AGGREGATE EXPLORATION AND HABITAT CLASSIFICATION: TOOLS FOR BUILDING RESILIENCY IN MAINE

Maine’s beaches are eroding at unprecedented levels, sea level rise has been documented, and the frequency of damaging, severe storms has increased. Costs and timing of infrastructure repairs are taxing municipal budgets and disrupting economic activity and there is heightened public and private interest in adaptation techniques, including beach nourishment and dune restoration. As demand for sand rises, marine-sourced aggregate for beach nourishment will be an important part of Maine’s resiliency strategy. This presentation will discuss the Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative and a subsequent cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for proactive identification of marine aggregate for coastal applications. Products of this survey include sand aggregate deposit profiles, multibeam sonar mosaics, and habitat classification based on Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification System (CMECS) methodology. Collection of habitat information addresses important data gaps, providing critical information for consideration in applications for regulatory approval.