Foliage Reports: September 29, 2004

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Northern Maine foliage nearing peak color

AUGUSTA, Maine - September 29, 2004

A string of sunny days and cool nights has increased foliage color around Maine and set the stage for peak conditions in the northern part of the state as soon as this weekend according to the Department of Conservation’s third fall foliage report released today.

The foliage tracking zones covering all of Aroostook County have high, or near 70 percent, leaf color change. Leaf drop in the same areas is low, or less than 30 percent, making for a beautiful, full-bodied tree canopy. Fifty to seventy percent color change and very low leaf drop is being reported in the central eastern tracking zone including Millinocket, Calais and other Downeast locations north of U.S. Route 1.

Foliage in the central western tracking zone stretching from Jackman to Bethel has moderate to low color change from north to south. Leaf drop is very low throughout the region. Northern locations inside the central eastern tracking zone have high leaf color, while conditions near Calais are closer to moderate.

Bangor, Augusta and Fryeburg, all in the state’s central tracking zone, have moderate leaf color, as do locations near Camden and Bath in the southern coastal tracking zone. Extreme southern Maine and the Downeast coast have low color.

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 29, 2004

Zone Number	Color Change	Leaf Drop
7	High	Low
6	High	Low
5	Moderate	Very Low
4	High	Very Low
3	Moderate	Low
2	Low	Very Low
1	Moderate	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