Need for Updated Coastal Bluff Maps
Accurate shoreline mapping is essential for effective planning in Maine, particularly because bluffs represent nearly half of the state’s extensive 5,000-mile coastline. Many of the current maps are outdated, with some being over two decades old, and they do not include recent information regarding development, erosion, or bluff stability. Coastal managers require precise data on the factors affecting shorelines to effectively design, plan, and permit resilient shoreline protection systems. To tackle these challenges, the Maine Geological Survey, Maine Sea Grant, and the University of Maine engineering team collaborated to enhance the precision and reliability of coastal bluff maps and to improve decision-support tools.
Innovative Data Collection Methods
The collaborative effort involved the integration of remote-sensing data with information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically its land cover and Coastal Ocean Reanalysis (CORA) data. This approach aimed to provide consistent and continuous data across the coastal region. By analyzing CORA data, the team was able to extract information regarding mean wave direction and significant wave height, which helped to identify wave energy patterns along the entirety of Maine’s coastline. This analysis is crucial as it establishes a foundational understanding of wave dynamics and variability, thereby bolstering ongoing hazard assessments and resilience planning initiatives.
Enhancing Decision Support Tools
The wave data collected through this project will be incorporated into an updated version of the Maine Geological Survey’s Living Shorelines Decision Support Tool. This enhancement will enable planners to utilize more accurate metrics when strategizing for living shorelines. The updated coastal bluff maps and the improved tools are essential for addressing the pressing issue of coastal bluff erosion and will significantly aid in resilience planning efforts across Maine’s coastline.
Source: NOAA
