Current Foliage ConditionsFoliage Reports: September 22, 2004

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Foliage Color Continues to Change Across Northern Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine - September 22, 2004

Maine Department of Conservation park and forest rangers marked the first calendar day of autumn with news of increased leaf color in three foliage tracking zones according to the second fall foliage report released Wednesday.

Extreme northern Maine including all of Aroostook County and northern portions or Somerset, Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties now have low, or between 10 and 30 percent, leaf color change. Observations from the central eastern tracking zone including Millinocket, Calais and other Downeast locations north of U.S. Route 1, also indicate low color change, while the foliage transformation in all other parts of the state remains at less than 10 percent.

Leaf-peepers eager to experience the vibrant fall colors emerging in northern and eastern Maine can do so on state scenic byways in each region. Information about Maine’s scenic byways can be found online at www.visitmaine.com.

Many state parks also make for great foliage viewing spots. Saturday, Sept. 25, is the second annual Maine Residents Day at all Maine state parks and historic sites. Mainers can enjoy free admission to their favorite park or historic site on this day.  

To provide the most accurate foliage information, DOC rangers will report foliage conditions statewide every Wednesday through Oct. 13.

All foliage reports are available on Maine's official fall foliage Web site, www.mainefoliage.com. The site is a great place to start planning for a fall foliage trip, learn more about Maine's trees and their color transformation, or interact with other foliage fanatics.

For updated reports, information, and links, visit www.mainefoliage.com or call the Maine foliage hotline at 1-888-MAINE-45.

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

Current Conditions - The Foliage Conditions map above is the foliage zone map used by Maine Forest Service Rangers when reporting fall foliage conditions. The current conditions are also displayed in text below. Description of Zones

Week of September 22, 2004
Zone Number Color Change Leaf Drop
7 Low Very Low
6 Low Very Low
5 Very Low Very Low
4 Low Very Low
3 Very Low Very Low
2 Very Low Very Low
1 Very Low Very 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