Tides, Taxes, and New Tactics

Goal

To investigate and plan for the economic and social impacts of sea level rise and storm surge with the towns of Kennebunk, Wells, and York.

Project Elements

• GIS-based economic and social vulnerability assessment of flood hazard impacts to coastal private property
• Evaluation of associated implications for the municipal tax base 
• Development of creative, locally-relevant adaptation and resiliency planning strategies
• Community engagement workshops

Products

Town Workshop Summaries

• Kennebunk Workshop Summary (March 2, 2021)
• York Workshop Summary (March 24, 2021)
• Wells Workshop Summary (March 31, 2021)

Other Resources

• Project Overview (August 14, 2020)
• Vulnerability Assessment, Towns of York, Wells, and Kennebunk (GEI Consulting)
• Economic Analysis of Sea Level Rise: Kennebunk, Wells, and York (rbouvier consulting)

Project 2-page Summaries

• Kennebunk Project Summary
• York Project Summary
• Wells Project Summary

Partners

The project is overseen and guided by an advisory committee comprised of municipal staff members from each of the three communities. It is coordinated by SMPDC (contact Abbie Sherwin asherwin@smpdc.org).

• Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (lead)
• Towns of Kennebunk, Wells, and York
• Wells Reserve
• Maine Sea Grant
• rbouvier consulting
• GEI Consultants

Funding

Municipal Planning Assistance Program, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry: $46,187 to SMPDC