Casco Bay News

The new Casco Bay Climate Change Vulnerability Report, authored by CBEP, Natural Choices and Waterview Consulting, contains sections on climate trends in the Casco Bay region, management of climate risks, and a climate adaptation resource guide for Casco Bay communities. Here is the Report,  a Summary Report and a fact sheet.

A new report commissioned by CBEP suggests some good news for Casco Bay: Concentrations of legacy pollutants – heavy metals and organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – tend to be declining. The Casco Bay Sediment Assessment 1991 – 2011, prepared by Ramboll Environ for CBEP, is available here.

The 2017 Casco Bay Sediment Report and associated fact sheets can be found here. The Casco Bay Sediment Assessment 1991 – 2011, prepared by Ramboll Environ for CBEP, analyzed results from sediment monitoring of Casco Bay that was conducted from 1991 through 2011.

One of the primary goals in the updated Casco Bay Plan (2016-2021) is to “Foster resilient communities and their connections to Casco Bay.” To that end, CBEP hired Victoria Boundy as the new Community Engagement Coordinator. Victoria will work collaboratively with CBEP partners to increase public engagement in the Bay through promoting sense of place,

In conjunction with the recent New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Annual Meeting, Bates College and CBEP produced a report, “The ecogeomorphology of two salt marshes in midcoast Maine: Natural history and human impacts,” which is available on the Publications page.

Grant funding from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Habitat Protection Fund has supported PRLT’s successful efforts to establish the Mill Brook Preserve in Westbrook.  The growing conservation area has been made possible thanks to the generosity of local residents, who are donating land to PRLT because they want to see the stream corridor protected in

Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, the Island Institute, and Long Island Elementary School collaborated in Spring 2016 to launch an After-School Aquaculture Program. The program introduced K-5 students to aquaculture in an engaging, hands-on way through creative and thought-provoking activities. More information about the After-School Aquaculture Program and photos from sessions are available here.

Climate Adaptation Resource Guide for Casco Bay Communities (click on title to read guide) offers municipal officials, community groups and others an overview of who is doing what around Casco Bay to foster climate preparedness. Thanks to Marina Schauffler of Natural Choices for her work on these documents.