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Chebeague Island

About

Chebeague Island is roughly five miles long and 1 ½ miles wide, featuring plentiful coastal line characterized by bluffs, sand dunes, beaches, and coves. As an island community, coastal risks on Chebeague include flooding of low-lying roads, bluff instability, and landslide hazards.


Priorities

Key coastal hazards at risk on Chebeague Island:

  • Coastal shorelines such as sand dune, bluffs, and riprap at risk of overtopping

  • Flooding of critical access roadways, such as Stone Wharf Road and South Shore Drive

The town will need to focus on ensuring critical shoreline defenses and roadways are adequately maintained or bolstered, to safeguard continued access to the island and to support the working waterfront.

Vulnerable Sites



The profile presents technical data on coastal hazards and community resources including habitat, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions, to visualize vulnerabilities and impacts. These profiles helped to identify the priorities and vulnerable sites listed above and are intended to help guide municipal staff in future planning.


View the Chebeague Island Story Map here 

Data Profile

Adaptation Strategies

How can the town address these vulnerable areas? There is a range of adaptation strategies the town can use to build coastal resilience—from nature-based solutions to policy. Every site is different and may require a mix of strategies.

  • Learn about potential different strategies on the Adaptation Strategies page

  • Visit the Renderings page to see conceptual drawings for how these strategies may look in practice

  • Explore projects around the region and how towns are applying different adaptation strategies

Projects

  • Stone Wharf Resiliency Planning: The Stone Wharf is home to many different activies including pedestrians, recreational boaters, working fisherman, and the ferry. However, the wharf and surrounding area are vulnerable to sea level rise making access challenging. In 2023 Chebeague was a awarded a Shore and Harbor Planning Grant for the project “Chebeague Stone Wharf resiliency planning and design.” This follows on design plans developed in 2022. The Town is looking to ensure the wharf remains accessible for all uses for years to come.



  • Calling Your Bluff: Great Diamond Island, Little Diamond Island, Long Island, Chebeague Island, brought together experts and hosted a symposium to discuss the best ways to protect coastal bluffs due to sea level rise, erosion, and climate impacts.

    • Click here to learn more about Calling Your Bluff

Resources

  • Click on each link to be directed to the town resource:


​This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from Gulf of Maine Research Institute, The Builders Initiative, and Jane’s Trust Foundation.

The views and conclusions contained on this website are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

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