The first fall foliage report, issued by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF), will be available on Wednesday, Sept. 12. The reports will continue until the entire state has reached past-peak conditions, according to Gale Ross, Maine foliage spokeswoman.
“We’ve had nice dry, hot summer,” Ross said. “We’re setting ourselves up for an ideal foliage season.”
Ross noted that some stressed trees already have begun to turn, as have some swamp maples in northern Maine, but the bulk of Maine’s trees will put on their colorful fall clothes in the next few weeks.
Maine is the most forested state in the U.S., with more than 17.5 million acres of forestland making up about 95 percent of its land base. Maine residents and tourists from all over the world enjoy the beauty of the season.
Ross said she already has had numerous phone and email inquiries from potential visitors to the state, including one from China.
Since 1939, Maine Forest Service (MFS) forest rangers, now under the newly merged ACF department, have been collecting data for the weekly foliage reports. They make their on-the-ground foliage observations in seven zones throughout the state and provide the information to the public and state media representatives. Their data is collected and complied on Maine’s fall foliage zone map included on the official state website.
The MFS forest rangers use mobile collection devices throughout the year to collect vital information needed for the Maine Forest Service and also to provide on-site observations for flood and other natural emergency situations, Ross pointed out.
“This is just one of many ways our forest rangers protect and serve the people of Maine,” she said.
The Maine foliage website offers easy access on mobile devices as well as on computers. Leaf peepers can take photos with their phones and instantly submit them to the Maine foliage website, Ross said. The site also incorporates a link to Facebook, which allows leaf peepers to instantly access foliage updates, the foliage spokeswoman said.
“Our Facebook page makes it easy to share some of the most beautiful fall scenery in Maine,” she said.
Several Maine state parks will again be the sites of fall foliage activities, including hikes organized by Parks and Public lands staff. More information about the events will be available soon on the Parks website under “Events Calendar.”
For more information on the fall foliage site, go to: http://www.mainefoliage.com
For more information on Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com
For more information about MDACF, go to: http://www.maine.gov/acf
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