Resources

At the Watershed Coalition, we’re in touch with experts and activists around the region, the state, and the nation. Also, we’re big readers.

In our work, including the Penobscot Bay Stewards program, we’ve amassed a library of connections, articles, and resources. For the record, the Pen Bay program typically starts with these two books:

The Lobster Coast, Colin Woodard, 2004. Maine coastal history since European contact, indigenous-settler relations, the stages of boom and bust in Maine’s economy.

Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-based Change, Sherri Mitchel, 2018.

Enjoy.

Climate

City of Belfast's Climate Action Plan was published in 2023. Worth a read.

Case Study: Resilient Belfast (PDF). Focusing on community engagement in Belfast, released in 2023.

Rising Tides, a game about resilience in Maine.

Ecosystems

Cutko, Andrew and Susan Gawler. Natural Landscapes of Maine: A Guide to Natural Communities and Ecosystems. Download the PDF or buy the book.

Fisheries

All about Alewives. What are alewives? How come I've never seen one? Why should I care? This webpage from a small nonprofit has the answers.

Corson, Trevor. The Secret Life of Lobsters. An amusing and

engrossing history of the lifecycle of lobsters with parallels to

the lives of lobster fishing families and their communities

(including reproductive behavior).

Carpenter, Murray. "The Fragile Hope for Salmon Recovery

in Maine," New York Times, 2026.

Farming at Sea. Part of the Maine Public Film Series, an

exploration of aquaculture.

Immigrants in Maine are Filling a Labor Gap. A 2024 article explores the role of immigrants in an industry located in the oldest state in the union. Can immigrants save the lobstering?

A Watershed Moment Maine Coastal Fisheries offers this short film about recovery efforts.

Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries focuses on ensuring sustainable fisheries. Among their projects: exhibits and a cool feature called Ask Leroy.

Geology

Deer Isle Granite Museum. For a panoramic view of the role granite has played in Maine, this is a great place to start.

Jacobson, George and Robson Bonnichsen. "The environmental setting for human colonization of northern New England and adjacent Canada in Late Pleistocene time."

Maine’s Ice Age Trail - DownEast Map and Guide. $8.95. Forty-six auto stops to see and learn about the last Ice Age. Order from University of Maine Bookstore: 888-863-4438.

Shifts in sea level. It's been going on a while. "Maine's History of Sea-Level Changes," offers a detailed chronology (PDF). A project by Joseph Kelly documents more recent changes, Seacoastonline.

Mammoths in Maine! Really. A 2004 study offers insight. "Late Pleistocene mammoth remains from Coastal Maine, USA." (PDF).

"The Deglaciation of Maine, USA." A 2004 scientific paper documents the chronology of deglaciation. (PDF).

The Last Billion Years. A Geological History of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The Atlantic Geoscience Society, 2001. Nimbus Publishing Co., Ltd. P.O. Box 9166, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K5M8. Much of this book tells the Maine story, too.

"The Peopling of Maine from the Last Ice Age to

European Contact." A slideshow walks through exhibits and

history through to the age in which the Europeans arrived.

Kelley, Alice and Joseph Kelley. The Rise and Fall of

the Maine Coast. They mean this literally: colliding

continents, massive glaciers, and rising seas. Can't get more

dramatic than that.

Natural History

Calhoun, Aram J.K., Malcolm L Hunter, Jr and Kent H Redford.

Our Maine: Exploring Its Rich Natural Heritage.

Soil

Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District offers its own set of resources, including info on the nature of soil, PFAS, and more.

The Wabanaki

The Penobscot River and Environmental Contaminants: Assessment of Tribal Exposure through Sustenance Lifeways. This sobering 2015 EPA report details findings on water quality, as well as toxins in fish and wildlife in the river. A good intro to pieces describing recent activity.

Popp, Evan. What Tribal Sovereignty Means to Wabanaki People. A 2022 article details the conversations around a bill that would ensure that Wabanaki Nations had the same rights as other tribes in the U.S.Wabanaki Alliance is comprised of the tribes in Maine (Mi’kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation), who are committed to securing the sovereignty of the tribes in Maine.

Sovereignty Starts Here. The Maine Center for Economic Policy makes the case for adjustments to current policy and practice, with an eye to economic development for the Wabanaki and the state.

Wabanaki Nations State of the Tribes Address to the Maine Legislature, March 16, 2023. (If you don’t have time to listen to the 2-hour address from the 5 Chiefs, you can skip to the 59th minute to hear Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation.)

Water

A 22-year Court Battle ends with Justice for the Penobscot. This 2022 summary describes the issues around the health and degradation of the Penobscot—and its recovery. For a broad view: Penobscot River Restoration Project.

Mudflats and Coastal Change. Think those mudflats are useless and ugly? Think again.

Outwater, Alice. Water, a Natural History, 1996. History and ecology of the water cycle in New England and other places in the U.S. Science told by a master storyteller.

Taylor, Peter. From the Mountains to the Sea: The Historic Restoration of the Penobscot River, Islandport Press, 2020.

Wildlife

Ben Goldfaarb. Eager: The surprising, secret life of beavers and why they matter, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2019.

The Working Waterfront

Belfast Historical Society and Museum. There’s lots to see and learn here. We particularly love the walking tours. Front Street Shipyard. Located at the south end of Belfast’s waterfront, the shipyard offers free tours—and they’re impressive; the website hosts several good videos.

Island Institute. The organization works to strengthen Maine’s island and coastal communities. One of their services is the Working Waterfront newspaper.

Harbormaster, City of Belfast. A quick video tour and list of services.

Must Be Nice Lobster. Lobsterwoman Sadie Samuels offers a mini-documentary about her life on the sea. A slice of insight.

Penobscot Marine Museum. Special and permanent exhibits showcase the local coast--its endeavors, industries, and people. Hosts a huge archive of historical photos.