Publications:
Fact Cards
 Casco
Bay lies at the heart of Maine's most populated
area. The health of its waters, wetlands, and wildlife
depends on the activities of nearly a quarter million
residents who live in its watershed. The arrival
of European settlers in the 18th century brought
unprecedented changes. Lands were cleared, towns
and cities built, and dams constructed for power.
All changed the landscape and impacted water quality.
Facts About the Estuary
- Lobster
landings in Casco Bay represent at least 20
percent of Maine's total landings.
- Over
25 percent of Maine's population lives in the
Casco Bay region.
- The
population of the region is approximately 254,429
and growing. The area leads Maine in population
growth.
- Clamming
in the region generates an estimated $12 million
in economic activity.
- The
largest industries in the area, in terms of
the revenues generated, are the service industries
followed by retail trade and durable goods manufacturing.
The retail trade is the largest employer in
the region.
Health
of the Estuary
- Only
ten of the 106 sites monitored for water quality
fell below the recommended state standard for
dissolved oxygen.
- Over
the last decade, low levels of dissolved oxygen
levels have accounted for considerable pogy
kills at the mouths of these ten rivers.
- The
largest subwatershed, the Presumpscot River,
drains 648 square miles and has high bacterial
concentrations and/or low dissolved oxygen content
at several water quality test sites.
- Most
of the pollution in Casco Bay comes from countless
small sources throughout the watershed.
- Elevated
levels of heavy metals (lead, zinc, mercury)
occur in and around Portland where combined
sewer overflows still exist and where there
has been a history of heavy industry such as
tanneries, metal coating plants, and Liberty
Ship construction along the still active waterfront.
Accomplishments
of the Estuary Program
- Completed
four years of atmospheric deposition monitoring
(a significant contributor of mercury and nitrogen)
at a coastal site in partnership with the State
of Maine.
- Acquired
over 150 acres of significant wildlife habitat
in the Casco Bay Watershed for protection within
the last three years
- Reopened
almost 37,000 acres of shellfish areas in Casco
Bay formerly closed to harvesting since 1994.
- Worked
with partners on a ten-year combined sewer overflow
removal plan for the City of Portland.
- Planted
a 17,000 square foot vegetated buffer and installed
interpretive signs along
- Portland's
most popular hiking and walking area.
- Casco
Bay volunteers continue water quality monitoring
at 106 sites, providing the only long-term collection
of Casco Bay water quality data available for
evaluation.
For
Viewing and Printing:
Before printing one or more of these National
Estuary Program files,
check out each of their text only versions for
quick viewing.
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Acrobat Reader software, which can be downloaded FREE
from Adobe's site through a direct link.
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