Coastal Public Access Guide now available to coastal enthusiasts

July 8, 2013

For more information contact: Melissa Anson, John Bott at: (207) 592-5689, (207) 287-3156

The Maine Coastal Program releases Southern Region Guide with more to follow

Augusta - The Maine Coastal Program will showcase an exciting new resource for coastal enthusiasts at the Maine Beaches Conference on July 12. The Southern edition of The Maine Coastal Public Access Guide will be publically unveiled at the Maine Beaches Conference, July 12 at 8:00 AM. This year?s Conference is being held at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

The Maine Coastal Public Access Guide is a three-volume guidebook detailing more than 700 sites along Maine?s 5,300-mile, world-renowned coastline. The Guide provides geographic coordinates, amenities and facilities, parking and directions, and descriptions of each site. The Southern Maine edition (South Berwick to Freeport) is now available for purchase by the public. The Midcoast and Downeast editions will be released later this year by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

?Coastal lands and waters and recreational boating play a major role in Maine?s economy,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?This new guide recognizes that public access to the shore is vital to the survival of some of Maine?s most significant commercial and recreational enterprises, including fishing, marine transportation, tourism, boating and wildlife viewing.?

?I offer my sincere thanks to the hundreds of partners who helped create the Maine Coastal Public Access Guide,? said Walt Whitcomb, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. ?It will help residents and visitors navigate and enjoy Maine?s unique coastline.?

The Maine Coastal Program is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and is supported by an annual grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association at the United States Department of Commerce. The Maine Coastal Program works with a variety of public and private partners to balance the development and conservation of coastal resources.

For more information about the Maine Coastal Program and its work, please call (207) 287-2801.

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/acf