What We Do

The Maine Field Office staff works with federal, tribal, state, local, and private partners to serve the state of Maine in: 

  • Recovering federally endangered, threatened, and other imperiled species 
  • Compiling and analyzing data for decisions regarding which plants and animals receive Endangered Species Act protection 
  • Helping federal agencies identify and address negative plant, fish, and wildlife impacts from projects they fund or authorize
  • Completing habitat restoration and species conservation on private lands
  • Minimizing the impacts hydropower dams have on migratory fish, federally protected species, and other riverine fish and wildlife resources

A large portion of the office's work is carried out under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, although the office has responsibilities to administer portions of other laws and regulations as well. See the Laws and Regulations page for more details.

Endangered Species Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The National Marine Fisheries Service jointly administer the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The goal of the Endangered Species Program is to promote the conservation and recovery of federally-listed endangered and threatened species and critical habitat. At the Maine Field Office, we accomplish this through:

  • Providing biological and regulatory technical assistance to Federal agencies through section 7 consultation.
  • Providing biological and regulatory technical assistance to non-Federal entities (individuals, organizations, companies, and agencies) regarding activities that may affect listed species.
  • Implementing and coordinating recovery activities for listed species.
  • Enforcing protections for federally-listed species.
  • Providing grants and technical assistance to States to assist with their endangered species conservation efforts.
  • Working in partnership with people that have an interest in the conservation and recovery of federally-listed species.

For more general information on the national Endangered Species Program, see the National Endangered Species Program Page.

For additional information regarding the Maine Field Office's ESA section 7 consultation process, visit our ESA and Eagle Act Project Review Page.

FERC/Hydropower Program

MEFO staff provides technical evaluations on the effects of hydroelectric power projects to fish and wildlife resources. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations, as authorized by the Federal Power Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, require license applicants and licensees to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) prior to and after project licensing. Our staff biologists provide FERC with recommendations for the protection of fish and wildlife resources for licensed and exempted projects, mandatory prescriptions for fish passages, and terms and conditions to provide for the protection and utilization of Service lands upon which proposed hydropower projects may be located.

For additional information on this program at the Maine Field Office, visit our FERC/Hydropower Page.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

MEFO's Partners for Fish and Wildlife biologist provides technical advice, funding, and construction assistance to private landowners and Native American Tribes to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on their property. Partners projects are focused on areas of conservation concern and federal trust species, including migratory birds, endangered, threatened, and at-risk species. In Maine, native pollinators, northeast turtles, and diadromous fish are wildlife species of focus for our Partners biologist. Geographic areas of focus in the state include the Northeast Highlands, Upper St. John River watershed, and Crystal Bog.

For additional information regarding this program at the Maine Field Office, visit our Maine Partners For Fish and Wildlife Program project page. 

For more general information on the national partners program, see the National Partners for Fish and Wildlife Page.

Our Services

At the Maine Field Office, we offer a handful of services all connected to the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, often with a special focus on imperiled and federally listed species. Our work with private individuals, organizations, and other State and Federal agencies protects, restores and enhances fish and wildlife habitat on private, State, and Federal lands. Our office also provides the public with information about the value and benefits derived from the conservation and restoration of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. 

Our Projects and Research

Our office works with various partners to complete vital conservation work for listed and at-risk species. Visit the project pages below to learn more about some of the projects our office is involved with.

Laws and Regulations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal agency charged with the stewardship and protection of our nation's plant, fish, and wildlife resources, with an emphasis on those resources that are federally designated as threatened or endangered species. A number of laws influence the work of the Maine Field Office and its staff, including the Endangered Species Act which directs the Service to work with other federal action agencies to minimize or eliminate negative impacts to these resources from projects they fund or authorize. To view additional information on the laws and regulations that guide our work, see the link to our Laws and Regulations page below.