The document discusses coastal resiliency planning in Maine, specifically addressing sea level rise through community partnerships, hazard assessments, and GIS mapping tools. It emphasizes the projected impacts of a 2-foot sea level rise over the next century and outlines strategies for adaptation, including wetland restoration and infrastructure management. The report highlights the importance of intercommunity coordination and regulatory changes to effectively manage coastal areas vulnerable to flooding and erosion.

1. Coastal Resiliency, Science, and Community Planning for Sea Level Rise and the Perfect Storm Peter Slovinsky, Coastal Geologist Maine Geological Survey, Department of Conservation Funding from:

2. Outreach, Partnership Development, and Education How to achieve said goal? Outreach and Partnership Development State Agencies – Regional Planning Commissions - Municipalities S outhern M aine R egional P lanning C ommission

3. Available Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Tools Education – GIS Data and Tools Erosion Hazard Area Designation: Regulatory GIS coverage. Coastal Sand Dune Boundaries: Regulatory GIS coverage. Shoreline Structures: GIS coverage LIDAR: 2004 NOAA data available. GIS data. Digitized Flood Insurance Rate Maps: “homemade” DFIRMs. GIS data. Maine Beach Scoring System: guidance/management/decision-making tool to assess hazard vulnerability and management need. GIS coverage (Historic shorelines, short term erosion, etc.) Sea Level Rise/Inundation Mapping: GIS coverages simulating the potential impacts of 2 feet of sea level rise.

4. Portland Sea Level Portland Tide gauge = global ocean over last century 1.8 mm/yr (IPCC, 2007). In Maine, this is the fastest in past 3000 years Satellite altimetry (1993-2003) = global sea level 3.1 + 0.7 mm/yr (IPCC, 2007)

5. Future Sea Level Rise Coastal Sand Dune Rules (Chapter 355 NRPA) Maine is planning for 2 feet of sea level rise over the next 100 years, which is generally a “middle-of-the road” prediction for global sea level rise changes.

6. “ Coastal wetlands” means all tidal and subtidal lands; all areas with vegetation present that is tolerant of salt water and occurs primarily in salt water or estuarine habitat; and any swamp, marsh, bog, beach, flat or other contiguous lowland that is subject to tidal action during the highest tide level for each year in which an activity is proposed as identified in tide tables published by the National Ocean Service. Coastal wetlands may include portions of coastal sand dunes. Coastal wetlands

7. Sea Level Rise Inundation Tool Steps : 1) Demonstrate accuracy in simulating existing conditions for tidal elevations and defining marsh habitats 2) Simulate impacts of sea level rise on: a) Existing infrastructure b) Marsh habitat c) Flood Insurance Rate Map boundaries 3) Identify at risk areas 4) Identify adaptation strategies

8. Saco Bay Ocean Park Scarborough Old Orchard Beach Marshes Saco Biddeford

9. “ Groundtruthing”

10. Identify marsh boundaries

11. Overlay LIDAR

12. Identify using tidal elevations

13. Examine Potential Impacts on Marshes

16. Ocean Park Old Orchard Beach

17. Coastal Inundation Existing Conditions 1

18. 1

19. Coastal Inundation Existing Conditions 2

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21. Coastal Inundation Existing Conditions 3

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23. Coastal Inundation Existing Conditions 4

24. 4

25. Existing Inundation Problems

26. Allow potential marsh transgression? Identify potential future flooding Structure renovation, removal, relocation

27. 2007 Patriots’ Day Storm = HAT+2 ft Indicator of Future Conditions! 100 year storm = 10 year storm + 1 ft SL rise

29. 1-2+ ft flooding April 16, 2007, approximately10:00 am Images courtesy of Bill Edmunds, www.mainecoastimages.com and NOAA NWS

31. 1-2 ft flooding April 16, 2007, approximately10:00 am Images courtesy of Bill Edmunds, www.mainecoastimages.com and NOAA NWS

33. 1-2+ ft flooding April 16, 2007, approximately 10:00 am Images courtesy of Bill Edmunds, www.mainecoastimages.com and NOAA NWS

35. Dramatic A-zone expansion

36. Potential Responses Adaptation Techniques

37. Adaptation Techniques Wetland Restoration Open Space Designation/Acquisition “ Future” Flood or Wetland Areas

38. Adaptation Techniques Tidal Flow Control Management

39. April 16, 2007, approximately10:00 am Images courtesy of Bill Edwards, www.mainecoastimages.com and NOAA NWS Emergency Access Rerouting Stormwater Improvements

40. Adaptation Techniques Elevation and siting

41. Adaptation Techniques Elevation and siting Future requirement?

42. Utility Relocation Adaptation Techniques

43. State Level: Regulatory changes (i.e., defining the future coastal wetland or the future floodplain ) State funded land acquisition, marsh conservation, restoration programs Municipal Level: Improved coordination amongst communities to address hazards, SL rise and wetlands management Land use/development planning Capital improvements planning Stormwater and road infrastructure management Habitat restoration Land acquisition and conservation Flood proofing, elevating Emergency access planning Shoreland Zoning changes, comprehensive plans, etc. Project Strategies: Sea Level Rise

44. Introduction of concepts Feedback Project Process/Outcomes Strategy adoption into comprehensive plans, ordinances, etc. Multi-year project Intercommunity coordination planning Identification of Strategies Tool, data, improvement Needs identification

45. Hazards do not follow geopolitical boundaries!