With cold nights for snowmaking, Maine's ski areas are looking to rebound from the Dec. 18 rains and flooding, which melted snowpack and washed out roads and infrastructure.
The grants go to all 16 counties and represent a broad cross-section of projects, such as protecting historic downtowns from rising sea levels, addressing public health risks from rising temperatures, and installing electric vehicle chargers and solar power arrays.
The conserved area neighbors Sebago Lake, a critical habitat for fish and wildlife, a destination for outdoor recreationalists and a source of clean drinking water for 1 in 6 Mainers.
Maine's ski resorts are accustomed to the ups and downs of weather, and have worked to increase off-season business. But none of them could have anticipated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mt. Abram, the ski resort in Greenwood, plans to kick off Phase 1 construction next month of what’s ultimately expected to be Maine’s largest mountain bike park. The plan taps into burgeoning interest in the sport and is expected to stimulate new participation.
The Mt. Abram ski area in western Maine plans to add six trails and create a dedicated ski racing area in its largest expansion project since the late 1970s.