2025 MIDCOAST MAINE

Bath and Harpswell, Maine: Two towns face climate challenges head-on in Maine’s Midcoast region, neighboring Merrymeeting Bay and Casco Bay.

Maine’s Midcoast region, stretching from Brunswick to Camden and encompassing coastal communities such as Bath and Harpswell is a landscape shaped by its rugged shorelines, working waterfronts and rich maritime heritage. This iconic region reflects Maine’s historic past and serves as a canvas for its resilient future. Defined by its natural beauty—salt marshes, tidal rivers, rocky peninsulas and expansive forests—the Midcoast is home to industries that have shaped its identity for generations, including fishing, lobstering and boatbuilding. At the same time, the area is experiencing growth in arts, tourism and sustainable development, pointing toward a future that balances preservation and progress.

However, the Midcoast faces significant challenges posed by a changing climate. Flooding threatens critical coastal infrastructure and habitats. Increasing storm intensities erode shorelines and imperil working waterfronts that sustain Maine’s local economies. Shifts in ocean temperatures disrupt marine ecosystems and traditional fisheries, while housing scarcity and economic disparities add complexity to community resilience. How can Midcoast Maine retain its identity while addressing these mounting environmental and social pressures?