

CARIBOU, Maine — Less than 24 hours after Orono residents experienced flooding because of the cresting Stillwater River, parts of the Mattawamkeag River in northern Penobscot County are cresting.

The National Weather Service’s Caribou office has issued a flood warning for the river. As of 7 a.m. Friday, the river’s stage was 16.1 feet, well above the flood stage of 13.5 feet.
There is no timetable for the length of the flood warning, according to the weather service.
Portions of Lancaster Road in Kingman have already been affected by flooding, the weather service said.

In addition to the Mattawamkeag River, the weather service said the Sebasticook River in Pittsfield is also above flood levels, prompting warnings in that area.
In Dexter, lower Lincoln Street remains closed to traffic, along with the entrance to the municipal parking lot, Town Manager Shelley Watson said Friday.
Watson said removing culverts helped withstand flood waters.

“There’s no more drama today that I’m aware of,” she said.
The weather service’s Gray office has also canceled a flood warning along the Androscoggin River near Auburn.

As of 7 a.m., the river’s stage was listed at 12.7 feet, just below the flood stage of 13 feet.
The river is expected to continue to fall throughout the day. The weather service also canceled a warning on the Kennebec River.

High temperatures, rainfall and ice jams have been responsible for flooding throughout the state over the last few weeks. One person has died in northern Aroostook County after being swept away by floodwaters.

Snow crab fishery delayed by ice in Gulf of St. Lawrence

Snow crab season expected to start on May 1

CBC News Posted: Apr 18, 2014 12:04 PM AT Last Updated: Apr 18, 2014 12:04 PM AT

 

Snow crab fishermen on P.E.I. are anxious to get out on the water since ice conditions have delayed the season.

The season can open as early as April 15, but a committee made up of Department of Fisheries and Oceans and industry representatives has delayed it this year because of sea ice conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Carter Hutt, president of the P.E.I. Snow Crab Association, said conditions are improving.

“Out in the Gulf has actually been changing pretty good but they figured that the harbours and the bays were going to be a problem. There has been a big change this week. There are actually boats in the water now and the harbours and bays are opening up,” he said.

Hutt said another conference call between DFO and the industry is scheduled for April 25. He now expects the opening day will be May 1.

There are nearly 30 snow crab fishermen on P.E.I.

Cherryvale covered bridge swept away by flood waters

Flooded Canaan River pushed the 87-year-old bridge for 2 hours until it hit a new bridge

CBC News Posted: Apr 17, 2014 7:15 AM AT Last Updated: Apr 17, 2014 7:15 AM AT

 

An 87-year-old covered bridge was swept down the Canaan River near Coles Island on Wednesday by the powerful flood waters.

Residents gathered by the side of the river to watch the Cherryvale covered bridge, which was built in 1927, float away.

Many of the residents reflected on the impact of the covered bridge’s loss to their community.

“It's a sad day for our community. Very sad because as we know, as every one of these covered bridges leaves, there's never a covered bridge to replace it,” said Perry Black.

Dwight Paterson said the bridge was taken from the area so quickly.

“It's been around here for 80 years, she's gone in an instant,” said Dwight Paterson.
“Nothing you can do. Just watch her go by. She'll find her resting place, somewhere.”

The bridge did finally find a resting space, roughly two hours later.
The old covered bridge was wedged under a new bridge on the Canaan River, caught by an abutment.

A piece of history lost, but also a loss with immediate consequences for people living in the area who relied on the bridge.

The people who lived across the river are now cut-off.

“We have some elderly people over there, and we're worried about access,” Black said.
“Our only access will be from on the Havelock Road coming in, and that's a dirt road through there and obviously with all the rain has made it pretty severe on that road too.”

Many communities in western and southern New Brunswick were flooded on Wednesday.
Sussex Corner declared a state of emergency because of the flood on Wednesday morning. The water has flooded basements, submerged an RV dealership and forced the closure of several roads in Sussex and Sussex Corner.

Winter and Spring Flood Potential Outlook issued on April 17th

000
FGUS71 KCAR 171937
ESFCAR
MEC003-009-019-021-029-180745-

WINTER/SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
337 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014

...SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK FOR NORTHERN... CENTRAL AND
DOWNEAST MAINE...

THIS IS THE NINTH WINTER/SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK FOR
2014...ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CARIBOU, MAINE.
THE SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL IS FOR NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND DOWNEAST
MAINE FOR THE TWO WEEK PERIOD FROM APRIL 17 TO MAY 1, 2014.

THE SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MAINE
IS MUCH ABOVE NORMAL. FOR AREAS SOUTH OF A HOWLAND TO TOPSFIELD
LINE, THE SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL IS ABOVE NORMAL. THESE REGIONS
WILL LIKELY IMPROVE TO NORMAL IN THE LONGER TERM.

THE THREAT FOR FLOODING DUE TO ICE JAMS HAS PASSED FOR MUCH OF
OUR AREA. THE EXCEPTION IS FAR NORTHERN MAINE, ESPECIALLY ALONG
THE SAINT JOHN ALLAGASH RIVER WHERE ICE JAMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

...CLIMATOLOGICAL GUIDANCE...

TEMPERATURES HAVE GENERALLY BEEN RIGHT AROUND NORMAL FOR MUCH OF
THIS MONTH. THIS IS A WELCOME RESPITE AFTER A VERY COLD MARCH.
HEAVY RAINS AFFECTED MUCH OF THE REGION EARLIER THIS WEEK, WITH 1
TO 2 INCHES FALLING OVER OUR FORECAST AREA. THIS RAINFALL, ALONG
WITH PRECIPITATION FROM PREVIOUS SYSTEMS, HAS RESULTED IN MONTHLY
PRECIPITATION THAT IS NORMAL TO ABOVE NORMAL SO FAR.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS LOOK TO STAY DRY AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER
THE REGION. HOWEVER, AS WE HEAD INTO LATE APRIL, AN ACTIVE WEATHER
PATTERN WILL RESUME. SEVERAL POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION EVENTS WILL
BE POSSIBLE AS A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS SLIDE EAST FROM
THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. AT THIS TIME, IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER THAN
PERHAPS SOME LIGHT RAIN OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKEND, THE NEXT THREAT
FOR HEAVY RAIN WON'T BE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM DURING THE DAY AND BELOW FREEZING AT
NIGHT THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS PATTERN IS IDEAL FOR
GRADUAL SNOWMELT, AS WELL AS THE MELTING OF ANY REMAINING RIVER
ICE.

THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK MATCHES
THIS THINKING WELL, CALLING FOR NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION DURING THE PERIOD.

...OBSERVED SNOW DEPTH AND WATER EQUIVALENTS...

WE LOST A LOT OF SNOW TO SNOWMELT AND RAINFALL OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL DAYS. THERE IS NO SNOW ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST, WITH
INTERIOR DOWNEAST REPORTING AT MOST 8 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE
GROUND. HEADING NORTH INTO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN
AROOSTOOK COUNTY, THERE IS CURRENTLY 10 TO 15 INCHES OF SNOW
CURRENTLY COVERING THE GROUND, MAINLY IN SHELTERED AND SHADED
AREAS. OPEN FIELDS HAVE 6 INCHES OR LESS. THE SAINT JOHN VALLEY
AND NORTH MAINE WOODS STILL HAVE 12 TO 18 INCHES IN OPEN AREAS,
WITH UPWARDS TO 2 FEET POSSIBLY IN THE WOODS. THESE LOCATIONS
HAVE ABOVE NORMAL SNOW, WHILE EASTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY DOWN TO
THE COAST IS NEAR NORMAL FOR SNOWPACK.

SNOW WATER EQUIVALENTS, OR THE AMOUNT OF WATER CONTAINED IN THE
SNOW PACK, ARE ONLY 2 INCHES AT MOST ACROSS WASHINGTON, HANCOCK,
AND SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT COUNTIES. FURTHER NORTH, THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN AROOSTOOK COUNTY STILL HAVE 2 TO 5 INCHES
OF WATER CONTAINED IN THE PACK. THE NORTH MAINE WOODS AND THE FAR
NORTH HAS 6 TO 9 INCHES OF WATER. THE HIGHER WATER AMOUNTS ARE
ABOVE NORMAL, BUT MUCH OF THE REGION HAS NEAR NORMAL WATER
CONTAINED IN WHATEVER SNOW IS ON THE GROUND.

...SOIL MOISTURE AND WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS...

PLENTIFUL SNOWMELT AND RAIN FROM EARLIER IN THE WEEK HAVE ALLOWED
FOR INCREASED RUNOFF ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE PAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS. HOWEVER, SOIL MOISTURE STATES ARE ACTUALLY NEAR
NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE LONGER
TERM SOIL MOISTURE, INDICATED BY THE PALMER DROUGHT INDEX, ALSO
SHOWED NEAR NORMAL CONDITIONS. GROUNDWATER LEVELS ARE NEAR TO
ABOVE NORMAL FOR MID APRIL.

...RIVER AND ICE CONDITIONS...

RIVER FLOWS REMAIN HIGH AS RUNOFF FROM SNOWMELT AND THE RECENT
RAINS CONTINUES TO STREAM INTO AREA WATERWAYS. THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN RIVERS, INCLUDING THE PENOBSCOT, MATTAWAMKEAG, AND
PISCATAQUIS, ARE MOSTLY ICE-FREE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL
RIVER GAGES NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE PENOBSCOT RIVER AT EDDINGTON (EDDM1), THE PENOBSCOT RIVER
AT WEST ENFIELD (WENM1), AND THE MATTAWAMKEAG RIVER NEAR
MATTAWAMKEAG (MATM1). MANY OF THE RIVER GAGES ON THE PISCATAQUIS
RIVER CONTINUE TO SHOW RECEDING WATER LEVELS, AS DOES THE EAST
BRANCH OF THE PENOBSCOT RIVER. HOWEVER, WITH PLENTIFUL SNOW STILL
TO MELT OUT OF THE HEADWATERS OF THESE RIVERS, FLOWS SHOULD REMAIN
HIGH THROUGH AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

FURTHER NORTH, THE ICE HAS PRETTY MUCH FLUSHED OUT OF THE
AROOSTOOK RIVER. WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS AN ICE JAM IN
OXBOW WHICH HAS FLOODED THE ROAD LEADING TO THE OXBOW GATE TO THE
NORTH MAINE WOODS, AND WATER MAY BE THREATENING SOME UNOCCUPIED
CAMPS. HOWEVER, NO HOMES ARE IMPACTED AT THIS TIME. THIS ICE
SHOULD FLUSH OUT SOON AND IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE ANY
ADDITIONAL ISSUES AS IT HEADS DOWNSTREAM.

THE SAINT JOHN RIVER REMAINS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN. THERE ARE TWO
ICE JAMS IN PLACE ALONG THIS RIVER AT THIS TIME: ONE IN SAINT
FRANCIS AND ONE JUST BELOW GRAND ISLE. THE SAINT FRANCIS JAM IS
STILL VERY LONG AND QUITE LOCKED INTO PLACE. WATER IS FLOODING
NUMEROUS FIELDS FROM SAINT JOHN BACK TOWARDS ALLAGASH. ROUTE 161
IS IMPACTED AND CURRENTLY CLOSED BETWEEN SAINT FRANCIS AND SAINT
JOHN. THE ICE JAM NEAR GRAND ISLE IS ALSO NOT MOVING, AS IT IS
CAUGHT UP AGAINST A SOLID ICE SHEET THAT STRETCHES DOWN THROUGH
VAN BUREN. WATER IS FLOWING OUT OF THE RIVER AND INTO FIELDS AS
IT MAKES ITS WAY AROUND THE JAM, BUT NO ROADS, BUSINESSES, OR
HOMES ARE KNOWN TO BE AFFECTED AT THIS TIME. PERSONS WHO HAVE
INTERESTS ALONG THE SAINT JOHN RIVER SHOULD STAY ALERT FOR
RAPIDLY CHANGING WATER LEVELS, AS THESE JAMS MAY RELEASE VERY
SUDDENLY. THE ICE JAM FLOOD THREAT WILL NOT BE OVER ACROSS
NORTHERN MAINE UNTIL THE ICE COMPLETELY FLUSHES OUT PAST HAMLIN.
EVEN THEN, RIVER FLOWS WILL REMAIN HIGH AS SNOWMELT RUNOFF STREAMS
INTO THE RIVERS.

...IN CONCLUSION...

BASED ON THE AFOREMENTIONED INFORMATION, THE SPRING FLOOD
POTENTIAL IS MUCH ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MAINE,
AND ABOVE NORMAL FOR INTERIOR DOWNEAST. THE RIVERS ARE STILL
RUNNING VERY HIGH WITH SNOWMELT AND PRECIPITATION RUNOFF. WHILE
DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AN ACTIVE
WEATHER PATTERN IS ANTICIPATED AS WE HEAD INTO LATE APRIL. THIS
COMBINED WITH CONTINUED SNOWMELT WILL KEEP RIVER LEVELS HIGH OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE THREAT OF ICE JAM FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE HIGHEST ACROSS
NORTHERN MAINE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SAINT JOHN VALLEY. THERE ARE ICE
JAMS CURRENTLY IN PLACE ALONG THE SAINT JOHN, AND FLOODING IS
ONGOING AT THIS TIME. ADDITIONAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME,
AS THESE ICE JAMS MAY SHIFT AND RE-FORM ANYWHERE DOWNSTREAM. FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA, THE THREAT OF ICE JAM FLOODING
HAS PASSED FOR THIS SEASON.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BRING
FLOODING AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, EVEN IN AREAS THAT HAVE LITTLE
OR NO SNOW ON THE GROUND.

THE NEXT WINTER/SPRING FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED BY
NWS CARIBOU ON THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014, IF IT IS DEEMED NECESSARY AT
THAT TIME.

$$

HASTINGS