Gouldsboro has received a $55,500 Habitat Restoration Planning Grant from the Maine Coastal Program to conduct a resource inventory and hydrologic study in the natural areas along Corea Road (State Route 195) at Sand Cove and along Grand Marsh Bay Road (GMBR) at the southern edge of Grand Marsh Bay. The project will provide basic geographic and hydrologic data that the Town will use in working with State agencies, local land trusts, and private landowners in planning and design work aimed at protecting the Sand Cove dune community, mitigating the effects of sea level rise (SLR) by expanding Grand Marsh’s buffering capacity, and improving safety at the Corea Road/GMBR intersection through reduced freshwater and storm surge flooding.
The Town’s 2022 “Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan” identified the Sand Cove/GMBR area as one of Gouldsboro’s highest priority vulnerabilities. Addressing this vulnerability is essential because road flooding and damage from SLR, storm surge, and coastal flooding could isolate hundreds of residents from emergency services. In addition, the area is home to a unique confluence of exceptional natural resources that are key components of the wildlife ecosystems that make living here so special.
Project Description
Working with consultants from FB Environmental Associates (FBE) and Inter-Fluve, and in close collaboration with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Gouldsboro will use the funds from the grant to compile Geographic Information Systems (GIS) base maps of the area, conduct a natural resources reconnaissance, undertake a surficial hydrologic analysis, and perform a tidal hydrology and coastal resiliency evaluation.
- GIS Base Mapping: FBE will generate a series of orthographic overlay maps to document existing conditions within the project area and illustrate how those features may be impacted or change over time in relation to projected sea level rise and storm events.
- Natural Resources Reconnaissance: FBE will perform a reconnaissance-level natural resources survey within the central, low area between Grand Marsh Bay and Sand Cove Beach. Characterizing the essential features of the coastal dune ecosystems and freshwater and saltwater wetlands will support improved natural resource management, enhancement, and protection in the face of SLR and storm surge. It will also help when assessing the potential impact of any proposed infrastructure improvements.
- Surficial Hydrologic Analysis: FBE will partner with Inter-Fluve to analyze surficial hydrology and evaluate flood risk and infrastructure vulnerability within the study area. Hydrologic analysis will include calculations of runoff volume entering two existing culverts on Corea Road, analysis of the capacity and sizing of these existing culverts based on a 100-year storm event, and calculations of freshwater flow volume entering the existing culvert at Grand Marsh Bay Road during a 100-year storm event.
- Tidal Hydrology and Coastal Resiliency Evaluation: FBE and Inter-Fluve will analyze tidal hydrology and coastal resiliency, including a preliminary site assessment for the two roadways and three culverts in the area. They will also perform a rapid site assessment to support marsh migration potential, prevent impacts to dune systems, and explore design options for resilient transportation infrastructure.
The project team will compile the maps, inventories, data, and analyses from these activities into reports and presentations shared with Gouldsboro’s Planning Board, Select Board, and residents.
Intended Outcomes
The project will provide Gouldsboro with the geographic, hydrologic, and natural resource information it needs to protect the significant natural resource systems in the Grand Marsh Bay/Sand Cove area. The information will also enable the Town to collaborate with the Maine State Department of Transportation, other State agencies, and private landowners to plan and design improvements to Corea Road and Grand Marsh Bay Road. Such collaboration could improve transportation resilience and restore critical habitat by better protecting the dune ecosystem, improving freshwater flows at Corea Road, and enabling southerly expansion and restoration of Grand Marsh, increasing its capacity to absorb rising sea levels.
