Through the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972, the Maine Coastal Program supports the sustainable use, development, and conservation of the coastal environment to meet community needs and promote resilience. We coordinate partnerships and assistance across state, local, regional, Tribal, and federal agencies, non-profits, and other external partners to manage Maine’s coastal resources for public benefit. The CZMA federal consistency provision also gives Maine the authority to review federal permits and actions with the potential to affect the coastal zone to ensure they are consistent with our state’s core environmental laws and regulations.
Visit the Maine Coastal Program webpage for more information.
| Name | Role | Contact Information | What We Can Help You With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jocelyn Runnebaum | Director | Jocelyn.Runnebaum@maine.gov | Contact about Maine Coastal Program overview and operations |
| Erin Wilson | Federal Consistency Coordinator | Erin.Wilson@maine.gov | Contact about federal consistency review |
| Theresa Torrent | Senior Planner | Theresa.Torrent@maine.gov | Contact about coastal cleanup, outreach and education programs, and community-based stewardship |
| Melissa Britsch | Marine Resource Management Coordinator | Melissa.Britsch@maine.gov | Contact about coastal public access, working waterfront protection, and Shore and Harbor Planning Grants |
| Devin Domeyer | Coastal Resilience Specialist | Devin.Domeyer@maine.gov | Contact about coastal hazard mitigation, seagrass restoration, and blue carbon |
| Bobby Van Riper | Tidal Habitat Restoration Coordinator | Robert.VanRiper@maine.gov | Contact about harmonizing infrastructure and habitats, saltmarsh restoration, nature-based solutions, and CoastWise |
| Harriet Booth | Working Waterfront Coordinator | Harriet.Booth@maine.gov | Contact about working waterfront resilience and the Working Waterfront – Advisory Council |
How does the Maine Coastal Program support communities?
- Distributes federal funds matched by state and local sources to enable on-the-ground projects that benefit Maine's coastal communities
- Conducts federal consistency reviews to give the state a voice in federal decision-making
- Leads CoastWise, a voluntary set of best practices and tools for designing safe, cost-effective, ecologically supportive and climate-resilient tidal crossings
- Provides tools for restoring tidal habitat resilience
- Supports long-term salt marsh monitoring
- Collaborates with local, regional, and state agencies as well as private organizations and land trusts to encourage sound planning and smart growth strategies along the coast
- Administers the Shore and Harbor Planning Grants and supports the Coastal Community Grants to help communities plan for resilience
- Provides technical assistance related to community resilience and planning, coastal habitat restoration, and marine debris reduction
- Publishes and updates the Maine Coastal Public Access Guide, a compendium of publicly accessible beaches, boat launches, coastal parks, and trails
- Develops the Maine Coastal Program 2026-2030 Strategic Outlook with partner input to bring additional federal funding into the state to address priority coastal issues
- Organizes community coastal cleanup events and other marine debris reduction efforts
- Supports working waterfront resilience and protection to ensure Maine’s marine economy and the livelihoods that depend on it remain viable in the future
Not what you’re looking for? Email info.moca@maine.gov or call the MOCA phone line and we’ll connect you with what you need.