Coastal population projections were made available by the State Planning 

 Office (1978) for the coastal counties (table 2-19). Since these projections 

 include the slower-growing and declining urban areas, the possible rapid 

 growth expected in smaller coastal towns is partially obscured. Although data 

 in table 2-19 show a projected growth rate for Hancock, Sagadahoc, and York 

 Counties of 7% between 1977 and 1980 and 4% from 1980 to 1982, Keeley (1979) 

 states that Hancock County is expected to grow by 8% between 1980 and 1990. 

 Portland, however, with slower urban growth, may increase only 1% or less 

 during this period. 



According to population estimates between 1970 and 1975, the coastal counties 

 grew 7.3%, whereas growth for the State as a whole was only 5.5% (Maine State 

 Planning Office 1978). Recent data developed by Ploch (1976) appear to show a 

 definite trend of "in-migration" for the coast and inland areas. This group 

 is composed of young formerly urban residents, older retired persons, and 

 some natives of all ages who are returning to their home towns. 



Land use . The terrestrial habitat of coastal Maine is dominated by 

 forests (86% of land area) and includes developed land (10%) and agricultural 

 land (4%). Atlas map 2 identifies land cover in coastal Maine, but 

 measurements of the extent of the habitat types are not available. Land use 

 varies regionally. In region 1, 28% of the land cover sampled was developed 

 land and 15% was residential (Cohen 1979). In regions 3 and 4, 10% of the 

 land was developed and 5% was residential (Cobb 1979). In region 5, 15% was 

 developed and 6% was residential (Keeley 1979). No data are available for the 

 other regions. 



A projected land-use plan for the Portland area includes the seven coastal 

 towns in region 1. In region 1, 17% of the undeveloped land will be developed 

 by the year 2000 (Cohen 1979). In all, 43% of the land will be developed in 

 coastal towns in this region by that year. 



Fresh water supply . The recent survey report on water supply in the 

 coastal zone (Caswell and Ludwig 1977) examines conditions in each coastal 

 town, describes water supply and quality problems, and projects further 

 demand. Demand is based on population growth, building starts, and increases 

 in numbers of commercial-industrial water users. Sources of potable water 

 exist throughout the coastal zone, often within town limits. Deterioration of 

 water quality due to artificial contamination is probably the single greatest 

 water supply problem in the coastal zone. The presence of algae, color, 

 turbidity, and coliform bacteria are typical indicators of this contamination. 

 Salt water intrusion, road salt, heavy metals, and petroleum products have 

 seriously affected local drinking supplies. Regional areas cited as problem 

 areas are Boothbay-Bristol , Western Penobscot-Belfast , and Milbridge. These 

 areas may be forced to turn to inland sources in the future. 



Socioeconomic research needs . Much socioeconomic data on Maine are 

 available, but its form is not useful in evaluating the socioeconomic status 

 of coastal Maine as a distinct area. Many data categories (i.e., income, 

 value of products, employment, resource amount and value) are available only 

 at County aggregate levels, not at town or municipal levels. 



Data were unavailable or aggregated at unusable levels for many resource 

 categories of which the following are examples: 



2-66 



