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York County began a $5.1 million project last month to repair stretches of coastal dunes damaged by winter storms in 2024, but the county has bigger ambitions. The coast will need further fortification to fend off larger floods. Photo by Matt Billian.

York County is rebuilding its destroyed dunes. Officials warn it’s just the start to save the coastline

A crew guided a York County barge equipped with a giant sea vacuum across the waters of Wells Harbor last week.

One contractor nudged the so-called dredge in a tiny tugboat. Another manned the equipment, which sucked up sand from the seabed. Still more workers maneuvered a more-then 2,000-foot tube to Wells Beach.

There, the tube deposited great heaps of sand that a crew member in a bulldozer carefully molded with GPS-guided precision, restoring dunes that disastrous winter storms washed out two years ago. The equipment deposited sand right up to the seawalls of some residences.

Roughly 7,600 cubic yards of dredged sand will be deposited in front of a long row of waterfront homes and businesses along Wells Beach altogether, a sight that York County emergency preparedness coordinator Chris McCall once doubted he’d ever see.

As buzz about data centers proliferates in Maine, I found this recent article from Grist timely.

Through public records requests, reporter Naveena Sadasivam looked behind the scenes into how data center developers in Utah and elsewhere are attempting to bypass air pollution limits for diesel or natural gas generators with special federal waivers.

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

Bucksport blasts company over approaching state deadline to close landfill | Bangor Daily News

Trump says he can stop data centers from raising energy costs. What does it mean for Maine? | Portland Press Herald

As data centers look to rural New England, Maine considers a moratorium | Daily Yonder

Sanford could host sludge processing plant | Maine Public

Maine lawmakers debate ATV weight limits as landowners warn of trail closures | News Center Maine

Residents pack Sanford forum on biosolids plant, asking questions and voicing concerns | Portland Press Herald

Appalachian Mountain Club expands Maine land ownership | News Center Maine

Gorham residents hold meeting to discuss proposed Amazon delivery station | WGME

'Energy coach' programs expand in Maine | Maine Public

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The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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