A summary of the work and programs of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

GOMC Mission and Goals “… to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations.” Three goals: 1- Restored and Conserved Habitats 2- Environmental and Human Health 3- Sustainable Communities

These Goals are Achieved by Working with a Variety of Audiences Premiers and Governors Coastal Lawmakers Coastal Decision-Makers Coastal Managers Academics Gulf Residents and Visitors Marine-Dependent Industries Science Community

Vision for the Future In years to come, the Council seeks to: Foster new and innovating approaches while enhancing collaboration. Build strong partnerships at all levels, that are responsive to regional concerns. Learn from each country, state, province, and federal agency, allowing for better stewardship and improving the Gulf of Maine watershed as a whole.

Enabling Goals and Visions Providing information on successful coastal habitat restoration projects allows for stronger partnerships within the region. With healthy habitats and environmental conditions, both wildlife and human health are sustained. When Gulf of Maine communities are vibrant with marine-dependent industries, the regional economy flourishes.

Economic Benefits to Coastal Habitats In 2007, coastal counties in the United States provided 40% of the nation’s jobs.¹ According to NOAA, the tourism and recreation sector employed 72% of people working in the ocean/Great Lakes economy in 2009, accounting for 28% of GDP for the region.² Coastal restoration projects can create more than 30 jobs per each million dollars invested.¹

A Booming Economy Brings the Populous 52% of the U.S. total population lived in a coastal watershed in 2010.³ Between 1980 and 2003, U.S. coastal population increased by 33 million, or 28%. The northeast alone saw an increase of 8 million people during that timeframe.⁴ An estimated 14.9 million people are expected to move to a coastal watershed county by 2020.³

Population Increase brings Possible Strains Storm surges and tides are already issues for New Brunswick, with the highest tidal fluctuation on the planet; sea-level rise will become a major issue in the years to come.⁵ Coastal development can impair the ability of dunes and salt marshes to protect the land in storm events. In New Hampshire, 85% of survey respondents are satisfied with water quality, but 69% of visitors would decrease their number of visits with water quality degradation; 56% would decrease their visits with view and scenery degradation.⁶

But Sustainable Action is Still Possible Within the Gulf of Maine, 48 projects have been completed, with 14 underway.⁷ GOMC-NOAA Partnership awards are met with an equal, often higher, match amount, providing incentives for provinces or states to participate.

Massachusetts Highlights In 2010, with a $60,000 GOMC-NOAA grant, the Town of Newbury replaced the culvert with a 6’ box culvert, restoring tidal reach, reducing channel velocity, and minimizing erosion during ebb and flow tides (depicted above). Additionally, the Town of Newbury benefited by improving the structural integrity of Newman Road.⁷ Between 2007 and 2011, Massachusetts received approximately $1.2 million in habitat restoration grants through the Council’s restoration grant program that generated $1.9 million in matching non-federal support200 acres of salt marsh were restored or enhanced between 2007 and 2011.⁷ Massachusetts Projects:

New Hampshire Highlights The planning and execution of the Merrimack dam removal (depicted left) was led by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau with a $75,000 GOMC-NOAA Partnership grant (value of matching contributions: $84,660) and other support. The project resulted in re-establishing fish access and free flowing conditions to over 14 miles of river.⁷ Between 2007 and 2011 New Hampshire received approximately $250,000 through the Council’s habitat restoration program that generated nearly $600,000 in match for five projects.⁷ The GOMC-NOAA Partnership awarded Exeter, NH $40,000 to conduct a feasibility study on the Exeter River dam removal. The future of the dam and possible removal are in discussion with regional partners.⁷

Maine Highlights Between 2007 and 2011 Maine received approximately $800,000 through the Council’s habitat restoration program. This, in addition to match values (reaching almost $1 million during the same period), provided the state with enough funding to complete or begin 22 projects.⁷ The Montsweag Dam removal (depicted above) happened in 2010, with funding from a variety of sources including the GOMC: $74,651 in funding and $100,375 in match. It opened free-flowing conditions on three miles of stream for eastern brook trout and rainbow smelt.⁷

New Brunswick Highlights The 2009 Kennebecasis River Assessment and Restoration project allowed for 3,015 meters of riparian vegetation to re-establish; the project was a model for successful, cost-effective stream conservation in an agricultural setting.⁷ Between 2002 and 2005, Ducks Unlimited and other partners provided funding to remove 1,097 meters of rail bed and 6,000 cubic meters of dyke, improving tidal flow throughout a major part of the Musqash Marsh.⁷

Nova Scotia Highlights Between 2007 and 2011 Nova Scotia received nearly $200,000 through the Council’s habitat restoration program that generated $260,000 in match, which provided funding for 5 projects.⁷ The Clementsport dam (depicted left) has been unmonitored and structurally unsound since the 1990’s. With a $61,572 GOMC- NOAA Partnership grant,CARP began a three-phase project exploring removal of the dam. A second GOMC-NOAA grant was awarded upon completion of the planning phase, in the amount of $72,560. ⁷ This restoration project opened 7.8 river kilometers of mainstream rivers to migrating fish species, including Atlantic salmon. With the restore riverine habitats, native processes and species are documented to have returned.⁷

Habitat Restoration is Important to the Economy GOMC-NOAA grant awarded to projects managed between 2007 and 2011 totaled $2.5 million, with $3.8 million in matching non-federal support. Annual total funds awarded each year ranged from $ K. ⁷

A Cycle of Economic (and Habitat) Improvement The GOMC-NOAA Partnership grants allow each jurisdiction to focus on issues important to their region: sea-level rise, aquatic monitoring, climate change adaptation, water use and quality, or any number of other issues. The funding provides a benefit to the jurisdiction (residents and visitors), but the payback is to the jurisdiction as well as the entire Gulf of Maine region. A feedback loop of input and output provides the best way to assure timely habitat restoration and a structurally sound economy: Funding-Assistance-Monitoring-Planning-Action-Monitoring

In Conclusion With continued funding, technical assistance, and other resources provided to each jurisdiction, the Gulf of Maine will continue to prosper in tourism and recreation, coastal and climate adaptation, habitat restoration, and economic growth. Restoration improves coastal communities, while also bringing jobs to many ocean sector industries. A healthy community leads to a healthy economy.