The sea level off Maine’s coast is up to 8 inches higher than it was in 1950.1 This increase is mostly due to due to changes in ocean circulation2 and ice melt.3 Solutions in Maine can be complicated because the state has to find solutions that protect communities from sea level rise while also protecting and preserving important coastal habitats.4 There are already over 11,944 properties at risk from from tidal flooding in Maine.5 The state currently has estimates for over $100 million in sea level rise solutions, which include beach renourishment, raising roads, and stormwater management.
Sea level rise is speeding up
The sea level around Bar Harbor, Maine, has risen by 8 inches since 1950. Its speed of rise has accelerated over the last ten years and it’s now rising by about 1 inch every 8 years.1 Scientists know this because the sea level is measured every 6 minutes using equipment like satellites, floating buoys off the coast, and tidal gauges to accurately measure the local sea level as it accelerates and changes.6
Sea level measurement from Bar Harbor area tide gauge since 1950