Marine Resources Goal:
To preserve access to marine waters and protect our town’s important marine resources for future generations.
 The unique natural beauty of the shorelines, harbors, and passages draw sailors and kayakers from afar, with the need to minimize conflict with fishermen tending their lobster traps and buoys. Vigilance and appropriate regulations will be needed to avoid
despoiling the environment through overuse, unsavory or unsafe parking at access points, and the leaving of human waste and trash. The limitation and/or licensing of “out-of-township” commercial kayak touring groups may have to be considered to limit environmental disturbance. The increased boatyard activity in Northeast Harbor will have positive economic and employment benefits to the area and will attract more cruising yacht visits. Care must be taken to avoid negative impacts on our NE Harbor lobster, scallop, and urchin fishermen. Likewise, residential land sales and development (piers, etc) should not be permitted to compromise marine commercial activities. Winter on-shore boat storage represents a significant financial opportunity for those with acreage and facilities but must be sited with consideration of the visual and other impacts, such as traffic, noise, etc.
Attention must also be given to potential aquiculture activities in the future. Although the state Department of Marine Resources has jurisdiction over this, the appearance, activity, noise, and lighting of such operations is of legitimate concern to shoreland residents, fishermen, recreational boaters, and others. Aquaculture could provide employment for Mount Desert residents; however, there needs to be a mechanism whereby an effective dialogue can take place with those regulating and operating such endeavors. The same awareness and dialogue must be given to seaweed beds, sea squirts, and other circumstances that affect employment, appearances, and enjoyment of our marine resources.
Objectives:
1. Improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of our town’s marine facilities and infrastructure.
Strategies:
a. Create and implement a Northeast Harbor marina parking and beautification master plan that is designed to alleviate the seasonal parking situation, improve aesthetic qualities, and increase recreational value. The Harbor Master, Police Department, Chamber, and others should participate in this planning process
b. Develop additional means to encouraging shared use of private piers and reduce the numbers of new private piers built, to alleviate safety and aesthetic concerns.
c. Ensure the town works with those pursuing aquaculture to determine the best location for such industry.
2. Preserve the working waterfront by ensuring preservation of commercial fishing and other water-dependent commercial uses.
Strategies:
a. Revisit the table of permitted uses in the Land Use Ordinance to ensure that Mount Desert regulations are not unfairly limiting the activities of water-dependent businesses.
b. Consider the needs of commercial fishing operations in the design of all new public docking and parking facilities.
c. Ensure traditional uses at water access locations are preserved.
3. Work to protect the quality of our town's freshwater and saltwater reaources.
Strategies:
a. Review and revise our standards governing and controlling both the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff from new development to incorporate Low Impact Development principals and Best Management Practices as identified by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. These principals use modern methods to control stormwater runoff so that it emulates natural hydrogeological systems, and to maintain existing drainage patterns where possible.
b. Review and revise the Land Use Ordinance to improve sewage disposal regulations.
c. Support regional efforts to inventory, educate citizens about, and improve water quality, including pursuing ongoing involvement with the MDI Water Quality Coalition.
d. Reduce the use of pesticides by the Town on municipal properties.
e. Work with a ground-water expert to complete a comprehensive hydrologic study of the town’s water resources, in order to assess the capacity of the town’s residential and commercial growth areas to absorb development based on water supply. This information will be use to update the Land Use Ordinance as necessary.
f. Conduct shellfish study to determine the abundance of this resource; and the viability of pursing steps to open areas currently closed to shell-fishing and shellfish seeding operations in newly opened areas. It is recommended that this be done in conjunction with adjoining towns that share marine resources and efforts to protect marine water quality.
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