Beaches

PRESS RELEASE | 17 April 2011 Maine beach interests to gather July 15

Sandy beaches cover only about two percent of Maine’s vast coastline, but generate significant economic impact through tourism, recreation, and coastal living. On Friday, July 15, these diverse interests will gather at Southern Maine Community College for the Maine Beaches Conference.

Maine Beaches Conference 2011

2011 Maine Beaches Conference

15 July 2011

Southern Maine Community College
South Portland, ME

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Municipal Guide to Clean Water

Tourism and the shellfish industry are both integral components of the Maine economy and way of life. Yet elevated fecal bacteria levels in coastal waters may pose a human health risk, leading to closures of valued beaches and shellfish growing areas.

PRESS RELEASE | 27 May 2009 Values and benefits of Maine beaches focus of July 10 conference

Every summer, millions of people visit the sandy beaches of southern Maine, and thousands more own or rent homes in beach communities. Yet it is not always clear how these visits to the beach translate into dollars.

Southern Maine Volunteer Beach Profile Monitoring Program

The Southern Maine Beach Profile Monitoring Program's success can be credited to more than 150 community and school volunteers who monitor 15 beaches between York and South Portland. Every month, volunteers use a simple surveying technique to measure the contour of their beaches. An online data entry and graphing interface allows volunteers to view changes in their beach due to storms, waves, and currents.

Maine Healthy Beaches Program

The Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) Program is a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health on Maine’s coastal beaches. Funded by a $255,000 grant from US EPA, the MHB Program is a unique partnership involving municipalities, state parks, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and citizen volunteers. Beaches are monitored using quality assured methods and the monitoring effort established through this program helps ensure Maine's coastal beaches are safe and healthy places to recreate.