Foliage Report for October 8, 2008
Southern, Coastal Maine Foliage Nearing Peak Color
AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine coast and the southern part of the state will have the best foliage viewing during the next week according to the Department of Conservation’s fifth fall foliage report of the season.
Forest rangers are observing high foliage color near 75 percent toward peak along the coastline from Kittery to Penobscot Bay (Zone 1). Color is also high in southern and central locations from Fryeburg to Sebago Lake and the Belgrade Lake region (Zone 3). Color in all of these areas is expected to reach peak during the next seven days, and leaf drop is now moderate, or less than 50 percent.
Peak conditions remain in Millinocket, Houlton and the Lincoln Lake region of northern Penobscot County (northern Zone 4). Leaf drop is moderate in these areas. Grafton Notch State Park, Bethel, Rumford and the Rangeley Lake region (southern Zone 5) also have peak color with high leaf drop between 50 and 70 percent. Foliage in Greenville, Jackman, The Forks (northern Zone 5) and other locations in northern Somerset County and central Piscataquis County has begun to turn past peak and leaf drop is high.
Foliage is still turning along the northern coast between Belfast and Eastport (Zone 2) where the color is now 50 percent toward peak and leaf drop is moderate. The season is winding down in Aroostook County (Zone 6 and 7) beyond Baxter State Park where foliage color is now past peak and locations have high leaf drop.
