The Town of Machias and Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) invite all community members to a public meeting on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at the Lee Pellon Center, 90 Main Street, Machias, to learn about the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan and to discuss downtown Machias flooding and water quality issues.
The low-lying areas of Downtown Machias have had nine floods in the past seven years that were at or higher than the previous record set in 1979 which was considered a “100-year flood.” Floods are happening much more often due to rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storms, more heavy rainfall events, and a change in weather patterns. On January 10, 2024, a flood 1.5 feet above the “100-year” flood mark damaged many downtown buildings. That was just one of four floods to affect the region in four months.
“‘We may need to evacuate the building.’ That was the last conversation I expected to have on January 10, 2024 with Tammy, Manager of Machias Dunkin,” remembered Tom Michaud, Executive Director of Sunrise Opportunities which owns the building housing Dunkin Donuts and other businesses. “We were not prepared to find ourselves in that situation. As a community, we need to find a way to reduce the risk and better prepare for future floods.”
Adding to these challenges, downtown stormwater systems are old and unable to handle the increased runoff. Higher temperatures mean higher winter river levels, increasing the water levels in the bay. The master plan will provide recommendations to the town and state officials about how best to respond to the increasing flood risk.
“Downtown flooding is one of the most significant challenges we’re facing in Machias. The causes are complex, and the solution will be complex. But that solution also has the potential to not only protect but improve our downtown,” said Machias Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon. “I hope you’ll come to the meeting, learn, and weigh in.”
At the December 10 meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the many factors that contribute to the increase in flooding in Downtown Machias, as well as flood protection and stormwater management options. Attendees will also learn about the discussions of the UMBMP project committee, and share their own feedback, local knowledge, and priorities.
A free dinner will be served at the meeting, and childcare will be provided to make participation easier for families. While registration is not required, RSVPs are encouraged for planning purposes. Visit bit.ly/umbmprsvp to register.
The Upper Machias Bay Master Plan is a community-engaged planning effort, and is focused on building a healthy, resilient, and prosperous future for Upper Machias Bay. The project, which will create recommendations and identify next steps, is focused on promoting civil public conversations about crucial issues such as options for the Machias Dike replacement project and flood protection for the downtown commercial district, as well as ideas for improving and maintaining water quality and natural resources in the bay while keeping businesses open and traffic moving.
The project involves all of the communities surrounding Machias Bay, including Machias, Marshfield, Machiasport, East Machias, Roque Bluffs and Cutler. Over the past nine months, more than 40 local leaders and stakeholders from surrounding towns, businesses, landowners, and conservation groups have been working together as part of the Upper Machias Bay Master Plan Leadership Committee to develop a shared vision for the region.
If you are unable to attend this meeting, you can provide your feedback through a survey on the SCEC website: sunrisecounty.org/machiasbay. There, you can also learn more about the Master Plan, including shared goals, leadership committee members, and previous meeting notes.
This is the third in a series of public meetings. The next meeting will be on January 12, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact Tora Johnson, Co-Director, Sustainable Prosperity Initiative at Sunrise County Economic Council via email (tjohnson@sunrisecounty.org) or phone: (207) 271-2175.