CoastWise Approach

Goal

CoastWise is meant to steadily reverse centuries of impacts to salt marshes and other tidal habitats by designing safe, low-maintenance crossings scaled to accommodate sea level rise and restore natural tidal flow.

Timeline

Phase 1: Develop tools, decision-making methods, and guidance materials

Phase 2: Create and implement outreach and training for the CoastWise Approach

Products

• CoastWise Project Overview (updated January 2022)
• Topic 1: Sea Level Rise Scenario Selection (September 2021)
• Topic 2: Establishing Objectives (updated February 2022)
• Topic 3: Modeling and Alternatives Analysis Products (updated February 2022)
• Social Coast 2020 presentation (February 2020)

Target deliverables:

• Maine Tidal Restriction Atlas
• Road crossing project checklist for municipalities and their agents
• Road crossing project checklist for restoration practitioners
• Decision-making tools to meet economic, ecological, and safety objectives
• List of vulnerable species and associated mapping resources
• Catalog of tidal road crossing types and applications
• Technical design guidance document for improvement of tidal hydrology at road crossings
• Outreach and training for communities and technical users

Partners

Thirty-plus entities are involved with crafting the CoastWise Approach. The effort is coordinated by the Maine Coastal Program within the Department of Marine Resources. For information, contact Slade Moore.