HBMI Natural Resources Dept.

10/27/2026

As we wrap up the season, we want to say a big thank you and goodbye to our seasonal technicians, Kurtis Reynolds and Drake Bennet!

Throughout the season, they helped with water monitoring, natural resources projects, and a variety of other fieldwork. We appreciate all their hard work and dedication and wish them the best in what comes next!

Our department is proud to offer seasonal technician positions each summer to provide opportunities for individuals to work alongside our team, gain hands-on fieldwork experience, and learn more about natural resource management.

Thank you, Kurtis and Drake, for being part of our team this season!

10/19/2026

This summer the Water Resources Department underwent a project to evaluate and improve the health of the Meduxnekeag River by identifying and removing legacy tire waste and investigating potential tire-derived contamination. Legacy tire waste and tire-derived chemicals can pose potential risks to river and human health. 6PPD, an additive used in tires to prevent degradation, can react with ozone to form 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q). Tire-wear particles can carry these compounds into waterways through stormwater and surface runoff.
Environmental sampling was conducted to investigate concentrations of 6PPD and 6PPD-Q at several spots in the river. Laboratory results indicated that 6PPD-Q was not detected in the 18 reported samples, including nine field duplicate samples. These results provide an initial understanding of conditions at the sampling locations and will help inform future assessment efforts.

In addition, the Water Resources Department identified and mapped 32 tires along the Meduxnekeag River, from the confluence of B Stream with the mainstem to Lowery Bridge in Houlton. Six tires were removed and transported for recycling. The remaining tires were embedded beneath years of accumulated substrate and sediment, making removal challenging due to limited access and retrieval points.
Project activities will continue into 2027, with plans to address access limitations and retrieve additional tires where feasible. Together, these efforts will help build a better understanding of river conditions, address legacy waste, and guide future actions to protect and improve the health of the Meduxnekeag River.

10/13/2026

The HBMI Natural Resources Department, in collaboration with Watson Well Drilling and United States Geological Survey, have successfully drilled a groundwater well to a depth of 152 feet on tribal lands.
This groundwater well will be used to monitor groundwater levels over time; monitor drought impacts, and aquifer conditions.
The USGS reports that the well will likely pe*****te either the Smyrna Mills and Bell Brook Formation or the Chandler Ridge Formation – both of which are composed of sedimentary or metasedimentary rocks, including interbedded mudstone, silicone, quartzite, and shale.
The well water monitoring instrumentation shows real-time water levels online at
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoringlocation/USGS461101067490401 =continuous-72019-0&period=P7D&showMedian=true&showFieldMeasurements=true

10/13/2026

This year, the Natural Resource Department, in collaboration with Field Geology Services and Dunbar Construction, completed two instream restoration projects on the Meduxnekeag River, restoring approximately 2.2 miles of river habitat across the Mainstem and North Branch. On the Mainstem, work took place between the water treatment plant and Jimmy Brook, where just under a mile of river was restored. The North Branch project added another 1.3 miles of restored habitat just downstream of Route 1 in Monticello, ME.

The instream restoration work undertaken by the department aims to help return the river to a more natural, healthy, and resilient condition. Previous land use, most notably during the log-driving era, resulted in the removal of many of the rocks, large wood, and other natural features that provide important habitat for fish and wildlife.

Through these projects, we’ve begun putting some of those features back into the river. By strategically adding rocks, large wood, and other habitat features, we’re working to create more complex habitat and improve the river’s ability to function naturally. While the work involved temporary construction activity such as muddy water, these impacts were short-lived. The long-term result is a healthier, more naturally functioning river system that will provide improved habitat for fish, turtles, birds, and the many other species that depend on the Meduxnekeag.

The benefits of these projects will extend far beyond the completion of construction. By restoring and improving river habitat today, we’re investing in the health and resilience of the Meduxnekeag for generations to come. This work is part of our ongoing commitment to care for the river, improve the health of the watershed, and support the well-being of the community that depends on it.

We’re excited to see these projects completed and look forward to watching the river and its wildlife benefit from this work for years to come!

Interested in learning more about the instream restoration work? Check out our story map here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cf93bd06da2e45adb5dc3dd2ada39a38

Check out some photos from the restoration work below!

10/05/2026

Winter conditions possible on mountain tops today and tomorrow as a cold front will sweep through the area this afternoon bringing rain showers region wide. However, colder conditions will result in some isolated snow showers this afternoon on mountain tops. Behind the front, temperatures will continue to drop and a strong pressure gradient allows for increasing westward winds around 35-50MPH, and as a result, wind chills will drop to around 2 Fahrenheit. Strong winds will continue into Tuesday, around 45 to 50MPH with temperatures only reaching into the mid 30s on mountain tops.

Hikers and campers should take necessary caution in winter weather conditions.

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

05/02/2026

🐟 Today is the day! 🐟Come cheer on canoe racers as they cross the finish line at the Gateway Bridge, learn more about the rivers and fish that connect us, and enjoy a day of community activities.

The kids' parade will kick things off at 9:45 AM. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉