Regional Topics
Joint action is required to address critical climate risks affecting multiple communities.
For some areas, nature-based solutions could act as a promising strategy.
Septic Systems
Most homes in Casco Bay rely on private septic systems to manage wastewater. Proper management of these systems is necessary to protect water quality and marine habitats. However, rising sea levels, increased flooding, and nutrient pollution can threaten the effectiveness of these systems and lead to contamination of nearby waters.
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Strategies: Site septic systems using climate projections. Ensure consistent maintenance and monitoring.
Climate Hazards: Sea level rise, warming temperatures, and heavy precipitation cause these systems to become less effective.
Impacts: Decline in water quality impacts aquatic life and public health. In addition, the closure of shellfish areas due to pollution harms the local economy.
Working Waterfronts
Working waterfronts serve as a vital economic and cultural resources, but are uniquely exposed to climate impacts. Maine's working waterfronts provide irreplaceable access points for multiple industries from commercial fishing and aquaculture to marine transport and tourism. These access points feature concentrated infrastructure (wharves, processing facilities, fuel stations) in the exact coastal locations most susceptible to sea level rise, storms, and other climate threats.
Climate Hazards: Rising seas threaten to submerge piers; frequent and intense storms damage vessels, gear, and facilities; warming water temperatures disrupt marine ecosystems and create conditions for harmful algal blooms and invasive species.
Strategies: Adapt infrastructure or develop nature-based solutions to mitigate impacts. Develop emergency preparedness or transition plans to ensure working waterfronts are resilient to climate change.
Impacts: Damaged infrastructure increases costs to Maine’s fishing communities. Business disruptions threaten jobs, incomes, and the economic stability of many communities.
Coastal bluffs in the region face accelerated erosion from wave action, storms, and rising sea levels, threatening critical infrastructure and property values along the shoreline. These erosion patterns disrupt natural sediment dynamics essential for maintaining beaches and marshes, potentially destabilizing the region's coastal ecosystems. The economic ramifications of bluff vulnerability extend beyond direct property damage, impacting tourism, recreation, and will require substantial investment in monitoring and stabilization measures to protect coastal communities.
Climate Hazards: Sea level rise and frequent, intense storms, accelerate erosion at the base of coastal bluffs. More frequent freeze-thaw cycles and increased rainfall can further destabilize bluffs and increase landslides.
Impacts: Coastal bluff erosion threatens homes, roads, bridges, utilities, and sewer systems, requiring costly repairs or relocations. Bluff erosion also destabilizes land around working waterfronts, disrupts navigation, and requires increases dredging needs which are costly and time-intensive.
Strategies: Monitoring vulnerable areas and implementing control measures can help manage these areas. Areas can consider using nature based solutions to protect bluff stability
GPCOG, Maine Geological Survey, and Cumberland Country Soil and Water Conservation District are currently undertaking a project to update coastal bluff data and develop model ordinance to manage and protect these vulnerable areas.
Coastal Bluff Erosion
Coastal bluffs in the region face accelerated erosion from wave action, storms, and rising sea levels, threatening critical infrastructure and property values. These erosion patterns disrupt natural sediment dynamics essential for maintaining beaches and marshes, potentially destabilizing the region's coastal ecosystems. The economic ramifications of bluff vulnerability extend beyond direct property damage, impacting tourism and recreation.
Climate Hazards: Sea level rise and frequent and intense storms accelerate erosion at the base of coastal bluffs. More frequent freeze-thaw cycles and increased rainfall can further destabilize bluffs and increase the risk of landslides.
Strategies: Monitoring vulnerable areas and implementing control measures can help manage these areas. Areas can consider using nature based solutions to help protect bluffs.
Impacts: Coastal bluff erosion threatens homes, roads, bridges, utilities, and sewer systems, requiring costly repairs or relocations. Bluff erosion also destabilizes working waterfronts, disrupts navigation, and increases the need for costly dredging.