West Penobscot Bay: Substantial coastal forest losses since early1990s: report

"Substantial deforestation" in all West Penobscot Bay towns between 1992 and 2011.  

Summary According to a report prepared earlier  August 17, 2015 for Friends of  Penobscot Bay, western bay towns Stockton Springs, Searsport, Belfast, Camden, Rockport, Rockland and South Thomaston lost about 30 square miles of forests between 1992 and 2011.

Full slideshow  as PDF and as powerpoint *** Listen to 8/17/15 presentation on this report

Twelve square miles of those lost forests became impervious surfaces, e.g. buildings, roads, parking lots. The remainder has become either wetlands or grasslands.  
Surprisingly with this 85% increase in developed land, came an average decline of 2% in west Penobscot Bay town populations.                                          

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The report "Tools for Assessing and Managing Human Impact on Maine’s Harbors" was prepared by Kevin Frech, in cooperation with Public Laboratory

Funding for the study was provided  by the Azavea Foundation, dedicated to improving data access and usage in natural resource and social applications 

  

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 Forest cover changes, Stockton Springs to South Thomaston, 1992 - 2011

Stockton Springs & Searsport together lost 14%  of their forest cover: 5 and a half square miles. Population increase of 84 people since 1990.

White surfaces of map are unchanged More details here

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Belfast  lost 4 square miles 15% of its forests. About 2 square miles became developed land.  While development went up 50%, the population only went up 4%.                      More details here

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Increases in roads, buildings & parking lots from 1992 to 2011

Camden, Rockport Rockland Owls Head,  South Thomaston

DETAILS

Camden & Rockport lost 8%  of their forestland.  3 square miles become developed land. 100% increase in development Lost almost 3 sq miles to development.    

Population grew by 72, or 0.1 percent   

White surfaces of map are unchanged

More details here

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Rockland & SW Rockport lost 23% of their forest cover.  45% increase in developed land  Population  of the city dropped  8%, from 7,900 down to 7,200 between 1992 and 2011.

White surfaces of map are unchanged

More details here

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South Thomaston  lost 40% of its forests. 6 sq miles. 80% increase in develop 1994-2011.  An increase of 3 square miles of wetlands and 1 1/2 sq miles of developed land. 16% drop in  population; a decline of 500 people. 

 More details

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The report was prepared by Kevin Frech, Azavea Intern, and recent Temple University graduate.