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Scarborough

About

Scarborough is home to Maine’s largest salt marsh, as well as sandy beaches, salty creeks, and freshwater wetlands. Scarborough’s coastline supports a commercial fishing pier and the many iconic tourist sites. In the face of coastal climate hazards such as flooding and storm surge, many economic, environmental, and recreational benefits of Scarborough's coastline are at risk.



Priorities

Key coastal hazards for Scarborough:

  • Dune, beach, and bluff erosion

  • Flooding of roadways that prevent access to neighborhoods and essential services

  • Development pressures to significant wildlife and open space habitat.

Scarborough will need to focus on protecting the Scarborough marsh to maintain critical habitat and allow for continued flood mitigation. The Town will also need to focus on areas with beaches or sand dunes that need bolstering, restoration, or protection.

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 Scarborough 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

  • Sawyer Road Removal: The Towns of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough was awarded a grant through the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP) to remove a ¼ mile portion of Sawyer Road/Street that transcends the Spurwink Marsh across the town lines.  The road removal will eliminate tide restrictions, restore saltwater marshland, and enhance emergent salt marsh upstream of the restriction.

    • Click here to learn more about the Sawyer Road Removal 

    • Adaptation strategy: Managed Retreat

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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