Op-Ed: Sen. King on helping waterfront communities

All across Maine – from the mountain lakes, down the rushing rivers, and to the rocky coast – waterfront communities are an inseparable part of our economy and our identity. Every year, people from all over the country and around the world come to Maine to enjoy our beautiful coast, scenic lakes, and idyllic waterfront communities. Whether it’s the smell of Pier Fries on the Old Orchard Beach boardwalk, the bright sights of buoys off of Eastport, or the sound of the rushing Allagash – being near the water is part of who we are as a state.

But these waterfront communities offer more than a picturesque place to visit and live; Maine’s waterfront communities play an important role in our state’s economy. Whether it’s the lobsterman Down East or the manufacturer on the Androscoggin, a lot of people in Maine – like across the country – make their livelihood and support their families by working by the water. So when it comes to jobs, working waterfronts propel our economy forward.

Unfortunately, though, there are a number of changes and challenges facing Maine’s waterfront communities today. Many of these towns and cities must adapt to economic shifts and work to keep up with modern developments. And many are facing pressures to meet increased demands on their water resources.

In addition to adapting to economic shifts, waterfront communities are also confronted with environmental challenges. As the damaging effects of climate change become more and more apparent in Maine, our coastal areas must make investments to help withstand increasingly powerful storms, floods, and fluctuating water levels. They must adapt to changing ecosystem conditions that range from shoreline erosion to stresses on fisheries.

Despite these hurdles, the future can still be bright for our waterfront communities. I was excited when the Senate recently passed The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act – legislation I co-sponsored that can help boost efforts to revitalize waterfront communities and stimulate economic development around our water resources. This legislation will work to establish a Resilient Waterfront Communities network that will connect waterfront communities from across the country to help us share best practices and attract new investments.

In addition, this bill will create a Resilient Waterfront Community designation within the Department of Commerce to recognize communities that adopt a waterfront revitalization and resiliency plan integrating economic, ecosystem, and infrastructure challenges and opportunities.

Waterfront planning and implementation is not an easy task. It requires communities to navigate intergovernmental hurdles, work across constituent groups and agencies, and secure financing. But many communities lack the tools to make it from vision to reality. This bill – by helping to create a network of waterfront communities from across the country – will improve communities’ access to tools they need to grow, adapt, and sustain themselves for generations to come.

The people who work and live on water in Maine are hardworking, resilient, and play a crucial role in supporting our state’s economy. The challenges facing our coastal communities can be significant, especially with the mounting effects of climate change, but with appropriate planning and collaboration between Maine people and all levels of government, we can ensure that these communities are able to develop sustainably for the coming decades. I am confident that the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act will be a positive step in that direction, and hope that the House of Representatives will follow the Senate in passing this bill.

U.S. Senator Angus King, I-Maine