Chapter 2 



The Coastal Maine 



Ecosystem 



Authors: Stewart Fefer, Edward Shenton, Barry Timson, Dave Strimaitis 



The 300-foot (91.4 m) isobath in the Gulf of Maine and the inland limits of 

 the townships that enclose tidal waters are the boundaries of the 

 characterization area (T8SD, T9SD, T10SD, and Marion townships do not enclose 

 tidal waters but are included in the characterization area because they are 

 in close proximity to saline waters and are influenced by coastal processes). 

 The characterization area will be referred to also as the coast of Maine, 

 coastal Maine, and the coastal zone. The offshore and inland boundaries are 

 separated by distances ranging from 20 miles (32 km) to 90 miles (144 km) and 

 encompass an area of about 3740 sq mi (9686 km ), excluding nearshore subtidal 

 marine waters. 



GEOGRAPHY 



A diverse mixture of wetlands, uplands, and open wate 

 characterized by extensive areas of rocky shores, mudflat 

 ericaceous bogs, and coniferous forests. Approximat 

 (729,455 ha) of the coast is upland habitat and 563,766 a 

 wetlands. Palustrine wetlands comprise the largest area 

 systems (189,702 acres; 76,819 ha; 34%), followed by 

 acres; 68,953 ha; 30%) and estuarine systems (130, 

 Lacustrine wetlands systems comprise 57,537 acres (10%), 

 16,137 acres (6533 ha; 3%; table 2-1). 



r, the Maine coast is 

 s, large embayments, 

 ely 1.8 million acres 

 cres (228,262 ha) are 

 of any of the aquatic 

 the marine (170,313 

 076; 52,662 ha; 23%). 

 and riverine systems 



The terrestrial habitat is dominated by forests (85% of the land area) and 

 includes 9% developed land and 4% agricultural land. The types and acreages 

 of wetland systems and classes in each of the regions and towns in the 

 characterization area are listed in appendix A. Maps of the habitats of each 

 region are included in the atlas. The six regions of the characterization 

 area are described briefly below. 



2-1 



10-80 



