planning department - Town of Scarborough

Report from the
HARBORMASTER -
MARINE RESOURCE
OFFICER
To the Town Manager, Town Council, and Citizens of
Scarborough:
I respectfully submit this annual
report as the Harbor Master and
Marine Resource Officer for the
Town of Scarborough for the
year ending June 30, 2011.
Dave Corbeau
Harbormaster -
Marine Resource Officer
This was the most active year
we have had during the offseason
months of November
through June for our shorefront
and town resources. Our busy
season is typically during the
summer months as residents and
visitors enjoy our ocean shores.
However, beginning in May
2010, new cement boat launch
planks were obtained through a
grant from Maine DOT and
installed. Through the fall, winter and spring many hours
were dedicated to the plans, development and final building
requirements to complete and open the new Pine Point Pier.
The equipment and infrastructure materials for the new pier
arrived and work began in late November. Although the pier
is a tremendous asset to our local economy, it brought with
it several challenges as we progressed through the process
towards its completion date in late April 2011. I want to
thank the many people that assisted with planning,
development, and construction of the new Pine Point Pier.
First and foremost, I would like to thank the citizens and the
fisherman for their patience and support of the project
throughout the construction. I’d like to thank the
Scarborough Town Council for their continued support of
the project and their gracious generosity through the funds
that they have provided to the project.
The new facility will allow twenty four hour access to the
water, and loading and offloading of gear. Maintenance of
the vessels will be made easier due to increased dock space
and new gangways. The new facility is equipped with two
one ton hoists located at each end of the main pier which
will significantly increase the safety and productivity of
fishing procedures, as the fisherman will not be dependent
on tides in order to offload their catch or fuel their boats. In
addition, the new pier will have 220 and 110 volt electrical
services, along with lighting, water, and surveillance
equipment. The new equipment and design will reduce gear
handling time, increase the number of days at sea, and
reduce the probability of injury.
July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011
The Pine Point Pier was officially opened with a ribbon
cutting ceremony on July 10, 2011. State and local
dignitaries, commercial fishermen and clam diggers,
neighbors and residents braved a rainy morning to
acknowledge the completion of the project.
The support for the fishing industry, including the
management and protection of the clamming flats continues
to be an important aspect of promoting an economic base for
many. Over the past three years, the Scarborough Shellfish
Committee and I have worked very closely with the
Department of Marine Resources to maintain the current
acreage of clam flats opened to those with commercial
licenses and to the public for digging. One of the areas that
we were able to reopen after being closed for four years was
the Nonesuch River. This location was rich with clam
growth and has proven to be a great resource for the diggers.
It has also taken pressure off of the other open flats in the
town of Scarborough. The hen clam flats were also opened
throughout the season. This was additional evidence of our
water quality as these areas have been closed for most of the
past two years. Overall the season proved to be more open
and accessible than in previous years when rain and storm
run-off required the flats to be closed. No red tide was
detected. The shellfish committee and I will continue to
work with DMR to maintain and improve the water quality
in and around Scarborough.
Collaboration between the Marine Resource Officer and
members of Engine 4 and Engine 1 Companies continues to
help maintain a safe harbor. The two town departments
worked together to attend to various emergency calls for
assistance needed on the beach due to medical emergencies,
lost children, and visitors getting stranded on the sandbar off
the Pine Point jetty.
I have personally found this to be the most rewarding year I
have ever had as the Marine Resource Officer for the Town
of Scarborough. On behalf of the entire Marine Division, we
would like to thank the wonderful people in the Town of
Scarborough for a great year and for all of their effort and
commitment. Thanks to the various departments and
community efforts we have been able to ensure that all of
our beaches are clean, safe and a treasure to be enjoyed by
all.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave Corbeau
Harbormaster - Marine Resource Officer
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