Damariscotta hosted a meeting of the Climate Change Adaptation Providers Network on May 19 at Town Hall. The town was chosen as the site of the meeting because its municipal parking lot flood resiliency project has become a pilot program for climate change remedies in the state.

Consisting of partners from state agencies, universities, federal agencies, such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other groups, CCAP met to discuss its own projects, and to learn a lot more about Damariscotta’s flood project.

Damariscotta is planning to build a sea wall around its municipal parking lot, and to provide a means for water in the lot to escape to the river.

In 1978, the elevation of a storm tide reached 10 feet, as compared to the average highest tide of 6.2 feet, and the average mean high tide of 4.4 feet, according to a presentation by Town Manager Matt Lutkus. During the 1978 storm, the lower levels of several buildings as well as the parking lot were inundated. Ground elevations range from 7.6 feet to 15.8 feet. But NOAA’s data suggests that tides will continue to rise, and by 2100, the highest annual tide will be 11.2 feet.

Over the years, plans were begun to solve the flooding issue, as well as create a park-like atmosphere close to the waterfront, according to the presentation. But as new flood insurance maps go into effect, the cost to the town and its businesses will continue to rise if nothing is done, so in late 2013, Damariscotta applied for and received a Coastal Communities Grant to address the impacts of storm surges and sea level rise. This gave rise to the greater Waterfront Project, which will include the sea wall and other flood mitigation efforts, as well as town amenities such as a possible walkway by the water and a public restroom.

The sea wall will largely be below the view area, and won’t affect views of the harbor, according to Lutkus’ presentation. The parking lot will be elevated, and underground drainage and sanitary lines will be added. The town is seeking grant funding, possibly from FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, and has already begun some preliminary work in the area. The flood protection system that would withstand a sea level rise/storm surge of 12 feet is expected be adequate for the next 50 years. By then, it is possible that newer technologies will exist to help solve the problem going forward.

It is possible that by identifying measures and taking steps that remove the downtown area from severe flooding hazards, FEMA might be willing to approve a flood map revision that would help businesses avoid the increasing costs of flood insurance, and stimulate economic development in the downtown area.

CCAP, which is working with many other communities as well, came to see how Damariscotta’s experience might be applicable to their own towns or regions.

“The flood resiliency study funded through the Maine Coastal Program was significant in terms of providing the citizens, businesses, and public entities in the Damariscotta area with a much clearer picture of the vulnerability of the downtown area to storm surge and sea level rise,” Town Manager Matt Lutkus said. “The report provided by our engineers serves as an excellent resource document and as a very good foundation for our efforts to obtain additional funding and technical support for downtown flood mitigation projects.”