Every five years, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) takes a close look at conditions in Casco Bay, gathering information on the condition of Casco Bay and our region.

Local data reveals obvious signs of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures and more severe storms. But climate interacts with other processes, from urbanization to introduction of marine species from around the globe, creating challenges for future planning. Curtis Bohlen, CBEP’s director, outlines highlights from the latest State of the Bay report, including the importance of land conservation for water quality, interesting measurements of bay health such as eelgrass abundance, and the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish. He also discusses how CBEP is working with towns on ways to make the bay and communities more resilient.