This map shows environmental monitoring locations and details carried out by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Monitoring Network. The map links monitoring activities to the priorities identified in the Casco Bay Monitoring Plan and allows users to filter by monitoring organization, location, or parameters being monitored. The map is focused on monitoring in the Casco Bay watershed, but also shows associated monitoring activities across the state. Scroll or zoom in to look at monitoring locations around the watershed, then hover your mouse over a point to show more information. You can also click on a point to show monitoring details in the sidebar. Programs that collect spatial or regional data, or that do not rely on set monitoring locations, are listed under “Regional Programs” below the map.
The entire monitoring database is available for download here:
If you have questions or know of a monitoring program you would like to see included in the dashboard, please email janelle.goeke@maine.edu
Click on a point
to see more information.
Regional Programs
Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative Bathymetry
Organization:Â Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative
Description:Â Sonar seafloor mapping and grab sampling for habitat characterization and improvement to nautical charts, plus CTD casts
Goals:Â Nutrients and Water Quality, Habitats, Human Benefits
Indicators: In-situ Water Quality Parameters, Fauna, Habitats, Sediments, Marine Systems
Parameters:Â Chlorophyll a (sonde), Conductivity, Depth, Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Dissolved Oxygen (% saturation), pH, Salinity, Turbidity (NTU), Water Temperature, sound velocity, Benthic Epifauna, Benthic Infauna, Macroinvertebrates – subtidal, Bathymetry, Sediment Grain Size
Sampling Methods:Â Grab sampling: modified van veen and go-pro video
Type:Â Discrete, Continuous
Spatial Extent:Â Casco Bay, areas lacking high-resolution bathymetry
Temporal Extent:Â 2023-ongoing
Sampling Frequency:Â Spring, Summer, Fall; Seasonally
QAPP:Â Unsure
Link to data:Â https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/bathymetry/
Contact:Â Jesse Minor; jesse.minor@maine.gov
Marine Vegetation Mapping Program
Organization:Â Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Description:Â Coastwide mapping of seagrass and tidal marsh habitat, including Casco Bay every 5 years
Goals:Â Habitats
Indicators: Vegetation and Algae, Habitats, Marine Systems, Wetlands, Riparian Zones, or Other Systems
Parameters:Â Marsh Vegetation, Seagrass – Eelgrass (Zostera marina), Seagrass – Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima), Eelgrass Beds, Vegetation Community Mapping
Sampling Methods: Low tide, high resolution, aerial imagery, submeter accuracy underwater video and observation waypoints, MNAP natural community survey form
Type:Â Discrete
Spatial Extent:Â Statewide – shallow subtidal to supratidal, from coast to head of tide
Temporal Extent:Â 2022-ongoing, Mapping is conducted using a statewide regional 5-year rotation. Casco Bay will be mapped next in 2027.
Sampling Frequency:Â Spring, Summer, Fall; Once every five years
QAPP:Â Yes
Link to data:Â https://www.maine.gov/geolib/catalog.html
Contact:Â Cheyenne Adams; cheyenne.adams@maine.gov
Surface Water Ambient Toxics Program
Organization:Â Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Description:Â Toxics monitoring in marine biota
Goals:Â Human Benefits
Indicators:Â Fauna, Toxins and Contaminants, Marine Systems
Parameters: Crustaceans – Lobster, Fish Community, Fish – Rainbow Smelt, Shellfish – Mussels, Shellfish – Softshell Clams, Shellfish – Quahog Clams, Shellfish – Oysters, Shellfish – Other, PFAS, Metals (Lead, Mercury, Zinc, etc.) – tissues, Organic Compounds (PAHs, PCBs, PFCs, PBDEs, etc.) – tissues
Sampling Methods: biota collection, dissection, construction of composites, laboratory analysis of composites for toxics in tissue
Type:Â Discrete
Spatial Extent:Â Statewide, different sites are monitored each year, with only a few resampled at irregular intervals as needed
Temporal Extent:Â Ongoing
Sampling Frequency:Â Spring, Summer, Fall; Annually
QAPP:Â Yes
Link to data:Â database request from Maine DEP, or reports on DEP website
Contact:Â James Stahlnecker; james.stahlnecker@maine.gov