The Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP), in collaboration with the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Maine Coastal Program (MCP), announce the award of $506,897 in coastal planning grants. These grants will support vital projects focused on coastal access, tidal marsh resilience, flood vulnerability risk assessments, stormwater management, sea level rise resilience, and drinking water resilience planning.

These projects are set to commence in the fall of 2023. These planning grants are funded through the MCP Shore and Harbor Planning Grant and the Coastal Community Grant, supported by an annual National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant.

"As we continue to face the challenges posed by climate change and environmental resilience, these grants represent our commitment to supporting communities in their efforts to protect and enhance our coastal resources," said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal, in a news release. "We are proud to invest in projects that promote sustainability and adaptability, ensuring the long-term well-being of our coastal areas."

“Ensuring climate resilience and improving public access is increasingly important for Maine’s coastal waterfronts,” said DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher. “These projects highlight how municipalities and their partners can find solutions that will help our coastal communities adapt to a changing climate and protect vital commercial and recreational opportunities.”

Coastal Community Grants (CCG)

Under the Coastal Community Grants (CCG), MPAP has granted $234,414 to the following municipalities and organizations:

• Bath: Bath will advance its flood vulnerability risk assessment and adaptation project, transitioning from the vulnerability assessment stage to the conceptual design of a pilot project for flood adaptation.
• North Haven: North Haven will evaluate the current and future risk of saltwater intrusion into the town’s sole public water supply source, Fresh Pond, using the latest scientific research on storm surge and sea level rise. They will explore short-term and long-term adaptation options.
• Old Orchard Beach: Old Orchard Beach will enhance tidal marsh resilience and reduce flood vulnerability by assessing the function and operation of an existing tide gate and developing recommendations for operational changes.
• Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission: The commission will assist Ogunquit in hiring an engineering consultant specializing in nature-based solutions (NBS) to complete a site assessment of the Main Beach parking lot area and surrounding beach and marsh. The goal is to identify suitable NBS to address stormwater erosion, complete a feasibility assessment, create a conceptual design of the selected NBS strategy, and develop an implementation plan.
• Stonington: Stonington will design, permit, and create bid packages for improvements along Fifield Point Road that mitigate the impacts of climate change-driven sea level rise and flooding, thus sustaining and improving access to businesses and homes in an environmentally conscious manner. Stonington was also a recipient of the summer 2023 Community Resilience Partnership grant.

For insights and case studies on CCG projects, including “Lessons Learned,” please visit MPAP’s CCG Case Studies webpage. For inquiries about the CCG program, contact Joan A. Walton, AICP, at joan.walton@maine.gov or (207) 419-8661. The Coastal Community Grant program has been operating since 2012 and has distributed over $2.5 million to coastal communities. The next round of funding is anticipated in early 2024.

Shore and Harbor Planning Grants

Within the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant program, MCP has awarded $272,483 to the following municipalities and organizations:

• Belfast: Belfast will undertake a study to determine how extending its breakwater impacts sedimentation in and around Belfast Harbor. This study is crucial to ensure that the project will not have negative impacts before the city proceeds with permitting and construction.
• Brooklin: Brooklin will conduct planning work to enhance access roads and parking at two underused town beaches to increase usability and alleviate crowding at other town waterfront sites. They will also clarify ownership and property boundaries at one of the sites.
• Bucksport: Bucksport will develop a master plan for the downtown waterfront, considering sea level rise, future precipitation, and storm surge.
• Camden: Camden will acquire designs for a new landing that will be more resilient to future sea level rise and storm surge conditions. Camden was also a recipient of the summer 2023 Community Resilience Partnership grant.
• Greater Portland Council of Governments: The Council will assist the Town of Freeport as it identifies potential locations for a town-owned boat ramp. Additionally, they will collaborate with a land trust and the town shellfish committee to identify priority access points for shellfish harvesting and work to formally protect those sites.
• Stockton Springs: Stockton Springs is exploring options to build a breakwater to protect the town dock and mooring field, enhancing the facility's resilience against increasingly frequent and severe storms.
• Stonington: Stonington has recently acquired the Odd Fellows Hall on the Main Street waterfront and plans to develop this property for public boating access. This initiative aims to reduce congestion and separate recreational and commercial uses in the harbor while increasing its resilience. Stonington was also a recipient of the summer 2023 Community Resilience Partnership grant.

To explore past projects and access "Lessons Learned," please visit the MCP webpage. For inquiries about the Shore and Harbor Planning Grant program, contact Melissa Britsch at melissa.britsch@maine.gov or (207) 215-6171. This program has been operating since 2006 and has distributed over $2 million to coastal communities since 2010. The next round of funding is anticipated in early 2024.