Issues
Waterfront

Information

• 08/11/23: Maine_Waterfronts.pdf
  supporting and enhancing Maine’s working waterfront. through policy, planning, investment and education. Maine Working Waterfront Coalition ...

• 08/11/05: Maine's Disappearing Working Waterfront
  Good nine minute video on the working waterfront

• Working Waterfront
  "The Working Waterfront" is a monthly newspaper published both online and in print format. It is a newspaper that provides information and stories about people who work along coastal Maine - whatever their occupation may be. If you are interested in a part of coastal Maine that some tourists don't see then this newspaper is for you. A small blurb taken from the newspapers website follows below. If you are interested in learning more about coastal Maine then visit the website of the "The Working Waterfront".

• 6/15/08: Maine Coastal Program Download Center
  Listed below is a catalog of all publications and documents that are available digitally. We're continually adding files, so please check back often

• 6/15/08: Maine Coastal Program
  The Maine Coastal Program works to sustain Maine's coastal resources and maritime economy

• 6/15/08: Mapping Maine’s Working Waterfront
  Beginning in the summer of 2005, the Island Institute and its partners embarked on a community-based mapping project to quantify the working-waterfront resources for Maine’s 142 coastal towns. The goal of this research effort is to create a new tool in the form of a statewide Working Waterfront Access Map to facilitate dialogue between two historically divided coastal constituencies: the conservation community and the commercial fishing community. This report discusses the challenges and successes of this effort, the community participation process, project findings and how this research fits within the growing waterfront access protection toolkit in the state of Maine. Issues such as defining
  working-waterfront access, setting protocols for public data access and the sustainability of mapping research are topics that this project addresses. It outlines a model methodology to explore the potential for this community-based mapping effort to remain current, and to learn whether it has applications in other working-waterfront states.

• 6/15/08: Tracking Commercial Fishing Access: A Survey of Harbormasters in 25 Maine Coastal Communities
  Traditional water-dependent users are feeling the pinch. Historically, Maine’s coastline has served and supported a range of human needs from industrial and commercial to residential and recreational activities, from bulk cargo and fishing to houses and parks. Commercial fishing and recreational traffic are all vying for increasingly expensive waterfront parcels. Basic questions about who can afford to live and work along Maine’s coast are being raised.
  In 2002 the Maine State Planning Office issued the first baseline survey of the status of Maine’s working waterfront. Using a sample of 25 coastal communities, the study revealed that:

• 6/15/08: HARBOR MANAGEMENT: A Legal Guide for Harbormasters and Coastal Officials
  This handbook is a revised version of the Guide for Harbor Management, Bulletin 648 (University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service), written by William Prosser. Changes in the law governing harbormasters’ responsibilities have necessitated updating the original guide, which has become a valued reference among Maine’s harbormasters.
  The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service provides educational and organizational assistance to harbormasters. The Maine Harbor Masters Association, organized in 1986 with Extension’s help, provides an opportunity for harbormasters to discuss common concerns and exchange ideas. No longer do harbormasters in some 143 coastal, island and tidal communities need to be isolated. Harbor Management: A Legal Guide for Harbormasters and Coastal Officials is designed to be a ready reference for newly appointed or experienced harbormasters.

• 6/15/08: Gulf of Maine Council Knowledgebase Search
  The Gulf of Maine KnowledgeBase provides easy access to information about the Gulf of Maine and its watershed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The KnowledgeBase is a directory of technical reports, journal articles, fact sheets, maps, Web sites, and other information sources for science, policy, education, and management.

• 8/30/06 Marine Law Institute Home Page
  The Marine Law Institute is the research and public service component of the Ocean and Coastal Law Program and is the only law school-affiliated marine policy research program in the Northeast. MLI has dedicated its program of legal and policy research to the analysis of ocean and coastal resource issues for the express purpose of improving management practices and public understanding.

News

• 5/25/06 Gulf of Maine Research Institute Receives $486,819 in State funding through the Maine Marine Research Fund
  Funds Will Enable Scientists to Address Critical Fisheries Research Priorities in the Gulf of Maine

• 4/26/2006 Development Proposal Raises Flags in Bremen
  If fishermen and residents along Bremen’s Hockomock Channel have anything to say about it, proposed marine landings and a 40-acre subdivision across the channel on Bremen Long Island would be stopped before a traditional way of life is uprooted
  “We don’t want this to be the next Boothbay Harbor,” said Medomak Road resident Melanee Osier-Gilbert, who has helped organize residents who want to preserve traditional uses of the waterfront along this relatively unspoiled section of coast.

• 3/23/2006 Making the waterfront work
  Portland's central waterfront zone is a funky place.
  High-end condominiums, recreational boat slips and law firms coexist with fishing boats, retail shops and restaurants. [Note: Decent description of new waterfront plan in Portland]

• 3/16/06 VillageSoup - Government - VillageSoup
  Lawmakers struggle to define working waterfront

• 11/12/05 WMTW.com - News - Maine Senator Proposes Legislation To Protect Waterfronts
  WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, is seeking legislation that would provide federal grants to purchase coastal land and easements to preserve commercial access to working waterfronts.

• 11/5/05 Fishermen hope to catch a break
  In Phippsburg's Sebasco Harbor, 15 lobstermen depend on Edward Hunt's pier for access to the water.

• 5/13/05 Baldacci signs $83 million bond package in Bangor - Fosters
  "These bonds are vital to grow good paying jobs with benefits, to growing our economy, to further improve our infrastructure, and to conserve and protect our environment, land and working waterfront," Baldacci said in remarks prepared for the ceremony at University College of Bangor.

• 6/24/05 Time running out for boatyard
  CHEBEAGUE ISLAND — The morning high tide had Hartley Brewer scrambling to launch a 36-foot lobster boat earlier this week.

• 2/28/05 Westport Island Gets Another Freedom Of Access Request
  Westport Island selectmen received a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request from Margaret Stern for records dating back 10 years that are related to mooring permits and the mooring permitting process.

• 2/20/05 Waterfront Time to relax marine focus
  The way some people see it, Portland's effort to preserve marine-related business in its central waterfront area has stalled harbor development for more than a decade.

• 2/20/05 Further tax-relief measures head to Senate
  AUGUSTA — The Legislature's big push to control property taxes came two weeks ago, when lawmakers passed a tax-relief bill that Gov. John Baldacci quickly signed into law. But several related bills are still working their way through the legislative process, and two of them got a big boost last week. The House of Representatives has strongly endorsed two constitutional amendments that would provide tax breaks for homes and fishing-related waterfront property. Both amendments will go to the Senate, where passage is possible but not certain.

• 1/20/05 TownOnline.com - Scituate Mariner - Local News
  Harbormasters weigh in on new mooring fee law
  Although this is from Massachusetts, it has an interesting discussion about mooring fee (by the foot), relative charge to residents and non-residents.

Harbor Committees

• Duties and responsibilities of various harbor committees
  these are a variety of harbor committee  responsibilities in various towns in Maine. Obviously some are not relevant to Harpswell at present.

  • Plan the development and establish policy for the harbors.
  • Resolve conflicts that may arise as a result of the Harbor Ordinance regarding the use of the harbors and their facilities.
  • Recommend rules and regulations for use of the harbors.
  • Recommend mooring and wharf fees to cover the cost of registration, harbor and wharf management.
  • Recommend individuals to the Board of Selectmen for the position of Harbor Master.
  • Review the activities of the Harbor Master.
  • Approve the Harbor Master's assignment of mooring locations.

• 12/27/04 Tremont Harbor_Ord_2004

• 12/27/04 Rockland Harbor Management Commission
  Includes 2001 goals of commission

• 12/27/04 Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor Ordinance
  Adopted 6-8-2004

Harbormaster

• Duties and responsibilities of various harbormasters
  these are a variety of harbormaster responsibilities in various towns in Maine. Obviously some are not relevant to Harpswell at present.

  • 40 hours a week
  • overseeing the mooring fields
  • Boat launches. public access points
  • managing commercial fishing pier
  • developing docking space
  • staff expert on developing projects
  • Planning for future or harbor planning
  • aquaculture permitting and the siting process
  • dealing with moorings, grants, dredging and navigation issues.

  • balance private use of shoreline areas with public demands for greater coastal access

  • Harbormasters are required to perform work in the coastal zone and on coastal waters which are subject to a wide assortment of federal rules, regulations and policies.

  • enforcing boating safety regulations.

  • responsible for local coastal management.

  • towing, mooring regulations, emergency response, hazard mitigation, and law enforcement.

• Town of Mt. Desert, Maine - Harbor Master And Marine Management Committee

• Harbormasters.org - Home of the North Shore Harbormasters Association

• 5/3/06 Cape & Islands Harbormasters Association

• 12/27/04 harborlines
  Interesting newsletter by U of M Law School about Harbormaster's responsibilities

• 12/26/04 HARBORMASTER LIABILITY: REDUCING RISK
  Harbormaster Reference Series by SeaGrant

• 12/26/04 York Wanted Harbormaster
  Both the harbormaster and the assistant harbormaster are required to be certified police officers, giving them the authority they need to enforce the laws pertaining to the use of the waterways.
  Harbormaster and assistant part-time
  Want 2 or 3 all part-time dealing with  moorings, grants, dredging and navigation issues.

• 12/26/04 Penobscot Bay Watch:Municipal Involvement Proposal for aquaculture
  Harbormasters in many towns are now being asked to plan the future of their waters. The responsibilities of the modern Harbormaster have, in the last few years, expanded far beyond the traditional duties.  The recent resignation of the Rockland Harbormaster illustrates the effects of these growing expectations. City Manager Tom Hall’s job description for the new Harbormaster includes overseeing two mooring fields, two boat launches, managing the commercial fish pier, and she or he is expected to be the staff expert on development projects in and around the harbor.  All this in addition to being the point-man in negotiations for the new high-speed ferry that has been proposed, as well as developing docking space for the growing schooner fleet.

• 12/26/04 Tremont
  From a Selectman's meeting
  1. Harbor Master Job
  The Harbor Committee is in agreement that the Harbormaster job should remain a forty-hour per week position. Alden said it would depend on the money situation. A lot of discussion about having the Harbormaster be a contracted position. The Harbor Committee will have a meeting and go
  over the Harbormaster duties line by line, see what changes need to be made, then bring it back to the Selectmen. Every one agreed that the duties should be the contract so it needs to be gone over thoroughly.
  Steve motioned to allow the Harbor Committee to spend up to $500.00 for a stone and plaque for Frederick "Bubba" Butler, Scott Harper seconded, unanimous.

Working Waterfront

• 08/12/2009: The Contribution of Working Waterfronts to the Maine Economy ...
  dedicated to supporting and enhancing Maine's working waterfront ... Charlie Colgan to clarify the economic impact of Maine's working waterfront activities. ...

• Coalition kicks off affordable coast campaign
  Tough economic times are even harder on islands, where the cost of living is much higher than it is on the mainland.
  So on Feb. 10, the Maine Islands Coalition, the Working Waterfront Coalition, the Island Institute, the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and several other organizations kicked off a campaign at the State House in Augusta to help create jobs, preserve working waterfront access and make the coast and islands more affordable. About 50 people, including islanders, fishermen and representatives of the groups, were at the event.

• 6/19/08: Maine’s Department of Marine Resources Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program

• 3/18/05 A Waterfront that Works - Bangornews.com Staff
  Maine's Legislature has taken an important first step in protecting what's left of the state's working waterfront from escalating property tax increases. The House and Senate unanimously approved a bill to tax waterfront land used for fishing and fishing-related boat building based on current use rather than the current basis of highest and best use. That is, a fish pier or oceanfront boat yard for fishing boats is now taxed as if it had already been replaced by a pricey condominium or

•  Land Trust Near $1 MillionGoall
  Donor response to two challenge grants has brought the Boothbay Region Land Trust nearer to successful completion of its $1 million capital campaign.
  The land trust will continue to provide working waterfront on the island for local lobstermen and will use the island for educational opportunities for school children and the general public.

• 4/16/04 Little River Lobstermen Lose Fight To Acquire Buying Station
  Little River Lobstermen Lose Fight To Acquire Buying Station; Little River, East Boothbay, lobstermen who have been working to keep their area's lobster-buying station in the industry by purchasing it themselves rather than have it sold to private interests, said this week they have lost their battle, but won't give up their fight to help preserve Maine's working waterfront.

Bay Management

• 11/13/08: Working Waterfront Mapping
  In 2007, the Island Institute completed a two-year project working with 142 coastal communities to inventory and analyze Maine’s working waterfronts. Collaborating with municipal leaders, citizens, private-property owners, and fishermen, Island Institute staff mapped each coastal access point along the 5,300 mile coastline. This project represented the first time that Maine’s coast had been mapped with the explicit intention of identifying working waterfront as a land use.

• 8/7/06 Maine Coastal Program - Working Waterfronts Initiative - Resources
  Maine State Planning Office

• 7/19/06 Maine Dept. of Marine Resources 2006 Research Plan
  Bay Management Pilot Projects
  The Land and Waters Resource Council, with staffing by DMR and the State Planning Office, is directing a two-year study to explore and document potential new and innovative concepts for the management of Maine’s embayments to reduce conflicts by involving local stakeholders in decision making. Two pilot projects, one in Taunton Bay and the other in Muscongus Bay including the Medomak River estuary and the Georges River estuary, are exploring governance models for these bays.  DMR is providing natural resource information and management tools for each project.    
  Taunton Bay Resource Management Plan
  DMR personnel are developing a “science-based comprehensive resource management plan for Taunton Bay that addresses principal resource user groups in the context of sustaining ecological processes, functions, and values of Taunton Bay” as mandated by legislation passed in 2005. This plan will be based on existing maps and knowledge of the Taunton Bay estuary and new information gained from cooperative studies of mussel dragging with industry members.

• 7/19/06 Casco Bay Plan
  The Casco Bay Estuary Project is a cooperative effort to protect and prevent the pollution of Casco Bay by involving concerned citizens and local, state, and federal governments.
  Casco Bay lies at the heart of Maine's most populated area. The health of its waters, wetlands, and wildlife depend in large part on the activities of the quarter million residents who live in its watershed.

• 3/17/05 Residents discuss 'bay management' - Bangornews.com Staff