Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan for Casco Bay, Maine
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Estuary Program and Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Susan Podziba & Associates designed and implemented a consensus-based planning process that resulted in an EPA award-winning Casco Bay Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (Strategic Plan). The innovative process integrated stakeholder input into the negotiations and decision-making of the 25-member Management Committee, which was tasked with developing the Strategic Plan.

The Casco Bay Estuary Project (CBEP), part of the U.S. EPA National Estuary Program, was established in 1990 to protect, preserve, and remediate Casco Bay and its watershed. Its Management Committee includes officials from the U.S. EPA, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Office of Comprehensive Planning, municipal officials (elected and staff), scientists, citizens, industrialists, and environmentalists, and is supported by technical, local government, and citizen advisory committees.

At impasse after 18 months of discussions to select priority issues, CBEP originally hired SP&A to design and implement a priority-setting workshop. At the conclusion of the one-day workshop, CBEP selected its five priority issues: 1) development; 2) storm water runoff and combined sewer overflows; 3) individual septic systems and overboard discharges; 4) pre-existing sediment contamination; and 5) public stewardship.

SP&A went on to facilitate six months of negotiations, during which the Management Committee reached final consensus on all elements of its Strategic Plan, which included actions plans for each priority issue.

SP&A used innovative process strategies to enhance the work of the CBEP Management Committee, and coordination with its advisory committees. For example, a technical expert roundtable was convened to develop the “universe of options” for meeting CBEP goals and objectives; focus groups of outside stakeholders such as farmers, foresters, and clammers were convened to provide feedback and suggest revisions on proposed action plans; and consensus decision-making was used at all management committee meetings to ensure that all represented interests were integrated into the plan.

Casco Bay Estuary Project Website, including complete plan

Casco Bay Plan Excerpt: Chapter outlining the consensus process used to develop the plan (pdf)

Casco Bay Process Map (pdf)