A. Population & Land Use

Drivers & Stressors Condition of the bay human connections

A. Population & Land Use

New Suburban Construction Eats into Jerry Monkman, Ecophotography.com
Forests and Agricultural Lands

Population of Casco Bay Watershed Grew Nearly 10 Percent in 18 Years
Bethel
2,717
0.71%

Mason + Albany Greenwood
Twp Twp
809
05.5689B%ethel 0.05%

Stoneham 2,717 why it matters
0.71%
242
-0.28%
Changes in Population 2000 to 2018
Broad social and economic Ntroerwnayds,
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0.54%
Scarborough Cape Elizabeth
Saco
20,352 9,313
19,748 1.11% 0.15%
0.97%
3 casco BAY estuary partnership

Drivers & Stressors A. Population & Land Use

Rebound in Residential Building Permits Loss of Forested and Agricultural Land,
Increase in Developed Land: 2001–2016
(All Watershed Towns and Cities)
12
3,30,00000 2,535 permits 8
2,25,50000 in 2005 4
2,20,00000 722 permits 1,784 permits emergent
1,15,50000 in 2011 in 2018 wetland
1,10,00000 Scrub/Shrub
forested
Grassland
agriculture
Developed

550000

00 1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2018

LOSS Square Miles GAIN
After hitting a low of 722 total units in 2011, residential housing permits
rebounded annually from 2011 to 2018, when total units reached 1,784.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of
Policy Development and Research, State of the Cities Data Systems.

0

Land Cover in Casco Bay Watershed: 2016

Forested:60% Developed: 13% -4
Barren Land: 1%
Water and -8
Submerged Lands: 9%
2001–2005
Emergent Wetland: 9% -12 2006–2010

Agriculture: 6% 2011–2016
Grassland: 1% TOTAL: 2001–2016
Scrub/Shrub: 1%
-16
Land cover classification Casco Bay watershed. Source: National Land
Cover Database. In a continuation of recent trends, the total area of forested and agricul-
tural lands in the watershed declined by 3.35 square miles from 2011 to
2016. The total area of developed lands expanded by 1.13 square miles.

successes & challenges

▶ Individual towns and cities have been successful in applying Smart Growth approaches to balance economic growth
and development with agricultural, forestry, open space, and other community values, but home-rule decision making
results in irregular regional growth and development patterns.

▶ Many land use planning and conservation tools such as comprehensive planning, open space planning, conservation
subdivision design, and wetland and shoreland zoning are available to guide local development while protecting
water quality and habitat. Casco Bay communities can choose where and how to direct growth through planning and
land use ordinances.

▶ Within the region, ample opportunities exist for redevelopment in growth areas and for allowing increased density
to accommodate development that does not expand impervious surfaces. However, regulations aimed at restoring
impaired water bodies may create disincentives for doing so.

▶ Many challenges such as urban sprawl and traffic congestion are regional in nature, but towns handle solutions quite
differently. Better support and funding for regional planning is greatly needed to provide technical assistance on a
regional level for issues related to transportation and open space planning.

STATE OF casco BAY 4