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Portland

About

Portland is Casco Bay’s most populous City, featuring a coastline adorned with sandy beaches, bluffs, coves, and a vibrant working waterfront community that relies on the robust coastal infrastructure. Coastal climate risks—such as flooding, bluff erosion, and storm surge— impact Portland through infrastructure damage, loss of working waterfront access, and loss of tourism. These coastal risks will also negatively impact environmentally significant ecosystems and alter how Portland’s residents and visitors recreate. However, there is ample opportunity for resilience in Portland, with multiple initiatives already underway.


Priorities

Key coastal hazards for Portland

  • Inundation of roadways and critical infrastructure including wharves along Commercial Street and Ferry terminals

  • Bluff and beach erosion, especially on the islands and around the Wastewater Treatment Facility

  • Flooding of low-lying areas, especially wildlife habitat

Portland will need to focus on ensuring continued access to the islands, and neighborhoods on the peninsula during storms. The City will need to ensure roadways and shoreline defenses are adequately maintained or bolstered, to safeguard working waterfronts and properties.

Vulnerable Sites



The profile presents technical data on coastal hazards and community resources including habitat, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions, to visualize vulnerabilities and impacts. These profiles helped to identify the priorities and vulnerable sites listed above and are intended to help guide municipal staff in future planning.


View the Portland Story map here

Data Profile

Adaptation Strategies

How can the town address these vulnerable areas? There is a range of adaptation strategies the town can use to build coastal resilience—from nature-based solutions to policy. Every site is different and may require a mix of strategies.

  • Learn about potential different strategies on the Adaptation Strategies page

  • Visit the Renderings page to see conceptual drawings for how these strategies may look in practice

  • Explore projects around the region and how towns are applying different adaptation strategies

Projects


Resources

Click on each link to be directed to the town resource:

​This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from Gulf of Maine Research Institute, The Builders Initiative, and Jane’s Trust Foundation.

The views and conclusions contained on this website are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

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