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Map displaying current Foliage Conditions

Foliage Report for September 26, 2007

Listen to a foliage message from Maine Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan. (MP3) | Text Transcript

Maine’s foliage color spreading south, nearing peak in Aroostook County

AUGUSTA, Maine – Warmer than average temperatures and near peak conditions in northern Maine should make a great weekend for foliage viewing according to the third foliage report released today by the state Department of Conservation.

Currently, forest rangers are reporting high leaf color, or 50 to 75 percent toward peak, in the two foliage tracking zones (Zone 6 and 7) covering Aroostook County and northern portions of Piscataquis and Somerset County. Foliage in some locations within these zones is expected to reach peak color by the weekend or early next week.

Recent daytime temperatures in the 70s have extended the foliage season in Aroostook County by five to seven days according to rangers in the region. The heat has not affected the health of the leaves and won’t have a negative effect on color transformation in the southern part of the state.

Other current conditions:

Zone 5 covering the Moosehead Lake and Rangeley Lakes regions has moderate color change, or 30 to 50 percent toward peak. The tree canopy in the Carrabassett Valley area is looking particularly nice.

Zones 4 and 3 also have moderate color. Visitors to the Fryeburg Fair Sept. 30 – Oct. 7 will see plenty of nice foliage. Foliage along the Kennebec River between Skowhegan and Augusta is also looking good.

Southern and coastal Zones 1 and 2 now have moderate color with the best foliage showing at the highest elevations in places like Union, Camden and Mount Desert Island. Leaf drop is now low, or less than 30 percent, in all tracking zones.

Be sure to file your own Maine leaf report on the Foliage Forum page of this Web site, and submit your scenic photographs to the Photo Gallery.

To provide the most accurate foliage information, DOC rangers will report conditions statewide every Wednesday through Oct. 24. Updated reports and information can also be obtained by calling the Maine foliage hotline at 1-888-MAINE-45. Learn more about Maine's fall touring routes and outdoor activities at www.visitmaine.com.

Press contact: Kevin Gove, Nancy Marshall Communications, Email: kgove@marshallpr.com, Phone: (207) 623-4177.

Current Conditions - The Foliage Conditions map on this page is the foliage zone map used by Maine Forest Service Rangers when reporting fall foliage conditions. See Also: Description of Zones

Week of September 26, 2007
Zone Number Color Change Leaf Drop
7 High Low
6 High Low
5 Moderate Low
4 Moderate Low
3 Moderate Low
2 Moderate Low
1 Moderate Low

Foliage Zones

Zone 7: Northeastern Maine, including Fort Kent, Caribou, and Presque Isle

Zone 6: Northwestern Maine

Zone 5: Western Mid-Maine, including Greenville, Rangeley, Bethel

Zone 4: Eastern Mid-Maine, including Houlton, Millinocket, and Calais

Zone 3: Central and Southwestern Maine, including Bangor, Augusta, and Fryeburg

Zone 2: DowneastMaine, including Machias, Bar Harbor, and Penobscot Bay

Zone 1: Mid-Coast and South Coastal Maine, including Camden, Portland, Kennebunkport, and Kittery