Summary of DMC Science Seminar Series- Climate science and action for Maine’s coast and coastal communities

00:00:00 - 00:55:00

In the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, Heather Leslie, the director of the Darling Marine Center at the University of Maine and an associate professor of marine sciences, discusses her role as co-chair of the Coastal Marine Working Group of the Maine Climate Council. The group, which includes scientists, municipal and state officials, and representatives from Maine's fisheries, marine industries, and aquaculture, has been studying the impacts of climate change on Maine's coastal communities and environments. The goal is to create a climate action plan for Maine, with a focus on reducing and adapting to climate change in coastal marine communities. The speakers emphasize the significance of Maine's coastal communities, which are economically valuable and ecologically important, and discuss strategies to manage for coastal resilience, including monitoring for climate impacts, providing technical assistance and outreach, and ensuring municipal leaders and homeowners have the resources they need for data-driven decisions. They also discuss the challenges of securing funding for climate action initiatives and the importance of considering both environmental and social factors when defining coastal areas. The speakers encourage audience members to visit theclimatecouncil.maine.gov website, sign up for the newsletter, and engage on social media for more information and updates.

• 00:00:00 In this section, Heather Leslie, the director of the Darling Marine Center at the University of Maine and an associate professor of marine sciences, speaks about her role as co-chair of the Coastal Marine Working Group of the Maine Climate Council. She worked with various scientists, municipal and state officials, and representatives from Maine's fisheries, marine industries, and aquaculture to research and recommend strategies to reduce and adapt to climate change in coastal marine communities and environments. The process, which is still ongoing, aims to create a climate action plan for Maine. Leslie invites the audience to participate in this process.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speaker discusses the environmental and economic changes facing Maine's coastal communities, with a focus on the impacts of climate change. The group of 38 working members have been studying these issues and have presented their findings to the council. Maine's coastal communities are experiencing rapid changes, including rising ocean and air temperatures, longer summers, shorter winters, and increased storm frequency. While it's not possible to directly link specific events to climate change, long-term data sets show significant trends. Sea level rise is already impacting communities, with Damariscotta River estuary being a notable example. The community there has been working to prepare for rising sea levels, and the climate council is learning from these efforts to help other areas in the state. Ocean chemistry is also changing, affecting shellform organisms like lobsters and impacting fisheries and aquaculture businesses. The council aims to build on local examples to help communities and businesses adapt to climate change. The speaker also mentions the increasing reliance on lobster fishing in Maine and the challenges that come with it.
• 00:10:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speaker emphasizes the significance of Maine's coastal communities, which are not only ecologically important but also economically valuable. The speaker highlights the connection between social and environmental factors, using fisheries and tourism as examples. Coastal communities contribute over $5.6 million through tourism and are home to 45% of Maine residents. Given the importance of these communities, the Maine Climate Council, which is drafting an action plan, established a working group specifically focused on coastal and marine issues. The working group, which includes the speaker, has spent the last year learning about climate science, innovative solutions, and community resilience. The Maine Climate Council's goals include reducing Maine's carbon emissions, making communities and industries resilient to climate impacts, creating good jobs in the transition to a lower carbon economy, and ensuring that rural, low-income, and elderly populations are not adversely affected. The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude for the group's efforts and the challenges they have faced during the pandemic.
• 00:15:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speaker discusses the first four out of six strategies developed by the Climate Council of Maine to address climate change impacts on the coast and coastal communities. The first strategy, "Tracking Climate Impacts," aims to establish a state-level climate collaborative to ensure effective monitoring and decision-making, leveraging existing programs and partnerships. The second strategy, "Providing Technical Assistance and Outreach," focuses on making relevant climate information accessible to stakeholders through the Coastal and Marine Information Exchange and a business council. The third strategy, "Enhancing Mitigation," explores carbon storage in coastal habitats and the potential for carbon sequestration programs. The fourth strategy, "Nature-Based Solutions," goes beyond carbon and focuses on broader restoration and conservation efforts. For more details, visit climatecouncil.maine.gov.
• 00:20:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, Heather Perkins discusses the fifth strategy of the Maine Climate Council, which focuses on managing the resilience of Maine's seafood sector. She emphasizes the need for information and support for existing and emerging businesses in the face of climate impacts. The strategy also includes the importance of regulatory stability and adaptability to environmental changes, particularly in light of invasive and warmer water species. Perkins encourages those interested in learning more to check out resources such as the Coastal Marine Working Group's website and the Climate Council's main website for opportunities to provide comments and engage in the conversation. She also touches on the difference between natural climate cycles and human-caused climate change, explaining that scientists use multiple methods, including long-term measurements and the study of historical data, to distinguish between the two.
• 00:25:00 In this section, scientists discuss the importance of models and empirical observations in understanding the causes of climate change. They confirm that the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the 1960s is primarily due to human-caused activities. The Maine Climate Council, which includes legislators from both parties and municipal officials, was established to address climate change and make decisions based on scientific evidence. Local residents and officials are encouraged to engage with their representatives and senators to advocate for climate action and provide feedback on the council's recommendations.
• 00:30:00 In this section of the DMC Science Seminar Series, the topic of coastal resilience in Maine is discussed. The speaker interprets coastal resilience as the ability of people and ecosystems to deal with climate shocks and other changes. Strategies to manage for coastal resilience include monitoring for climate impacts, providing technical assistance and outreach to coastal communities and businesses, and ensuring municipal leaders and homeowners have the resources they need for data-driven decisions. An example given is the Portland city council's consideration of building code changes to ensure new buildings can be safely flooded in the case of strong storm surges or sea level rise. The working groups have made recommendations to the climate council, which will consider which strategies to include in the final climate action plan by December 1st. Some working groups have also suggested potential funding strategies for implementing mitigation or adaptation recommendations.
• 00:35:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speakers discuss the challenges of securing funding for climate action initiatives in Maine, particularly in light of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. They mention that they are currently in the ideas stage, with plans to submit proposals for federal and private grants, as well as industry-led efforts already receiving funding. The Maine Technology Institute recently received a federal award for a marine economy roadmap. The Main Climate Council has engaged the Eastern Research Group to conduct cost-benefit analyses and vulnerability assessments for different strategies, highlighting the importance of investing in climate change mitigation to save costs in the long run. The speakers also address questions about coastal communities, explaining that analyses often focus on current and projected sea level rise, and that the landscape can fluctuate over time with the impact of climate change.
• 00:40:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speakers discuss the importance of considering both environmental and social factors when defining coastal areas of influence in Maine. They mention the use of maps developed by the Nature Conservancy and Bowdoin College to identify vulnerable coastal communities based on predicted sea level rise. The speakers also introduce the concept of "pork sheds," which refers to coastal ports significant to working waterfronts and the seafood economy. They encourage using a combination of environmental, social, and economic information to define coastal areas. Regarding the question about changes in fish populations in the Gulf of Maine, the speakers suggest checking the chat and resources from the science and technical subcommittee for information on this topic. They explain that fisheries data, gathered from fishermen and combined with federal data, provides valuable insights into changes in the diversity, volume, and value of different fished species. However, they also emphasize the importance of gathering information through other means, such as underwater surveys and remotely operated vehicles, to gain a more complete understanding of ocean life.
• 00:45:00 In this section of the DMC Science Seminar Series, Heather Perkins discusses the importance of considering various sources of information beyond fisheries data to understand the changing coastal ecosystems in Maine. She highlights the role of blue carbon initiatives, specifically coastal wetlands, in carbon sequestration. These wetlands are more efficient than forests at burying carbon and offer additional benefits, such as protecting communities against flooding. The coastal marine working group has prioritized preserving these environments against climate change and development to maximize their carbon sequestration capabilities. While the timeline for carbon sequestration in these environments is not explicitly stated, it is suggested that they are fairly efficient at it.
• 00:50:00 In this section of the DMC Science Seminar Series, the speakers discuss the challenges of implementing living shorelines in Maine due to potential changes in Army Corps permitting as a result of climate change. The group also acknowledged the need for further analysis of existing regulations and welcomed comments from the audience. Heather then explains that sea level rise is a complex issue caused by various factors, including the expansion of water due to rising temperatures, melting ice, and subsidence of coastal lands. The speakers emphasized the importance of understanding local rates of sea level rise, which may not align with global rates, and encouraged interested individuals to sign up for newsletters to learn more about the latest research on sea level rise in Maine.
• 00:55:00 In this section of the "DMC Science Seminar Series" video, the speaker discusses the importance of monitoring high tide marks due to the increasing threat of sea level rise and storm surges. The speaker uses the example of a king tide in October 2020, which was accompanied by a storm, to illustrate the potential for significant flooding if the tide had been higher. The speaker also mentions the expectation of more frequent "sunny day flooding" or nuisance flooding, particularly along coastal roads. To mitigate the effects of sea level rise, the speaker emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize warming. The speaker also encourages audience members to visit theclimatecouncil.maine.gov website, sign up for the newsletter, and engage on social media for more information and updates.