loads and bedload is needed in coastal rivers. Except for a few measurements 

 by the USGS (1978) virtually nothing is known about river sedimentation. 

 Substantial knowledge of riverine morphology and processes, especially those 

 of tributary streams that undergo changes in response to human activities, 

 also is lacking. Knowledge of suspended transport, deposition and erosion 

 rates, and bedload transport in estuaries is severely lacking. Such 

 information is valuable in evaluating impacts on dredging, aquaculture, and 

 commercial fishing. This also applies to marine sedimentation. 



One of the most pressing geological problems within the coastal zone is the 

 problem of shoreline erosion. Recent attention to this problem has produced a 

 general knowledge of shoreline behaviors, but the predictability of future 

 erosions will require further investigation. More information on beach 

 sedimentation, especially transport budgets, will be required to properly 

 manage these valuable resources. 



5. Hydrology: The viability of groundwater resources has become a major 

 concern, because of the increased volume requirements of industrial and 

 residential use and the increased knowledge of contamination possibilities. 

 While past activities of the MGS and USGS have given us a far better knowledge 

 of surface and groundwater hydrology than ever before, much more information 

 is required to fully understand the behavior of groundwater and its 

 relationships to surface water hydrology. 



Further knowledge is needed in locating surface aquifers and discerning their 

 characteristics. Little is known about the transport rates and flow 

 directions of groundwater in bedrock fractures. Groundwater recharge and 

 replacement rates need study and more knowledge of regional and local 

 groundwater systems is necessary. 



The Socioeconomy 



Coastal Maine is a predominantly rural, forested area with a population 

 density that is low in comparison with the remainder of New England. The 

 coastal waters and physiographic features of the land have strongly influenced 

 the pattern of growth and development of the coastal zone. The inland areas 

 of the characterization area (northern parts of regions 2 and 4) are more 

 urban than coastal areas. The population centers of Augusta and Bangor are 

 located relatively inland in river valleys. However, Maine's largest urban 

 area, Portland, is located in the southwestern coastal region of the 

 characterization area (region 1). In general, the more populous areas are 

 located in the western part of the characterization area, whereas the 

 easternmost regions are the least populated and least developed. 



In comparison with other areas, the demands placed on the Maine coast have 

 until recently produced only moderate changes. The small and generally 

 scattered population has had limited ecological impact. More recently, large 

 areas of the coast have begun to change rapidly. These changes and the 

 socioeconomic pressures on the coast are explored below. 



Analysis of the socioeconomic characteristics of coastal Maine has been 

 hindered by a scarcity of information. In this characterization, the 

 boundaries of the study area coincide with the area of tidal influence. In 

 the State of Maine, socioeconomic data are usually collected by county or by 



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