3: Data, Resources, and Decision Support Tools

Internationally and nationally, there is a multitude of resources available to support climate change adaptation and resilience. Table 2 compiles many relevant resources and decision support tools developed by the State of Maine, Maine-based non-profit organizations, regional organizations, as well as select federal and private sector resources. Links will direct you to those resources. Checkboxes indicate the usefulness of each tool in the five-stage Resilience Building Framework: consider community and landscapes; assess risk; make a plan; implement; and monitor, evaluate, and adapt.9 This is not an exhaustive list of the available resources. Identifying which tools best fit your project may be best answered through experts that are focused on your topic of interest.

Additional decision-support information, not found in Table 2, that can better suit your needs, may be available in the related section of your topic of interest within this workbook.

Table 2: Decision support tools and resources and possible applications in the Resilience Building Framework
Decision support tools and resources Resilience Building Framework Phase

Tools and Guidance for Climate Preparedness in Maine

 Community and Landscapes Assess Risk Make a Plan Implement Monitor, Evaluate and Adapt
Preparing Coastal Communities for Sea Level Rise (Gulf of Maine Research Institute, C-RISE) check mark
Climate Change Observatory Network (Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative):long-term climate change photo monitoring program check mark
Flood Insurance Maps (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) for Maine check mark check mark
Coastal Hazards Map Viewers (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) for Erosion, Tides, Storms, and Sea Level Rise check mark check mark
Community Intertidal Data Portal (Casco Bay Regional Shellfish Working Group) Casco Bay nearshore environment check mark check mark
Coastal Resiliency Maps (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) for Wetlands and Open Spaces check mark check mark
Beginning with Habitat Maps (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) for Conservation of Wildlife, Natural Communities, and Rare Plants check mark check mark
Conservation Lands in Maine (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) check mark check mark
Ecological Connectivity (ecologicalconnectivity.com) in Region check mark check mark
Road and Culvert Map (Maine.gov, MDOT) for State-Owned Infrastructure check mark check mark
The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Tool check mark check mark
Maine Coastal Risk Explorer (The Nature Conservancy) for Habitat, Aquatic Connectivity, and Social Vulnerability check mark check mark
Weathering Maine Flood Risk Map (Maine.gov, Maine Historic Preservation Commission) of Historic and Cultural Resources check mark check mark
Lyme Disease Maps (Maine Tracking Network) at the Town Level check mark check mark
Climate Reanalyzer (Climate Change Institute, UMaine, NSF) check mark check mark
Climate Change Trends and Data (Maine.gov, Maine DEP) clearinghouse of risk and vulnerability information for Maine check mark check mark
Adaptation Toolkit, Georgetown Climate Center (PDF): Sea Level Rise and Coastal Land Use check mark check mark
Maine Flood Resilience Checklist, Maine Coastal Center and NOAA (PDF) check mark check mark check mark
Risk-based Adaptation Planning (EPA) check mark check mark check mark
Living Shoreline Site Suitability (Maine.gov, Maine DACF) check mark
Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Planning for New England Communities (University of Southern Maine Digital Commons) First Steps and Next Steps check mark check mark
Adapting Stormwater Management for Coastal Floods (NOAA Guide) check mark check mark
Maine Municipal Climate Adaptation Guidance Series (Maine.gov, Maine DACF):

 check mark check mark check mark check mark
Maine Municipal Infrastructure Planning Toolbox (Maine DOT) for Stream Crossings, includes Maine DOT Culvert Sizing Guidelines check mark check mark check mark
Model Ordinance Language for Maine Municipalities: Guidance for Coastal Resilience (Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission) check mark check mark
New England Stormwater Retrofit Manual, U.S. EPA (PDF) check mark check mark
Hazard Mitigation Planning (Maine.gov, Maine Emergency Management Agency) – links to County plans check mark
Wastewater Adaptation (Maine.gov, Maine DEP) check mark check mark check mark
Stormwater Management (Maine.gov, Maine DEP) check mark check mark check mark
High Water Marks (U.S. Army Engineer Institute for Water Resources) check mark check mark
Adaptation Decision-Support Tools Clearinghouse (Maine.gov, Maine DEP) Maine Climate Hub, 11 topic areas for sector or cross-sector use check mark check mark check mark check mark
U.S Climate Resilience Toolkit (website) Steps to resilience: 1. Explore hazards, 2. Assess vulnerability and risk, 3. Investigate options, 4.

Prioritize and Plan, and 5. Take Action

 check mark check mark check mark check mark check mark
Resilience Metrics Organization check mark check mark

Continue to #4: Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation →