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Maine Studies - Environment Videos

Brassau Dam Hydro-Electric Project

20 min.; 7-12; Environment, Maine Studies, Social Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (1990)

Detailed documentation of the fishery restoration required by the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Land Use Regulatory Commission, and the Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife when the Swift River/ H afslund Company broadened a channel within the Moose River downstream from their hydro-electric generating facility. Looks at the impact of development on the river.

Cobscook...Of Boiling Waters

26 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies, Social Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife (1990)

A look at Maine 's most recent land acquisition "Down East" in the Machias-Lubec area. Beautiful coastline, productive fisheries, and valuable wildlife habitat combine to form a unique area that many conservation groups wish to preserve and protect. The program shows the variety of wildlife native to the area, and chronicles local, state, and national efforts to buy land to add to Maine 's Land Trust holdings.

Flowing Past: Maine 's Kennebec and Dead Rivers

9-12; Energy Use & Conservation, Environment, History, Maine Studies, Native Americans; Maine Public Television, Lewiston , ME (2003)

Examines the histories of the Kennebec and Dead Rivers . Topics covered: Native American Life; The Popham Colony; Shipbuilding; Logging; Transportation; Benedict Arnold's March to Quebec ; Ice Harvest; Paper Industry; Hydroelectric Power; White Water Rafting.

For Your Lake 's Sake

30 min.; 7-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (1990)

Because Maine 's lakes are a source of drinking water for many cities and towns and are heavily used for recreational purposes, the water quality of these lakes is very important. Four Maine high school students from the mid-coast region take a look at some of the causes of lake degradation and at some of the methods of preventing and/or reducing the effects of pollution.

Friendship, Maine : A Case Study

6 min.; 7-12; Current Issues, Environment, H ealth, Maine Studies; Produced by: Media Source (1986)

Looks at an environmental disaster shaping up in one of Maine 's prettiest coastal villages. The community is Friendship and the nightmare is the pollution of the water supply due to leaking underground gas tanks.

Maine Conservation Camp: Ticket to a Maine Adventure

10 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (1995)

Details scholarship opportunities to attend the Maine Conservation Camp.

Maine Field Trips

17 programs - 15 min. each; 5-10; Energy Use & Conservation, Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Public Broadcasting (1981)

The Maine Field Trips are intended to supplement and extend field trip opportunities still available to Maine children in the 1980's. They run the gamut from historical to industrial and environmental sites.

  1. The Maine Potato (1983)
  2. Between High Tide & Low (1982)
  3. Power from Water
  4. Yacht Building
  5. The Little Time Machine
  6. Harvesting our Forests
  7. Making Paper
  8. "The Play's the Thing"
  9. Growing Salmon
  10. Update: Defence (1982)
  11. The Weaver (1982)
  12. Maine Black Bear (1983)
  13. Aquaculture: Harvesting Clams (1983)
  14. Early Man in Maine (1983)
  15. On the Bangor River (1986)
  16. Making Maple Syrup (1986)
  17. JAX - Jackson Labs (1986)

Maine's Infrastructure

4 programs - 6 min. each; 7-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Media Source (1984)

Examines and defines the status of Maine's Infrastructure. That is, the condition of our highways, bridges, public buildings, and other aspects of our community.

  1. Physical Decay
  2. Economic Decay
  3. Reinvestment
  4. Rebuilding

Maine's Magnificent Coast

25 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies, Science, Social Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (1996)

A picturesque account of Maine's coastal wildlife with an emphasis on seabird nesting sites. Also shows how human interaction with certain species can hinder nesting opportunities.

Maine's Resources

3 programs - 30 min. each; 9-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Public Broadcasting (1977)

  1. The Forest - Professor David C. Smith of the Department of H istory, University of Maine at Orono discusses the changing attitudes toward Maine's wilderness and timberlands from colonial times to the present.
  2. The Sea - Ernest Dodge traces the history of Maine's fishing industry as affected by changing tastes and declining catches.
  3. The Future - David C. Smith and Ernest Dodge look ahead to the choices facing Maine people and the resources which one way or another will continue to shape Maine's future for the rest of this century and beyond.

Maine's Water Resources

20 min.; 7-12; Environment, Geology, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Geological Survey (1992)

Life, as we know it, started out in the seas many millions of years ago. Although the original seas are vastly different than today's oceans, the basic ingredient was still the same - water. H ere in Maine, we have been blessed with a rich abundance of clean, pure water sources. That is changing. H ow much it changes, and how long our supplies of clean water last is up to each of us, and depends on choices we make each day in our routine living habits.

Oil & Water Don't Mix - Or Do They?

30 min.; 7-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Media Source (1984)

Travels from Southern Maine to Aroostook County for this examination of the increasing problem of leaking underground gasoline storage tanks and how it contaminates our drinking water.

Piecing Together Maine's Coastal Geologic Puzzle

38 min.; 7-12; Environment, Geology, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Geological Survey (1994)

H osted by Lou McNally and narrated by Maine teachers, the program shows how dramatic geologic forces shaped the coast of Maine and how the forces of the ocean continue to alter it today. Visit sandy and rocky beaches of the past and present and experience research cruises in the Gulf of Maine as scientists endeavor to piece together the complex and dynamic geologic history of the Maine coast.

Protecting Maine's Environment: 1969-1981

120 min.; 7-12; Business Education, Economics, Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection

These four segments on Protecting Maine's Environment explore the beginnings of Maine's efforts to improve environmental quality. Further, the segments (Preservation of the Maine Environment, 1969, Maine Waters: A Cleaner Tomorrow, 1973, A Very Delicate Balance, 1974, Kennebec: Revival of A Dying River, 1981) are the best available documentation of just how degraded Maine's environment was before the cleanup began.

Quest - 2003

60 min. each; 4-12; Environment, Forests & Forestry, Health/Wellness, Maine Studies, Science; Maine PBS (2003)

  1. Wilderness - Is there such a thing as true wilderness anymore in northern New England ? And would we know it if we saw it? Not everyone defines wilderness the same way. And a relatively new science, conservation biology, is giving us even more options. Experience the region's most wild and stunning places as QUEST seeks out wilderness, old growth forests, and ecological reserves in Maine , New Hampshire and Vermont . This is the first widescreen program ever produced by Maine PBS!
  2. Autumn - Long before the first leaf turns red or most wild berries are ripe for eating, the natural world is busy getting ready for winter. So if fall starts that early for plants and animals, how do they know the seasons are changing? Witness the incredible communication that goes on with biochemicals that "tells" the natural world when to start preparing for colder weather.
  3. Winter - For those plants and animals that don't migrate south for winter, a lot of preparation goes into getting ready for winter. But it takes more than that to make it through our long cold winters. Creating their own anti-freeze and re-directing bloodflow are just a few of the amazing adaptations the natural world has come up with that we'll explore on QUEST. What many plants and animals know that we humans don't when it comes to dealing with winter.
  4. Remote Sensing - It wasn't until manned space missions that we learned how seeing a bigger picture gave us a whole new appreciation of our world. Now we routinely gather and interpret data from a distance. See for yourself how remote sensing helped secure emergency relief funds in the wake of the 1998 ice storm in northern New England forests. And how satellite images of microscopic phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine may help solve some global warming problems.
  5. Managing Wildlife - Wildlife is always surprising us - even when pushed to the brink of extinction. Animals we once tried to get rid of are now literally at our backdoors. Marvel at the triumphant return of black bear, moose, fisher, and perhaps the cougar. And see how we're just beginning to learn about other species. Discover how it took DNA testing to figure out that some songbird chicks have three or more parents. QUEST explores how the mysteries of our wildlife are being solved.
  6. Food - How is it that we're always dieting yet still face an epidemic of obesity and diabetes? We are what we eat, nutritionists tell us. But there seems to be mass confusion about what we should be eating. QUEST explores how the government's food pyramid and many of the latest diet plans only make it more confusing. Get the skinny on what you should know about food.

Quest - 2004

60 min. each; 4-12; Anatomy/Physiology, Environment, Fisheries & Wildlife, History, Maine Studies, Science; Maine PBS (2004)

  1. Climate Change: In Our Backyard - Sea levels rising? The end of the sugar maple? Tropical diseases heading this way? We've heard a lot about "climate change" and "global warming," but how do we sort through the many terms and myths to see what this planetary issue means here in northern New England ? QUEST takes us from fishing on the coast of Maine to farming off-the-grid in New Hampshire to living in-town in Burlington , Vermont . Using close-to-home examples, the views of leading scientists come alive as they show how climate change can affect almost every aspect of our lives - and in turn, how we affect the climate.
  2. Bodies in Motion: The Biomechanics of Sports - Using athletics, QUEST takes a fresh look at the way our bodies move. Bridging the gap between research and the playing field, coaches, trainers and athletes themselves discover how to optimize performance and what to do when injury causes that performance to fail. Whether it's defying gravity on a diving board or repairing a broken wrist, these coaches and trainers help us discover the science behind the sports we love.
  3. Spring - Spring comes so late to northern New England that it hardly seems as though we have it at all. Yet each year, we get to enjoy at least a few weeks of this wondrous season. But because of our late start, things have to happen quickly and profusely. Spring is the time of year that wildlife and our plants come to life again and get right to the business of creating new life. It's the season for sex - not just for animals, but also plants. We'll see how the natural world struts its stuff to advertise its availability. It's no wonder we feel so rejuvenated this time of year.
  4. Gulf of Maine - "Out of sight, out of mind," the ocean world and the fate of its creatures are unknown to most of us. Although a day at the shore has changed very little, life beneath the waves is in crisis. Like the last buffalo, cod may never return as a wild species. Right whales face extinction. Invasive Asian crabs are killing native species. As QUEST takes us into the Gulf of Maine , we see a dynamic web of life, not as an extension of our world, but as its own ecosystem. What is going on down there? Can more be done?
  5. Bioinvasion - Is our environment evolving or under attack? Our modern day ecology is under onslaught from spreading alien organisms. Human activity is silently globalizing our world on an unforeseen level. Our land, forest and waters are all at risk. Why? Because these plants and animals are capable of moving aggressively into a habitat and monopolizing resources to the detriment of other species. Can scientists help us win the war against this bio-invasion?
  6. Inventors of New England - From colonial times to the present, our famous "Yankee" ingenuity has come into play when facing the demands of life in northern New England . Meet some modern inventors who apply science to life in Maine , Vermont and New Hampshire - with mind-expanding results. Watch wood products become stronger than steel, hear doctors detect an early heartbeat in the womb, and see a "living" machine turn waste into food. Come inside the invention process with students who figure out a way to de-ice their town sidewalks - then jump into the wild world of a robot competition. Northern New England inventors redefine the possible.

Quest: Investigating the World We Call Maine

15 programs - 60 min. each; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Public Television (1995)

QUEST helps viewers make connections between the scientific principles being presented and the decisions and public policy choices they will be making about Maine's future, updates the image of rural and agricultural Maine by showing Maine people at work as scientists, and addresses student aspirations to work in the sciences in Maine.

There are 15 full length programs, 10 excerpted segments for grades 9-12, and 10 for grades 4-8.

  1. How Clean Is Clean Enough?
  2. Weather Wise
  3. Origins
  4. The Gulf Of Maine
  5. Waterways
  6. Maine Woods
  7. Sustainable Agriculture: Solution Or Fad?
  8. Biotechnology
  9. Health Care
  10. Information Superhighway
  11. Maine Digs
  12. Shipwrecks!
  13. Maine Flora
  14. Maine Fauna
  15. Oil Spill! (1997)

Rock

30 min.; 7-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Public Broadcasting (1986)

Mount Desert Rock is a small outcropping of Maine granite situated approximately 20 miles from Mount Desert Island and the entrance to Frenchman's Bay. The Rock looks at the history of this unusual island used by man for 150 years and by nature for countless millennia. It is only recently that the resources of this little-known island have been tapped - as a navigational landmark, productive fishing area and most recently as a giant open-air research laboratory.

Swan Island: A Unique Environment

26 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (1996)

Swan Island or the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area is one of the more unique places that falls under the control of the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Since it is only accessible by boat, not many people know what it has to offer; so we'll take you on a tour of the Area.

Wetlands for the Future

20 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies, Social Studies; Produced by: US Fish & Wildlife Service (1991)

An update on the status of wetlands in the United States in 1990-1991 with Lower Great Lakes and Atlantic Coast Joint Ventures. Reviews the function and value of wetlands in this country. Current programs to preserve and protect wetlands are looked at in depth. A few Maine programs and people are also included.

Wetlands, We Need Them

20 min.; 4-12; Environment, Maine Studies; Produced by: Ursus Productions (1999)

Wetlands are habitat for a great many forms of wildlife. Food chains, life cycles, seasonal changes, different types of wetlands and wildlife vs. human needs are all portrayed in this well filmed production. (Includes the introduction: Your Stewards of Maine's Fish and Wildlife)