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Harvesters will see more changes in the seafood they catch, as some cold-water-loving species such as cod and lobsters move further north and species such as red hake, turbot, black sea bass, blue crab, butterfish, and summer flounder, move up from mid-Atlantic. The East Coast, including Maine, could see between 10 and 14 inches by 2050, the report says. How is climate change impacting Casco Bay? The majority of Maines population resides in the coastal zone. Sea-level rise is just one of several factors that influence how the coast responds to hazards; others include land use, geology, tides, currents, and sediment volume. We are always looking to grow this network of observers. So, when you take the coastal storms and you amplify them by sea level rise, there are going to be some significant impacts to those as well," Slovinsky says. The Maine coast will lose valuable nesting and nursery habitats as rising sea levels inundate salt marshes. How is climate change impacting us locally in Casco Bay and the Gulf of Maine? Globally, the oceans have become about 30% more acidic over the last century a rate that is faster than anything the marine realm has experienced in millions of yearsCoastal areas also are more affected by acidity, due to runoff of pollutants from land, depending on local factors such as upwelling, river discharge, and water quality. . Beaches and dunes also experience some of the most intense development pressure. Lobster-shell disease has contributed to the demise of lobstering in places such as Long Island Sound. We helped form and lead the Maine Ocean and Coastal Acidification Partnership to coordinate the work of government agencies, academic institutions, resource harvesters, and nonprofit organizations that are studying ways to reduce the impact ofand help adapt tothe changing chemistry of our ocean. Natural protective buffers against flooding upland areas will be threatened. The photos they took on their smartphones documented changes throughout the spring and fall as the algal blooms expanded to worrisome levels in many coves from Cape Elizabeth to Harpswell and West Bath. Continuous Monitoring Stations collect data hourly 365 days a year, Attend an event or learn from past events, Community Service Days with Friends of Casco Bay. One way that Maine has already acted to address the threat of sea-level rise is through the Natural Resources Protection Acts Sand Dune Rules and shoreland zoning program. Edited by Catherine Schmitt, Maine Sea Grant, PDF designed by Kathlyn Tenga-Gonzalez, Maine Sea Grant. No matter what you call it, changes are happening more rapidly than anyone thought they would. It also attracts millions of visitors each year, sustaining Maines valuable tourism industry. An action plan developed that summer with MOCA helped inform the work of the Coastal and Marine Working Group of the Maine Climate Council, of which our Baykeeper is a member. Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine have already increased, as demonstrated by the 100-year record from Boothbay Harbor. Tide-gauge records in Portland, Maine, show a sea-level rise of 0.07 inches per year (1.77 mm/yr) since 1912 (Belknap 2008). Increased storm frequency and intensity, combined with rising sea level, makes all storms more damaging, with serious economic and ecosystem consequences to the region and state. In the coming years, city planners hope to adapt to this by creating new kinds of zoning that account for climate risk. The minor nuisance-like flooding thats becoming a growing problem in many East and Gulf Coast communities and some West Coast is likely to become damaging flooding, Sweet said. We rely on volunteers to be Water Reporters to report conditions around the Bay, especially areas with nuisance algal blooms, which result in increasing ocean acidification. This air photo shows a tidal flat, salt marsh (light color) and freshwater bog (dark color) in Jonesport. A modest 1.6 foot rise, which is expected by the year 2050, will result in a 15-fold increase in coastal flooding. In its 2020 report, the The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council recommended that the Climate Council consider committing to manage for 1.5 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050, and 3.9 feet of sea level rise by the year 2100. "I think it comes down to having community conversations about what people want their communities to look like under future scenarios and not just sea level rise but climate change in general," says Abbie Sherwin, the coastal resilience coordinator. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Others call it climate chaos. A deep dive into Maine's response, one county at a time.

Download it here. For example, current UMaine research is beginning to map freshwater wetlands at risk from rising sea level and to predict their rate(s) of transformation. While climate change projections may seem daunting, we are fortunate in Maine to have several characteristics that work to our advantage in confronting the challenge. In 2014, our members helped convince the Maine Legislature to pass a bill to establish a state Ocean Acidification Study Commission, the first on the East Coast.

In the past, people responded to the threat of erosion by building seawalls, bulkheads, and other barriers; at least 152 miles of bluffs, or about 5% of the coast, are armored with these hard structures. We learn from experts about community science scientific research and monitoring driven and controlled by local communities and what makes it such an , In this impact report, we are delighted to reflect on a full year of remote learning through Home Delivery, with overviews of each offering and , With an annual average sea surface temperature (SST) of 54.14 F more than 4 F above normal the Gulf of Maine experienced its . The second, he says, is to protect with a sea wall, for example. Supporting the 20 stand-alone, hands-on activities are PowerPoint presentations, activity sheets, references to childrens literature, readings from scientific and news media articles about the impacts of climate change on Casco Bay and the Gulf of Maine, and links to relevant videos and web pages. That modest 1.6 increase in sea level rise? Home Where is Casco Bay? This story is part of our series "Climate Driven: A deep dive into Maine's response, one county at a time.". However, an increasing sea level likely will increase the impacts of these coastal events. One of the largest impacts of climate change in the Bay are Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification. As warmer water temperatures fuel stronger storms, storm surges will pound the coast, driven by high winds and high tides. Researchers say this kind of flooding resembles the effect of one foot of sea level rise, which a new federal report projects will occur by 2050. Mayewski, and C.V. Schmitt (editors), 2009, Maines Climate Future: An Initial Assessment. You've probably noticed more frequent news coverage of intense storms, unusual temperatures, ocean warming, and coastal flooding. Drowned infrastructure as our aging water transport facilities and wastewater treatment systems are inundated, we are worried about more sewage overflows, broken pipes, and costly repairs. We rely on volunteers to be Water Reporters to report conditions around the Bay, especially areas with nuisance algal blooms, which result in increasing ocean acidification. Officials noted that large portions of U.S. residents live in close proximity to the coast, and daily necessities on which inland parts of the nation rely come through coastal ports, meaning that national efforts to curb carbon emissions are important to all residents. Watch the video above to hear more about sea level rise, and how you can help your community think about this issue. They use a smartphone app, Water Reporter, to document changing conditions in the Bay through photos taken over time that record the location and date of the observations. For coastal communities it means threats to buildings and infrastructure, the loss of beaches and intrusion of salt water into private wells. Seawater is becoming less alkaline and more acidic. Orono, ME: University of Maine. To respond to the need for action, Friends of Casco Bay catalyzed meetings to discuss how to fulfill recommendations of the Maine Ocean Acidification Study Commission report by creating an on-going volunteer partnership of those concerned about ocean and coastal acidification.Friends of Casco Bay, the Island Institute, and University of Maine/Maine Sea Grant formed Maine Ocean and Coastal Acidification partnership (MOCA) to coordinate the efforts of governmental agencies, private organizations, and citizens.

The Gulf of Maine occupies only a small corner of the global ocean, but it is a microcosm for changes, challenges, and opportunities arising around the world. Scroll through the interactive tool below to explore different scenarios of sea level rise in Maine. Troy Moon, Portland Sustainability Coordinator, and Julie Rosenbach, South Portland Sustainability Director, jointly lead the One Climate Future initiative, which they believe is the only dual community effort in the country to address climate change. He says he'll do what he can to keep it standing. While scientists cant always predict what will happen to specific stretches of shoreline, they can make reasonable predictions for certain coastal features. What is an estuary and how has it changed over time? Maine lobster biologist Diane Cowan warns that female lobsters need cold water for their eggs to develop. When carbon dioxide from smokestacks and tailpipes mixes with water, it can make the water more acidic. "Overall, I feel like it's my duty to sort of keep up, to the best of my ability, this house.

Im not quite a tornado Read more, Offshore wind is a hot topic around Casco Bay and all along Maines coast. Taking a neighborhood or community approach, rather than protecting individual properties, benefits everyone. Phytoplankton constitute the base of the marine food chain. The 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projection of another one-foot rise in sea level by centurys end is considered conservative by many scientists. Future bluff stability will vary based on the frequency of wave or storm attack, the exposure of the bluff to storm waves, and the ability of the bluff to lose sediment at a rate that would maintain a protective wetland or marsh in front of it. Friends of Casco Bay has measured an average drop in pH (meaning a rise in acidity) of 0.01 units per year over the past 15 years. How will the places you live, work, and play in be impacted by sea level rise? We have been working with communities, especially the City of Portland, for over 25 years to push for upgrades to wastewater transport and treatment systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. California Consumer Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Maines climate plan notes that about half of the sea level rise already on record in the state has occurred since the 1990s. Property values remain strong because the town's year-round population of 12,000 continues to grow. http://www.climatechange.umaine.edu/mainesclimatefuture/, Fernandez, I., R. Marvinney, (Editors and Co-Chairs), 2020, Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and its Effects in Maine, Augusta, ME: The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council. Modern-day measurements at a tide gauge in Portland show that sea level has risen at a rate of about two millimeters per year (mm/yr or 0.07 inches/year or 0.6 feet over a century). South Portland, ME 04106, Tax ID #01-0452620 Letter of Determination, Financial Information and Annual Documents: 990, Financial Statements, Annual Report, and Annual Meeting Minutes. https://www.maine.gov/future/sites/maine.gov.future/files/inline-files/GOPIF_STS_ClimateImpactsMaineReport_Final.pdf, An Afternoon Along the Long Creek Watershed, Water Reporter shows flooding on Chebeague wharf, Youre invited to Winds of Change: Offshore Wind and Climate Change, A Casco Bay Matters Event.

. Additionally, the [subcommittee] recommends that the Climate Council consider preparing to manage for 3.0 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050, and 8.8 feet of sea level rise by the year 2100. Later the committee adds, Abrupt sea level change on the order of months, rather than years, can also occur on top of the long-term rise. . Sherwin says the plan could include strategies for reducing flooding around the most vulnerable roads and properties, restoring dunes and conserving land to accommodate rising water. 2022, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Bay Chamber Concerts - Screen Door Festival, Facts About Maine Public's Federal Funding. Water temperature in the Gulf of Maine may rise 2 to 8 degreesFahrenheitover the next century. That extra foot on average or so around the country is just going to reach further inland and go deeper and more severe.. Fernandez, P.A. Ocean scientists are finding that as seawater becomes more acidic, the shells of clams, corals, and tiny creatures at the base of the marine food web can weaken and actually dissolve. Although they only make up about 2% or roughly 70 miles of Maines coastline, beaches and sand dunes serve as the primary means of shoreline protection along the sandy coast. A recent report for the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission suggests that the more than 3,500 parcels in the towns of Wells, Kennebunk and York are at risk of flooding from an expected 1.6 foot increase in sea level rise over the next 30 years. This fact sheet presents the current state of knowledge on sea-level rise and its impacts on Maines coast. We are experiencing more intense rainfall in extreme events. Regional sea surface temperatures have increased almost 1.1C (2F) since 1970, and could rise another 3-4C (6-8F).. Failing to curb future emissions could cause an additional 1.5 (to) 5 feet of rise for a total of 3.5 (to) 7 feet by the end of this century.. Ocean acidification impairs the ability of sea creatures, from fish and squid to sea urchins and copepods, to grow, reproduce, and fight off disease. (Photo courtesy Gulf of Maine Research Institute), This graphic illustrates the myriad factors that influence coastal flooding in places like Portland. Casco Bay Curriculum: A Changing Estuary addresses two major topics: The curriculum activities use data on Casco Bay to cite local evidence of climate change, including sea level rise, warming waters, the fractured food web, and the changing chemistry of our oceans. Some call it global warming.

Coastal hazards are not new to Maine. You can find out more and join here: cascobay.org/water-reporter. More severe storms are fueled by warm water. In 2019, our bill to create a state-funded Science and Policy Advisory Council on the Impact of Climate Change on Maines Marine Species was integrated into the Governors omnibus bill to address climate change and establish the Maine Climate Council. The Sand Dune Rules allow communities to plan for the sea-level rise; in reality, however, coastal managers are already dealing with many of the problems expected to result from sea-level rise, storms, and flooding. Coastal acidification is one more stressor for shellfish species already challenged by other impacts, such as predation by milky ribbon worms and gluttonous green crabs that flourish in warming waters. More carbon dioxide ends up in coastal waters as a result of nitrogen pollution from fertilizers, pet wastes, and sewage carried into the sea by rivers, rainwater, and snow melt. Some people call it climate change. In the Gulf of Maine, a circular current carries blooms of phytoplankton to where copepodszooplanktonhave just hatched. Some coastal residents get their drinking water from wells drilled into fractured bedrock aquifers that are susceptible to saltwater intrusion. This station will help us better understand the changing chemistry of our coastal waters over time. Coastal damage to the once thriving fishing hamlet has been compounded by the construction of a 150-year-old jetty that altered wave action and carved out chunks of the shoreline. At some point it will probably will be sold, but I hope it continues on as a place of enormous joy for the family and for me. It includes an update to NOAAs sea level rise viewer, which lets users visualize and map out this data in detail. The water table is so high that when it rains, DeSaulnier is forced to pump his basement out. This is called ocean acidification. likelihood adjusted corresponding If sedimentation rates can keep up with sea-level rise, the marsh systems may maintain themselves for some time. Sometimes only a slight difference in topography separates the two, and as sea level rises, salt marshes can expand into previously freshwater marshes. With contribution and review by Esperanza Stancioff, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant; Peter A. Slovinsky and Stephen Dickson, Maine Geological Survey; Joseph Kelley and George Jacobson, University of Maine; and Elizabeth Hertz, Maine Coastal Program. Water Reporters also take photos of sea level rise. It always was and continues to be," DeSaulnier says. jarvis sciences miner alaska Typically, beaches and dunes respond to rising seas and coastal storms through the processes of overwash, when high tides and storm surge wash over the beach and break through the dunes, depositing sand behind the dune or carrying sand back into the sea. Sign up for our emails so you can stay informed about the issues impacting Casco Bay.

The very thing that makes York special its beaches, quaint neighborhoods and shops could see big changes over the next few decades. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. This is called coastal acidification. But this time is different, he says, worse than usual. About 46% of the coastover 1,400 milesis comprised of bluffs formed from soft, loose sediment. Our Continuous Monitoring Station is using the latest technology to collect data every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Advocating for the health of Casco Bay has resulted in lasting, permanent, and positive changes for the Bay. If the rate of sea-level rise exceeds the rate of sediment delivery to beaches, dunes, and marshes, this could result in land loss and instability of coastal ecosystems. The Maine Geological Survey and the Maine State Planning Office analyzed the distribution of coastal bluffs, the severity of erosion, and the extent of shoreline engineering along the coast, and found that at least 40% of Maines coast is vulnerable to increased erosion at higher sea levels. They are pooling financial resources and working together on multiple fronts to promote more sustainability now and into the future. Maines diverse coast is home to the majority of the states population. Near York Beach, Beth and Bob Harrington also plan to stay put and make their small cottage as impervious as possible to the effects of climate change so they can leave it to their daughters. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. "I suspect this is the lowest section since the water, in a regular rain storm, it sort of accumulates to your left there, in that area," DeSaulnier says, pointing. Thats bad news for those who live on top of soft, glacial marine along the coastline and islands of Casco Bay. In March of 2016 Friends of Casco Bay organized the first official meeting of the Maine Ocean and Coastal Acidification partnership to share on the causes and effects of ocean and coastal acidification in Maine waters. We are also seeing more warm-water creatures, such as seahorses and ocean sunfish. Portland is already dealing with nuisance flooding through its stormwater system and in waterfront areas during the highest high tides or storm surge events. Additional fact sheets in Maines Climate Future series are under development. Working waterfronts support fishing, shipbuilding, and related marine businesses. Scientists predict that rising sea levels could cause many coastal homes to slide into the sea.

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"We're gonna need to work with those neighborhoods to figure out how to prepare them for the next 50 years.". Welcome to Maine Publics Passport to Adventure! Beaches that have limited sediment supplies or no room to migrate will likely erode in a much shorter period of time and could potentially disappear. decadal projected gridded

The two-story house sits on a dirt road one street back from the beach where DeSaulnier has been coming since childhood. Infrequently flooded high salt marsh environments, particularly in southern and mid-coast Maine, could revert to low salt marsh habitats, or become open water where development or steep slopes block their landward migration. "We do have some neighborhoods that are very much at sea level," Crockett says. They collaborate on energy, LED street light upgrades, waste reduction, pesticides use, and energy benchmarking ordinance toward attaining climate action goals of 100% clean energy by 2040 and 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Sea level rise is accelerating along Maine's coast. These rules anticipate future shoreline changes from a two-foot rise in sea level by 2100, based on the best data available at the time of rulemaking. This combination creates ideal growing conditions for thick mats of green algae that can choke our coastal sediments and the creatures that live there. "The first is you don't build in at-risk areas, which we've already done.". They predict that we'll be under water but it's so beautiful that I can see trying to hang on and enjoying it because it is a special place," Beth Harrington says. For more information, contact Catherine Schmitt. "And there are areas where we're probably going to say the economic impact of moving back or retreating doesn't make sense, we're going to try to protect as long as we can. Much of Maines outer coast is steep and rocky and resistant to rising water levels. As water warms, it expands, which causes sea levels to rise. As conditions in the Gulf of Maine change, our coastal communities are the first to notice. "I think that we will try to hang onto it and hope for positive change globally. But other coastal communities in York County are increasingly feeling the effects of storm surge. This scenario is a conservative estimate because current sea-level rise projections do not account for potential freshwater input from the melting of the Greenland or Antarctic ice sheets. Tidal flats and salt marshes exist in a very narrow zone between the tides and are probably the most susceptible habitats to sea-level rise in Maine. The response of beaches to sea-level rise depends on the relationship of the sedimentation rate to the rate of sea-level rise, and also whether or not the beach or dune has the ability to migrate inland.

PublishedNovember 15, 2021 at 5:59 PM EST, Maine Governors Office Of Policy Innovation & The Future, Climate Driven: A deep dive into Maine's response, one county at a time, Maine Public on Your Voice Activated Device, Music That Moves ME 60th Anniversary Edition, WATCH: Video On-Demand TV Programs (including Maine PBS PASSPORT), WATCH: Maine Public Television Live Stream, Maine High School Basketball Championship Weekend, Watch Maine Public Television and Additional Channels with an Antenna, Community Calendar - Virtual & Live Events in Maine. Many are heavily dependent on tax revenue from beachfront properties and development which is expected to decline in value over time. Larissa Crockett is the town manager of Wells where more than 1,000 parcels are under threat. The report refines projections from 2017 with the latest climate change science, including from last years so-called code red United Nations climate report. Any disruption in this ocean conveyor belt can threaten the food chain. Infectious diseases spread faster in warmer water, which is worrisome to lobster harvesters who fear that shell-wasting disease, now common in southern waters, will spread here. Sea levelin Maine will likely rise between three to five feet by 2100 based on a intermediate scenario. The report comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with input from NASA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and several others. Invasive species that prefer warmer water, such as green crabs, devour juvenile clams and mow down eelgrass. The copepods feast on the phytoplankton and then the current carries them to where herring larvae are hungrily emerging.

Some invasive species may take over the niche of our native species. Not only do they nurture all ocean animals (directly or indirectly), but they also absorb carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, which is the main cause of global warming. The shoreline has ranged from as far inland as Medway and as far seaward as Georges Bank, which was exposed as an island when sea level reached its lowest elevation 12,500 years ago. 207.581.3188 or 1.800.287.0274 (in Maine), 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond, 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Greenland Point, 4-H Camp & Learning Centers at Tanglewood & Blueberry Cove, Insect Pests, Plant Diseases & Pesticide Safety, Affiliated Programs, Partners & Resources, Non-Discrimination Statement & Disability Resources, Register for Workshops, Classes, & Events, Maines Climate Future Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise Fact Sheet (PDF), Coastal Community Resilience page, Sea Grant Maine website, Maine.govs website, coastal erosion/building a resilient coast search page, This fact sheet was produced as a supplement to Maines Climate Future, published in 2009 by the University of Maine.