Climate Ready Estuaries Project: Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Adaptation Analyisis via COAST In
Portland, Maine and the Hampton/Seabrook Estuary of New Hampshire,
climate change adaptation processes are underway and stand to be
greatly enhanced via use of COAST (COastal Adptation to Sea level rise
Tool) in development by the Environmental Finance Center in cooperation with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership.
Climate Change in the Casco Bay, Maine Watershed: Past, Present and Future, 2009 This
report describes how the climate of Casco Bay has changed over the past
century and how the future climate of the region is likely to be
affected by emissions of heat trapping greenhosue gases that are
warming the planet. Casco Bay Workshop on Land Trusts and Climate Change Adaptation, 2011 A
workshop for regional land trusts hosted by the CBEP as part of its
project with the EPA Climate Ready Estuaries
program. CBEP is working closely with land trusts and the
Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials program to provide hands-on
oportunities to use climate change tools and information. Assessment of LIDAR for Simulating Existing and Potential Future Marsh Conditions in Casco Bay, 2009 LIDAR data can be collected
over relatively large geographic areas, and has been typically used to
supoprt mapping of a variety of different shoreline features, along
with post-storm impacts. The Maine Geological Survey (MGS) has used
extensively available LIDAR data in conjunction with aerial
orthophtographs to suport a variety of its shoreline mapping efforts
within the State of Maine, mostly in inspecting coastal features along
the shoreilne such as marshes. Fish Passage Survey Analysis
of the results of these surveys showed significant overlap between
culverts that block fish migration and culverts that may pose higher
than average flood risk. That insight has led to conversations
with local communities, the Maine Department of Transportation, and the
Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency to identify sites where
culvert replacement would simultaneously serve environmental,
infrastructure and public safety goals.
"King Tide"
Friday,
October 28 2011 was the highest predicted astronomical high tide of the
year in Portland. The National Estuary Program and others put out
a call for photos of this event to raise awareness about sea level rise
and what this "king tide" means in our coastal communities.
This photo was taken in the Back Cove neighborhood in Portland showing
extensive street flooding from seawater backing up through the street
drains. See more Casco Bay "King Tide" photos
