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Valuing Maine’s Beaches: Assets, Challenges, and Actions for Today and Tomorrow

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Introduction

• Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey

Welcome

• President James Ortiz, Southern Maine Community College

Opening Remarks

• Robert W. Varney, Normandeau Associates

Valuing Maine’s Beaches: An in depth discussion of the economic impact of Maine’s beaches, how sea level rise and coastal erosion may affect those values inside and outside Maine, and actions we can take.

• Moderator Christine Feurt, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
• The Economic Impact of Maine’s Beaches
  • Michael LeVert, Maine State Economist, Maine State Planning Office
• The Effects of Climate Change on Economic Activity in Maine: A Case Study of York County Coastal Communities
  • Charles Colgan, Professor of Public Policy, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine
• The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Southern California Beaches
  • Linwood Pendleton, Senior Fellow, The Ocean Foundation

• Posters, Videos, Photographs, Demonstrations, Interactive Exhibits

The State of Maine’s Beaches in 2009: Summary of trends at many of Southern Maine’s beaches highlighting beach profiles, shoreline erosion, dune restoration, and water quality.

• Stephen Dickson and Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey
• Mark Margerum, Department of Environmental Protection
• Keri Lindberg, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Infrastructure: Evaluating the economic and environmental impacts of sea level rise and storm events to inform decision making in Maine’s coastal communities.

• Paul Kirshen, Applied Coastal and Environmental Services, Battelle Memorial Institute
• Sam Merrill, Director, New England Environmental Finance Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Recent Developments in Science and Public Policy: Discussion on recent developments in science relevant to advancing sound public policy for adapting to predicted climate change and sea-level rise on the seacoast and beaches of Maine.

• Recent Data on Global Sea-level Rise and Policy Implications
  • Richard Lindzen, The Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, MIT
• The Effects of Climate Change on Maine's Beaches: How a Sound Energy Policy can Mitigate these Effects
  • Ian Burnes, Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security
• Adaptation to predictions of future climate change on Maine's coast and coastal beaches
  • Moderator and presenter Robert Almeder, Board of Directors ,SOS; Board of Directors, Kennebunkport Resident's Association; Co-Chairman of Growth Planning Committee, Kennebunkport; Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Science, Georgia State University

How to Help Preserve Your Beach Community: Ideas and tools that can be used to promote the health, access and sustainability of your beach community.

• Accessing the Coast of Maine: a new web resource
  • Kristen Grant, Maine Sea Grant and UMaine Cooperative Extension
• Kennebunkport’s Watershed Improvement Program
  • Judy Barrett, Kennebunkport Public Health Nurse
• Protection and Maintenance of Ogunquit’s Barrier Beach Dune System
  • Mike Horn, Ogunquit Conservation Commission

Building Community Resiliency - A Walking Tour: Actions for property owners and communities to reduce coastal hazards and improve resiliency discussed while walking Willard Beach, South Portland.

• Stephen Dickson, Maine Geological Survey
• Tom Long, Southern Maine Community College

How Do State and Federal Laws Affect My Coastal Property? Discussion of issues affecting coastal property owners including National Flood Insurance Program, Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Map updates and DEP's Coastal Sand Dune Rules.

• Sue Baker, Maine Floodplain Management Program
• Dawn Hallowell, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Adaptations to Create Resilient Beach Communities: Survey of adaptation techniques developed in NE and how they can be applied by the range of stakeholders in Maine, followed by a panel of town planners discussing strategies, opportunities and obstacles.

• Moderator Christine Feurt, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Jon Lockman, Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission
• Panel: Bob Hamblen, City Planner, Saco; Greg Tansley, City Planner, Biddeford; and Gary Lamb, Director of Planning and Community Development, Old Orchard Beach

Please contact kngrant@maine.edu

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Last updated on August 18, 2009

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