While we have not unraveled all the sources of toxic contaminants to coastal waters, stormwater from developed areas contributes to this contamination. Maine's coastal islands, as well as some coastal peninsulas, have recently experienced water quality and quantity impacts from increasing levels of use and development. Salt water intrusion into freshwater supplies has occurred on some islands, and drinking wells on many islands regularly run dry because of limited ground water supplies and growing consumption. Development in coastal towns affects wildlife habitat by replacing natural vegetation with buildings, asphalt and lawn and by changing drainage patterns to accommodate roads and new construction. Development also fragments wildlife habitat and isolates certain populations from their natural range.
People also introduce new animals and plants that disturb native plant and animal populations.
The people we heard from believe that the natural beauty, community culture and way of life of the entire Maine coast are valuable and should be protected. Traditional marine jobs are being lost due to depleted fish and shellfish resources. Traditional jobs in manufacturing and small business are gone, and new jobs are often in less satisfactory, lower paid, retail or service jobs. Fewer people live and work in the same town, making it harder to keep community organizations alive, such as volunteer fire departments, and to find people with time for local committees. Residential development in the countryside and commercial strips along road corridors are reducing the aesthetic appeal of coastal towns.