Foliage Report for October 14, 2009

Peak Foliage arrives in Downeast, Central Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine – Peak foliage color has arrived along Maine’s Downeast coast and the central interior of the state, according to the fifth fall foliage report from the state Department of Conservation.

Forest rangers are observing peak foliage conditions, or at least 75 percent color change, in coastal locations (Zone 2) from Bucksport to the Blue Hill peninsula, Bar Harbor and Machias, and in central locations from Dover-Foxcroft to Bangor (northern Zone 3), the report states. Leaf drop is now moderate, between 30 and 50 percent, in the regions.

Peak color is also being reported throughout the lakes regions of Hancock and Washington Counties (southern Zone 4), according to rangers. Leaf drop is also moderate in the regions.

Maine's southern coast (Zone 1) and southern interior locations from Fryeburg to Sebago Lake to Augusta (southern Zone 3) now have high foliage color, or 50 to 70 percent toward peak, with moderate leaf drop.

Foliage color in all other regions of the state is now past peak, although rangers say that there are plenty of leaves to view in the state’s western lakes and mountains (Zone 5), and the far north (Zone 6 & 7) of Maine where a dusting of snow recently added another color to the landscape.

Maine's fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through October 21 on this Web site. Be sure to sign up to receive the weekly reports by email and post comments about your Maine foliage adventures on the Foliage Forum page. Also, submit your Maine foliage photos on the Photo Gallery page. Many of the fall foliage photos submitted this year will be displayed at the Department of Conservation's home page in the upcoming weeks.

For more information about events and activities happening in Maine this fall log onto VisitMaine.com.

Week of October 14, 2009

Zone Number	Color Change	Leaf Drop
7	Past Peak	High
6	Past Peak	High
5	Past Peak	High
4 (North)	Past Peak	Moderate
4 (South)	Peak	Moderate
3 (North)	Peak	Moderate
3 (South)	High	Moderate
2	Peak	Moderate
1	High	Moderate

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