Casco Bay

This January 2019 file photo shows mussels at Pemaquid Mussel Farms mussel growing and processing center in Bucksport.

Environment and Outdoors

Researchers enlist public to map out vanishing Casco Bay mussels

Peter McGuire

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute wants volunteers to find mussel beds hiding in deeper water just off the coast.

Team Zostera's Lucy Dutton, Alison Fogg and Glenn Page scuba dive off the coast of Cousin's Island in Yarmouth, Maine, planting the eelgrass seeds in their designated beds. The team planned out one bed for planting biodegradable tea bags full of seeds, one bed for free-hand seeding, and one control bed with nothing planted, to gauge how the local eelgrass fares on its own.

Climate Desk

Scientists and community groups band together to save Casco Bay's eelgrass

Molly Enking

Through a huge coalition effort, five organizations are working on a method to restore the bay's depleted eelgrass meadows.

Environment and Outdoors

Two-year pilot project will study staggering decline of eelgrass in Casco Bay

Carol Bousquet

Friends of Casco Bay has partnered with other environmental groups to study healthy eelgrass beds this summer in hopes of finding a way to restore eelgrass habitat. Learn more at their webinar Thursday.

A pair of fishing boats travel through vapors rising off of Casco Bay at sunrise on a frosty morning, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, off South Portland, Maine.

Environment and Outdoors

Summer rains pumped more sewage into Casco Bay

Murray Carpenter

In a webinar Tuesday, Friends of Casco Bay staff scientist Mike Doan said this year's abundant summer rain contributed to a dramatic increase in combined sewer overflows, a mixture of sewage and storm water that is discharged to the bay.

City Hall towers over surrounding buildings as the Casco Bay Lines ferry Wabanaki travels out of the harbor, Wednesday morning, June 1, 2022, in Portland, Maine.

Environment and Outdoors

Nitrogen pollution in Casco Bay is coming from land-based sources, says conservation group

Carol Bousquet

Friends of Casco Bay says water samples collected from more than 150 locations around Portland Harbor and Casco Bay indicate that nitrogen pollution is largely coming from land-based sources, such as storm water and wastewater.

The report from the Department of Environmental Protection calls the loss of 54% of eelgrass abundance "staggering."

Climate Desk

Casco Bay eelgrass dropped by half in four years, report finds

Murray Carpenter

The report from the Department of Environmental Protection calls the loss of 54% of eelgrass abundance "staggering."

Environment and Outdoors

Water District Makes Procedural Changes After Casco Bay Sewage Spill

Nora Flaherty

In July, 1.7 million gallons of mostly-treated sewage poured into Casco Bay after an employee failed to open a release valve.Maine's Department of…

Environment and Outdoors

The Smartphone App That’s Helping Beachgoers Help Casco Bay

Caitlin Troutman

Climate change, pollution and water acidity are all among the issues affecting the water in Maine. The vastness and complexity of ocean environments,…

Environment and Outdoors

Peaks To Portland Race Will Go On, Despite Thursday Sewage Spill Into Casco Bay

Nora Flaherty

The Peaks to Portland fundraising swim will go on as scheduled Saturday.On Thursday about one million gallons of partially-treated sewage from the city's…

Maine

Earthquake in Casco Bay Shakes Parts of Cape Elizabeth

Ed Morin

The U.S. Geological Survey says there was a small earthquake just after noon today in the Cape Elizabeth area. State Geologist Robert Marvinney says the…