Maine Coastal Program
About the Maine Coastal Program
No state is more closely associated with the coast than Maine. Nearly one of every two Mainers lives near the coast, while over six million people visit each year. With this remarkable resource comes an obligation of stewardship. Coastal resources must be protected and conserved, yet residents must be able to thrive economically. A balance is needed between human uses and the protection of the very resources that make the area so appealing. The Maine Coastal Program helps achieve that balance.
Responding to the increasing impacts on the nation's coastal areas, Congress passed the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972. This legislation authorized funding for state coastal programs to work in partnership with the federal government to balance conservation with human demands.
The Maine Coastal Program was established in 1978. Administered by the Maine State Planning Office, the Coastal Program is a partnership among local, regional, and state agencies. It also collaborates with many private organizations, such as local land trusts and economic development groups.
Through this networked program, no one agency or department is responsible for the entire coast. Rather, all partners help ensure its proper management. The result of this balanced approach is a healthier coast--and a better future for communities.
Maine's coastal zone encompasses all political jurisdictions in Maine that have land along the coast or a tidal waterway, such as a river or bay. It includes 5,300 miles of coastline, encompassing 136 towns, two Plantations, 10 unorganized townships, and one Indian Reservation. Thousands of islands, 4,613 to be exact, are also in the coastal zone.
The zone encompasses Maine's territorial waters, which extend three
miles out to sea. The Coastal Program undertakes or supports projects that promote sustainable economic development, encourage environmental stewardship and education, conserve and manage marine fisheries, reduce coastal hazards, and improve public access.
Contact the Maine Coastal Program--we welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
