Adaptation

Adapting to climate change

MaineDOT is experiencing the effects of climate change first-hand. In 2022, a number of large storm events resulted in infrastructure failure, causing the roads to be impassible, extended detours, and millions of dollars in damage. As noted in the Maine Climate Council’s Vulnerability Mapping Report (PDF), many culverts across the state have a greater than 66% chance of overtopping within the next 30 years (75-year or greater recurrence interval peak flows). Additionally, along the coast, the Maine Climate Council recommends a commitment to manage 1.5 feet of relative sea level rise by 2050 and 3.9 feet of sea level rise by 2100. The data and science to support this recommendation are included in the Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine (PDF), which is also available on the Maine Climate Council Website. To lower the risk of future damage to infrastructure, MaineDOT has taken a number of steps to reduce vulnerability to climate change for transportation assets and other infrastructure.

General Information

Design Guidance for Bridges and Culverts

MaineDOT has updated design standards for culverts and bridges to take climate impacts into account. The Bridge Design Guidance was revised to require assessment of 4 feet of sea level rise per 100 years for new bridge designs. The change was based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) historical data for the Maine coast and a range of predictions for future sea level rise, and is consistent with the current recommendations of the Maine Climate Council. Additionally, DOT culverts are now designed for 100-year flow rates; prior design guidance was for the 25-year storm event.

Building on DOT’s work, the state will expand guidance for other agencies. This will include siting and design standards for minimizing climate risks in new facility construction as well as guidance for managing climate risk in existing facilities and assets. Guidance should include consideration of Maine Climate Council’s sea level rise projections and other available climate hazard data.

Adaptation Projects

MaineDOT has identified 7 segments of road as particularly vulnerable to flooding during storm events and/or sea level rise:

Route 175, Blue Hill
US 1, Scarborough
Route 9, Scarborough
Route 15, Deer Isle
Route 127, Arrowsic
Route 209, Phippsburg
Route 1A, Frankfort

These projects are moving forward with preliminary engineering. Maintenance and Operations reports indicate that flooding already occurs at many of these locations. Flooding is particularly concerning on segments of road that are high priority corridors (HCP 1) with low tolerance for closure due to flooding. HCP 1 roads are critical to the transportation of people, goods, and services throughout the State. These projects will be designed to manage for 1.5 FT of sea level rise (SLR) by 2050 and 3.9 FT of SLR by 2100 to maintain safe passage for the traveling public and the transport of goods and services. These design criteria are consistent with the MCC recommendations.

SLR Model

MaineDOT is working with a consultant, Woods Hole Group, to develop a high-resolution, dynamic, and probabilistic model of flood risk along the Maine coast from storm events and projected sea level rise – the Maine Coastal Flood Risk Model (ME-CFRM). The model will take advantage of a new NOAA LiDAR dataset that will provide consistent, high-quality topographic and bathymetric data covering nearly the entire coast of Maine. The LiDAR data is currently being collected and is scheduled to be released by NOAA starting in mid-2023. Preliminary ME-CFRM output is expected to be available beginning in the spring of 2024, with final model results ready to be shared with the public by the fall of 2025.

Grant Programs

Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF)

MaineDOT administers the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF). The purpose of this funding is for municipal, tribal, and infrastructure districts to adapt their critical infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change.

Funding

MIAF was a recommendation within Maine Won't Wait, the state's four-year climate action plan. In December 2021, Governor Mills announced the creation of MIAF. Since the creation of the fund, MaineDOT has held three rounds of funding, with a fourth opportunity coming in March 2026, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. There are no designated funding sources for MIAF, therefore eligible projects, maximum grant awards, etc., can change depending on the funding source. However, the intent of the program, climate resiliency, has stayed the same.

The grant funding cap depends on the funding source/round but has ranged from $50,000 - $75,000 for scoping and design projects and between $125,000 - $4,000,000 for construction projects. MIAF typically requires a 5% local match share (cash or in-kind) that is raised or appropriated by the entity applying. This program is reimbursement only.

Eligible projects

Typically, this program will fund 1) scoping and design 2) construction projects or 3) a combination of scoping, design and construction not to exceed the maximum grant fund amount. Examples of projects funded through this program are:

Stormwater
Wastewater
Drinking water upgrades to meet resilience of the system
Transportation resilience projects such as raising roads or moving roads inland due to flooding
Shoreline stabilization

Project eligibility depends on the funding source and will be defined in each specific Request for Applications (RFA).

Future funding opportunities

MaineDOT will be posting a notice in late-December 2025 regarding an upcoming funding opportunity through MIAF. The purpose of the notice will be to give eligible applicants an opportunity to start thinking about potential projects, before the RFA and Frequently Asked Questions document opens in late March 2026. This upcoming round will be funded through the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge and will have a focus on nature-based solutions.

Contact

If you have any questions, please email the Adaptation inbox

Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund

MaineDOT administers the Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund. The purpose of this fund is to adapt existing public working waterfront infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change, sea level rise, coastal flooding, and other impacts.

Funding

The Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund is a new funding opportunity made possible through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. This program differs from the Working Waterfront Resilience Grant Program that was funded through state funding, authorized through the supplemental budget in May 2024.

This program will provide grants for 1) scoping and design 2) construction projects at existing public working waterfronts or 3) a combination of scoping, design, and construction. Applicants may request up to $75,000 for scoping and design and up to $2,000,000 for construction or a combination of scoping, design, and construction not to exceed $2,000,000. This program requires a 5% local match share (cash or in-kind) of the total project costs. The local match amount must be raised or appropriated by the entity applying. This grant program is reimbursement only.

Eligible projects

Eligible properties include publicly owned working waterfronts that provide access to or support the conduct of commercial fishing, aquaculture, or other marine activities. This could include boat launching, water access paths, gear loading/unloading space, or equipment, among other things. Projects could include elevating, strengthening or relocating existing infrastructure or other activities that will make public working waterfront infrastructure more accessible to commercial and recreational users and functional in future conditions. Properties do not have to be exclusively for commercial use; however, the use of the grant funds must demonstrate a benefit to commercial fishing and aquaculture industries in Maine.

Future funding opportunities

MaineDOT posted a notice in late September 2025 about the upcoming funding opportunity. The purpose of the notice is to give eligible entities an opportunity to start thinking about potential projects before the Request for Applications (RFA) and Frequently Asked Questions document opens in late January 2026. The RFA will be posted on this webpage.

Contact

If you have any questions, please email Adaptation.DOT@maine.gov

Municipal Stream Crossing (MSC) Program

MaineDOT administers the Municipal Stream Crossing Program. The intent of the program is to replace municipal stream crossings (e.g. culverts, minor spans, bridges) under local government roads to improve fish and wildlife habitat and community safety.

Funding

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MaineDEP) had administered the program from 2015 - 2022. MaineDOT acquired the program from MaineDEP, in 2023. MaineDOT held one round of funding in the beginning of 2024. When funding is allocated to the program, the Request for Applications will be posted on this webpage. See future funding opportunities for more detail.

In the last opportunity, the maximum grant funding amount was $200,000. The MSC program requires a $5,000 local match share (cash or in-kind) that is raised or appropriated by the municipality applying. This program is reimbursement only.

Eligible projects

Eligible projects are stream crossings (e.g. culverts, minor spans, bridges) that carry a stream under a town-owned roadway, not a state (including state-aid) or private road. Use MaineDOT Public Map Viewer to ensure the structure is located on a municipal owned facility (town way). Municipalities can request funding for projects that include design and construction, as long as the project results in completed construction. All projects must end in completed construction.

Project requirements

Replacement structures need to meet 1.2x the stream's bankfull width and MaineDOT's 100-year flood standard
Design plans will need to be shared and reviewed by MaineDOT's Bridge Maintenance Office for structures that span 10 feet or greater. Please review the 2020 Fact Sheet listed under helpful resources
All final design plans must be stamped by a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in Maine
Any required permits, such as Army Corps of Engineers permit will need to be shared with MaineDOT prior to construction
After project completion, the awarded Municipality must submit a written certification stamped by a PE licensed in Maine, stating that the project is complete and was constructed as designed
The awarded applicant is required to complete an Annual and Final Report Form that will be provided to you

Helpful resources

Future funding opportunities

There are no future funding opportunities at this time. If available, future funding opportunities will be posted on this webpage.

Contact

If you have any questions, please email the Municipal Stream Crossing inbox

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Adapting to climate change

General Information

Grant Programs