Bluff Erosion Challenges Downeast Maine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Machias – September 19, 2025
About one-third of Maine’s 5,408-mile coastline are bluffs, and prone to erosion. Communities
along Washington County’s coasts are experiencing bluff erosion from both powerful winter
storms, and intense summer rains.
While bluff erosion is natural, for the landowners, it can be devastating. However, strategies
which harness natural forces can slow bluff erosion. Using them, landowners can create healthy,
natural shorelines responsive to rising sea levels and intense storms.
Strategy One: Plant deep rooted natives. Plant roots hold soil together by creating a natural
net. Trees with deep, tangled root systems help hold bluffs together. Dense shrubs and grasses
protect against surface erosion.
Strategy Two: Control water on the upland. Rainwater run-off on the top of a bluff can soak
the soil causing banks to slump. Landowners can plant trees, install drains, swales, and water
gardens to keep rainwater away from bluffs.
Strategy Three: Protect the bluff toe: The base of a bluff is often raked by waves and currents
during storms. While rock cladding or ‘hardening’ shorelines has historically been the ‘go to’
approach, placing rocks in front of an eroding bluff comes with its own problems. Hardening
shorelines is expensive, can cause heightened erosion on neighboring properties and often fails.
Placed on soft mud, revetments washout from underneath, meanwhile water from the upland can
wash soil right through large rocks. Instead, cobble berms, and upslope plantings can be
combined. On steep slopes, hardening with rocks can be paired with terraces to create a more
stable incline and room for native plants to thrive.
To assist landowners managing bluffs, Sunrise County Economic Council and the Maine Coastal
Program will host a Resilient Shoreline Workshop in Machias on October 27th at 5:30 pm at the
Lee-Pellon Center.
The free workshop will bring coastal geologists, scientists, state agency permit reviewers, and
local contractors to help attendees understand shoreline erosion management. At the end of the
workshop, attendees have the option to stay for free practitioner office-hours to receive
15-minute shoreline assessments from experts and local practitioners.
This workshop is aimed at homeowners, property owners, property managers, municipal leaders,
and real estate agents.
Light dinner will be provided.
To register, please visit https://bit.ly/shorelineworkshop or contact Tanya Rucosky via email
(trucosky@sunrisecounty.org) or phone 207-255-0983.
Contact:
Tanya Rucosky
Community Resilience Partnership Coordinator
Sunrise County Economic Council
trucosky@sunrisecounty.org
Office: (207) 255-0983
Cell: (207) 259-0647

news-release-bluff-erosion-challenges-downeast-maine