MAINE MONITOR • February 26, 2023
Those who work along the Maine coast say they’re seeing more and more homeowners armoring their properties against erosion with everything from native plants and strategically placed rocks to large granite walls and bulwarks. While many Maine coastal homeowners can bear the cost of repeatedly tinkering with a design, others inherited property and that’s “the only thing they have.” So writing a check for tens of thousands of dollars for a fix that may only last a few years and will require maintenance is a hard sell. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection would like to see coastal property owners implement the planting native plants against erosion. Except, say engineers, living shorelines often don’t work in Maine with its strong winds and powerful tides.