Current Projects
Southport
Hendricks Head Tidal Restoration & Climate Resilience Project
The Hendricks Head Project is a municipal infrastructure and coastal resilience initiative in the Town of Southport focused on replacing an undersized and aging tidal crossing at Hendricks Head Beach with a structure designed to restore natural tidal exchange, withstand future storm events, and meet MaineDOT's 100-year flood standards. The project scope includes culvert replacement, seawall reconstruction, stormwater drainage improvements, and roadway and parking area upgrades to increase resilience against storm surge and projected sea level rise. Design has been informed by hydrologic and tidal modeling, geotechnical investigation, and wetland assessment, with community input from abutting property owners incorporated through a public design review process. The project is supported by funding through the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund and the Island Institute's ShoreUp grant. Sunrise Ecologic serves as Project Manager to the Southport Select Board, coordinating engineering, environmental permitting, and construction oversight.
Southport Climate Vulnerability Assessment
Sunrise Ecologic is completing a climate impact vulnerability assessment for the Town of Southport under contract CAG2024-4, developed within the framework recommended by Maine's Community Resilience Partnership (Appendix E). The assessment evaluates how climate hazards, including coastal and inland flooding, sea level rise, extreme storms, extreme heat, and shifting precipitation patterns, intersect with the people, infrastructure, natural resources, and economic activities that Southport depends on. Using the standard exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity approach, the project identifies where the community is most at risk and where targeted action can meaningfully reduce that risk. The final deliverables, a full written assessment, supporting appendices, and a vulnerability matrix, are designed to give the Select Board, town staff, and residents a clear, prioritized foundation for adaptation planning, grant applications, and capital decisions. A public information meeting to review the draft findings will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Southport Town Hall, and residents, town officials, and interested colleagues from neighboring communities are warmly invited to attend. The methodology is intentionally transparent and replicable, offering a practical model that other Maine municipalities can adapt to their own resilience planning needs.
Southport Emergency Preparedness Communication Network
The Southport Emergency Preparedness Communication Network project is focused on building a reliable system for emergency alerts and community support during climate-related events. This project aims to enhance local communication by implementing tools like reverse-911 alerts and establishing neighborhood watch roles, such as "block captains," to foster quick, organized responses among residents, including both permanent and seasonal community members.
For more information and updates about work in Southport, visit our Southport Resilience Network partners at www.southportresiliencenetwork.com
Islesboro
The Islesboro Narrows Flooding Project is a multi-year initiative to protect The Narrows, a crucial community road threatened by high tide storm flooding and storms. Sunrise Ecologic is providing project management to help Islesboro advance designs and develop effective solutions to keep this road safe and accessible.
Supported by grants from state and federal partners, Sunrise Ecologic is working alongside experts and community partners to reach 90% design completion by Summer 2025, preparing the project for future construction funding and resilience planning.
For more information visit Islesboro SLRC
Islesboro Narrows Coastal Flooding Project
Vulnerability Assessment
This project, funded through a Community Action Grant, focuses on conducting a comprehensive vulnerability assessment to identify and address climate-related risks affecting the Boothbay Region. The assessment will involve reviewing existing town plans, maps, policies, and critical data sources such as FEMA flood maps, census data, and regional hazard mitigation plans. Key stakeholders, including local emergency management teams, will be interviewed to gather valuable insights into the region's vulnerabilities across social, infrastructure, and environmental sectors. Sunrise Ecologic will work with the volunteer-run Boothbay Region Climate Action Team (BRCAT) to coordinate the outreach and community engagement process aimed to ensure that the assessment aligns with community priorities and informs future resilience planning.
The results will culminate in a detailed vulnerability assessment report that will guide the development of a Boothbay Region Climate Action Plan and will be rolled into the Lincoln County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2026 update.
Climate Education and Outreach
This project is dedicated to building climate resilience through community education, outreach, and engagement, with a special focus on empowering local students and residents. Organizing public events that focus on climate resilience, tide levels, and interpreting scientific data fosters an inclusive and intergenerational educational initiative for the Boothbay region. We use tools like the Climate Conversation Card Game to facilitate interactive sessions and host outreach events in familiar community spaces to empower the next generation of community leaders. High school and college students are invited to take leadership roles within the Boothbay Region Climate Action Team (BRCAT) and actively participate in regional climate planning efforts. This educational initiative will include events on sea level rise, king tide events, and multimedia visioning events to collaboratively envision the community's future in the face of climate change.
Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor
Habitat Restoration Planning Grant
Sunrise Ecologic developed a "Town-Wide Crossing Assessment and Prioritization" proposal on behalf of the Town of Boothbay, which has been conditionally awarded $86,550 in funding from the Maine Coastal Program's 2026 Habitat Restoration Planning Grant. Funded through NOAA's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the project will support a comprehensive evaluation of culverts and stream crossings throughout Boothbay to identify barriers to fish passage, assess flood vulnerability, and prioritize sites for future restoration. This work builds on the culvert inventory and database that Sunrise Ecologic has been developing for the town, and will help guide infrastructure investments that protect both our roads and local waterways. The project is expected to get underway once NOAA completes its federal review and contracting process. More details will be shared as the project moves forward.
Boothbay
Are you looking for someone to facilitate clarity?
Book a 30 minute consultation with Shri to outline your next steps to move your project forward. Shri is available for public speaking, workshop facilitation & strategic planning, and guest teaching events.