Erosion/Coastal Erosion

Description:

The wearing away and removal of soil particles by running water, waves and currents, moving ice or wind, resulting in severe land destruction and property damage.

Secondary Effects:

The gradual wearing away of arable lands will eventually result in marked decreases in production of crops generally occurring on a progressive basis. Removal of topsoil by water results in siltification of streams and rivers adversely affecting aquatic plants and wildlife. Coastal erosion in sparsely populated areas poses little or no threat; however, in densely populated areas with extensive shore development, substantial property losses may occur.

Seacoast communities are experiencing flooding damage from tidal surge, erosion, and landslides more frequently. The problems will cause property values to plummet and eventually affect the tax base in the communities. The coastal damage will have negative economic effects as well as the obvious hazardous consequences.

The ground water, poor packing sandy soil, and constant tide have caused some areas to slump or landslide due to the lack of ledge to hold the shore line. These areas have considerable peat deposits and top soil that is sandy in its makeup. The sand builds up on the peat and is mistaken for solid land mass. Development in these areas is unstable and potentially hazardous.

Vulnerability:

All areas are susceptible to erosion in the State of Maine. Farming and crop cultivation expose large areas to the effects of wind and water on a seasonal basis for planting and harvesting. Forest areas become vulnerable when all vegetation is removed from vast tracts by the lumbering industry or as a result of fire.

Southern coastal areas have large primary and secondary dune systems which are vulnerable to tidal action and coastal storms. Property damages occur when development has been allowed to occur on these dunes.

The lack of mapping information available for past soil studies in the areas has made it difficult to predict the present hazards that have occurred.

Mitigation:

Public education in the area is vitally important. Agriculturists must be encouraged to plant cover crops, use contour planting techniques and practice conservation tillage. Federal and State programs administered through their respective Agricultural Departments provide training, education, and assistance to farmers. The Department of Conservation, Bureau of Forestry, provides encouragement in promoting appropriate forest land management practices on public and private lands. The practice of coastal development must be carefully controlled through sound management efforts and strict enforcement of regulations and laws. The Department of Economic and Community Development provides advice, guidance, and technical assistance to municipalities regarding shore land zoning.

The lack of uniform building codes in some of the communities has caused people to build in flood hazard areas. The lack of control of the development has made it difficult to mitigate recurring damages. Maine does not require communities to have building codes. Only about 14% of the cities and towns in Maine have adopted a building code ordinance.

The most common form of mitigation used in the past was to place seawalls along the coastlines of low lying areas to stop the erosion to streets and to break the surge that is most damaging to homes and business. It is now understood that seawalls do not solve the problem and that eventually the undermining affects caused by the tide’s ripping at the seawalls will cause them to slump or collapse and leave the areas inside the walls to the wrath of tidal surges and coastal flooding.

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MAINE PREPARES

Erosion/Coastal Erosion

Description:

Secondary Effects:

Vulnerability:

Mitigation:

MAINE HAZARDS