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Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
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Summary Information
| Year Established: | 1990 |
| Location: | Maine |
| Area of Watershed: | 2,965 square kilometers |
Priority Management Issues: |
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nutrients toxics pathogens contaminated seafood habitat loss/alteration |
species loss/decline fisheries loss/decline stormwater swimming area closings |
Major Habitat Types: |
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submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrass) rocky intertidal/subtidal shellfish growing areas cliffs/bluffs beach/dune sand/mud/salt flats |
tidal pools salt/brackish marsh freshwater marsh (non-tidal) riverine/riparian islands/islets |
Federally Endangered or Threatened Species: |
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birds: bald eagle piping plover roseate tern |
fish: shortnose sturgeon |
Overviews and Highlights
Casco Bay supports many industries such as shipping, commercial fishing, and shellfishing, as well as tourism and other recreational activities. At the same time, Casco Bay is threatened by the demands of population growth and suburbanization. While the health of the Bay has improved, specific problems relating to conflicting human use, pollution, and habitat loss remain. Elevated levels of toxic contaminants have been found in sediments, mussels, and lobster tomalley taken from urban portions of the Bay. Roughly 60 percent of the pollution comes from diverse sources, such as oil and chemicals from roadway runoff, pesticides applied by homeowners, and fertilizers from farm fields. The Casco Bay Plan focuses on five key issues of importance to the health of the bay: stormwater management, clam flats and swimming areas, habitat protection, toxic pollution, and stewardship of the bay.
Maps
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- Regional Maps- Northeast
Watersheds of Estuaries in the NEP
Study Areas of Estuaries in the NEP
