The District is pleased to announce we have been selected as a partner on the Casco Bay Coastal Bluffs project, also called the Building Resilience in the Casco Bay Coastal Bluff Ecosystem project. The project is a new initiative that will help Casco Bay communities protect threatened coastal bluffs.

For Immediate Release: New initiative will help Casco Bay communities protect threatened coastal bluffs  

PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 3, 2024 - A new collaborative project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal bluff ecosystems in the Casco Bay region. The two-year initiative, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and led by the Greater Portland Council of Governments, will help communities address the challenges posed by eroding coastal bluffs and develop and promote nature-based solutions to protect vital infrastructure and ecosystems. 

Erodible coastal bluffs, which make up approximately 40 percent of Maine's coastline, play a crucial role in the region's ecosystem and economy. The Maine Geological Survey estimates that at least one-third of mapped coastal bluffs are eroding, though this is likely an underestimate since the stability of most locations was last mapped more than 20 years ago. Coastal bluffs are increasingly vulnerable to erosion due to sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding. 

The project will focus on updating coastal bluff data, improving management practices and increasing the use of nature-based solutions to stabilize bluffs. 

“This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to build resilience along Maine's coastline," said Gretchen Anderson, Sustainability Program Coordinator at GPCOG. "By combining data collection with innovative management strategies, we aim to help our communities protect their threatened coastal bluffs while developing best-practices that can be deployed along the entire coast of Maine.” 

“The sediment supply from natural erosion of coastal bluffs is vital to the survivability of many adjacent protected resources like beaches, dunes, mudflats, and coastal wetlands, so proper management of bluffs is integral to the overall health of many ecosystems in Casco Bay,” said 

Peter Slovinsky, a coastal geologist with the Maine Geological Survey. 

Heather Huntt, Senior Project Manager of Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, said that coastal bluffs can be best protected by providing communities with up-to-date data and additional tools to implement nature-based solutions.   

“A balance is needed to both protect coastal bluffs from the increasing effects of climate change while also avoiding the ‘hardscaping’ of the coastline which can have significant detrimental consequences," Huntt said. "Implementing nature-based solutions is the best method in meeting coastal bluff and property preservation while also maintaining a thriving coastal ecosystem.”  

Key components of the project include: 

• Updating and enhancing coastal bluff data using advanced mapping techniques and drone imagery. 

• Developing model ordinance language to assist municipalities with improved coastal bluff management. 

• Creating nature-based shoreline protection concept designs with site-specific solutions for at least three high-priority Casco Bay locations. 

• Engaging and educating municipal staff, community members, and stakeholders on the most current coastal bluff stabilization techniques. 

The project team includes experts from the Maine Geological Survey, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and other regional partners. Their collaborative efforts will result in transferable methodologies and best practices that can be applied to coastal communities throughout Maine and beyond. 

This initiative builds upon GPCOG's ongoing Climate Ready Casco Bay project and aligns with the goals outlined in Maine's climate action plan, Maine Won't Wait. 

For more information about the Coastal Bluff Resilience Project, contact Gretchen Anderson at ganderson@gpcog.org or visit GPCOG Coastal Bluffs project page.