Maine Adaptation Toolkit

The Maine Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit was developed through interagency coordination to provide a centralized source for the information relevant for designing and implementing climate adaptation measures or strategies, as well as information on important regulations and standards that may affect your project or planning process. The toolkit also provides opportunities to connect with state agencies and other engaged practitioners for technical advice and expertise.

External hyperlinks are intended to provide Maine-specific information that might assist your efforts. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein.

Navigate the Toolkit

Topics are placed into three broad categories with specific toolkits for each. Click the topics in each category to browse through a list of information, tools, resources, and practitioners for that topic.

Natural Environment Expand +

Built Environment: Critical Infrastructure & Facilities Expand +

People & Communities Expand +

Go to Climate Trends & Data to learn more about the changing climate, and its impacts and effects.
Go to Adaptation Actions to learn more about adjustments to prepare for and adapt to impacts and effects.

Natural Environment

Resources for the Natural Environment

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Working Landscapes: Agricultural & Working Forests

Farming, Working Forests, Small Woodlots

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Ecosystems, Habitat & Wildlife, Open Spaces

Vulnerable and Priority Species, Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams, and Wetlands

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Marine Resources & Fisheries

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Built Environment, Critical Infrastructure & Facilities

Resources for Built Infrastructure

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Energy & Communication

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Transportation

  • MaineDOT Climate Initiative Maine Department of Transportation
  • Coastal built infrastructure, inland bridges and culverts, vulnerability assessment, clean transportation, multimodal
  • Stream Habitat Viewer Maine Office of GIS
    Mapping, Stream Restoration, Conservation, Dams, Road Crossings, Training
  • Maine Tidal Restriction Atlas Maine Department of Marine Resources
    The Atlas helps people identify culverts, bridges, dams, and other structures that are currently tidal or will likely become tidal in the future. The Atlas is meant to complement use of The CoastWise Approach for tidal road crossing design.
  • Stream Stats US Geological Survey
    Map-based web application, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analytical tools, water-resources planning and management, engineering and design purposes, delineate drainage areas, basin characteristics and estimated flow statistics
  • Stream Smart Stream Smart Partnership
    Road-stream Crossings, Fish and Wildlife Protection, Trainings
  • CoastWise Approach for tidal crossing design Maine Department of Marine Resources
    CoastWise provides a voluntary set of best practices, decision-making tools, and sequence for designing safe, cost-effective, ecologically supportive, and climate-resilient tidal crossings
  • Municipal Stream Crossing Upgrade Grant Program Maine Department of Environmental Protection
  • Infrastructure and Climate Network Infrastructure & Climate Network (ICNet)

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Drinking Water, Wastewater Utilities, and Stormwater

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People & Communities

Resources for People & Communities

  • Community Resilience Partnership Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
    Grants and support to municipal and tribal governments
  • Resilience Building Climate Change Adaptation Providers Network
    Resilience building cycle, resilience building decision support tools, funding and finance sources, and case studies, events, trainings, and networks
  • Maine Online Opportunities for Sustained Education (MOOSE) Maine Department of Education
    Online library of project-based learning modules for grades PK-12. Some modules focus on climate education and include new Math Science & Engineering Standards
  • Climate Education Resources University of Maine
  • Climate Education Maine Environmental Education Association
  • Maine Floodplain Program Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
    National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA information
  • Flood Resilience for Homeowners, Renters & Business Owners Federal Emergency Management Agency
    One-stop-shop to the public about how to protect themselves and their property from the nation’s number one disaster, flooding
  • Maps, Data, Sand Dunes, Marine Geologic Environments, Bluff and Landslide Hazards, National Wetland Inventory, Shoreland Zoning, Coastal Elevation, Coastal Flooding
    • Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
      • Coastal Landslide Hazard Maps Sea Level Rise, Known / Potential Coastal Landslide Hazards Maps show locations of known landslides and areas of potential landslide hazard on bluffs along the Maine coast.
      • Coastal Bluff Maps Shoreline Type, Bluff Stability
        Coastal Bluffs Maps show the shoreline type and relative stability of bluffs along the Maine coast. The slope, shape, and amount of vegetation covering a coastal bluff and the adjacent shoreline are directly related to the susceptibility of the bluff face to ongoing erosion.
      • Sand Dune Geology Maps Frontal / Back Dunes, Erosion Hazard Areas
        These color maps provide detailed information about Maine's largest beaches and dune systems. The photos show frontal dunes, back dunes, and erosion hazard areas conforming to the Department of Environmental Protection's 2006 Coastal Sand Dune Rules.
  • Volunteer Beach Monitoring Program Maine Department Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, University of Maine, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Building Resiliency Along Maine’s Bluff Coast, Maine Departments of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry & Marine Resources, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Climate Change and Historic Resources Maine Historic Preservation Commission
    Guidelines on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, Historic Properties Toolkit, and Location of National Register listed properties, cultural resources and National Historic Landmarks vis a vis inundation scenarios
  • Coastal Resilience The Nature Conservancy

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Buildings & Homes

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Community Planning

  • Planning for Climate Variability Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
    • Municipal Climate Adaptation Guidance Series
      Transporation, StreamSmart Crossings, Wastewater infrastructure, Drinking Water, Storm Water, Comprehensive Planning, Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, Site Plan Review Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance
    • Coastal Community Grants Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
      The coastal community competitive grant programs provides funds to towns and regional organizations for projects in the areas of public access, water quality improvement, storm hazard resiliency, and marine-related economic development.
    • Shore and Harbor Grant Maine Department of Marine Resources
      This program provides funding to promote sound waterfront planning, harbor management, and balanced development of shore and harbor areas to improve marine infrastructure and assure access to the shore. Grants of up to $30,000 are available for municipal and regional projects in coastal towns.
    • Maine Floodplain Ordinances Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
      Which Floodplain Management Ordinance is Right for My Town?
    • Maine Flood Resilience Checklist Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
  • Manuals and Guides to Reduce Water Pollution Maine Department of Environmental Protection
    Buffers, Plant List, Conservation Practices, BMPs, Rain Collection, Roads, Stormwater, Lakes & Streams
  • Coastal Community Resilience Sea Grant
  • Climate Network Gulf of Maine Council
    • Community Toolkit
      Municipalities, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Databases, Resource Sites, Maps, Models, Tools, Vulnerability Assessment, Planning
  • Smart Growth US Environmental Protection Agency
    Resources and guidance on smart growth approaches that can help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
  • Smart Growth Fixes for Climate Adaptation and Resilience US Environmental Protection Agency
    Guide designed to assist local government officials, staff, and boards in finding strategies to help communities prepare for climate change impacts through land use and building policies
  • Smart Growth for Coastal and Waterfront Communities National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Environmental Protection Agency, International City/County Management Association, RI Sea Grant
    Builds on smart growth principles to create coastal and waterfront-specific strategies for development Climate Smart Cities The Trust for Public Land
  • Helping Coastal Communities Adapt Gulf of Maine Research Institute
  • Anecdata Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
    Crowdsourced online citizen science portal for anyone who wants to collect or share environmental data
Roadmaps, Plans, Training

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Public Health & Services

  • Significant Aquifers in Maine Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
    Maps, Sand and Gravel Aquifers
  • Ozone Air Quality Forecast Maine Department of Environmental Protection
    Current and Expected Air Quality Concentrations for upcoming 24 hours
  • Atmospheric Deposition of Acid Rain Maine Department of Environmental Protection
    Field Measurements
  • Data on Heat Illness and Lyme disease in Maine Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control & Maine Tracking Network
    Health and environmental data, by geographic region, across age groups, genders, regions, and time periods, customized tables, charts, and maps
  • Extreme heat Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control
    Tips and strategies for dealing with extreme heat and hot weather, symptoms of heat-related illness
  • Heat National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service
    Heat Safety, Heat Watch vs. Warning, Heat Index, During a Heat Wave, Common Heat Related Illnesses.
  • Lyme Disease Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control
    History; resource for residents, educators, physicians; data; reports and publication; legislation

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Social Vulnerability / Recreation and Tourism (Demographic, Political, Economic, and Livelihood Dimensions of Vulnerability)

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Hazard Mitigation, Emergency Management & Preparedness

  • Maine State Hazard Mitigation Plan Maine Emergency Management Agency
    Identifies risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters to develop strategies to reduce the long-term effects of natural hazards
  • Maine Prepares Maine Emergency Management Agency
    Home and Family, Business, Schools, Community
    • Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Maine Emergency Management Agency
      In many Maine communities and counties, emergency management is supported by volunteer teams that have received special training to support first responders and perform important response functions. Most of these teams receive basic response training, and then may specialize in a particular type of response such as amateur radio or animal and pet care.
    • Emergency Preparedness for Schools and Students Maine Emergency Management Agency
      Guidance materials and planning resources
  • Emergency Response University of Maine Cooperative Extension Program
  • Maine Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (ME WARN) Maine Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control & Prevention Statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response and mutual aid for public and private water and wastewater utilities
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • HAZUS-MH Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Nationally applicable standardized methodology and models for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to estimate physical, economic, and social impacts of disaster.Ready.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency
    Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Get Involved
  • Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning Federal Emergency Management Agency
    Walkthrough, Guide
  • Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses Federal Emergency Management Agency
    Provides step-by-step guidance on how to conduct a risk assessment
  • Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • StormReady Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service
    Allows community officials to provide the public with emergency information. National Weather Service helps communities respond to hazardous weather by providing emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.

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