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What town do you live in?

What town do you live in?		Summary
Marshfield	36	Marshfield	36
East Machias	22	East Machias	22
Machias	21	Machias	21
Machiasport	11	Other (WaCo)	13
Whiting	6	Machiasport	11
Other	5	Whiting	6
Lubec	3	Other (Not WaCo)	5
Cutler	2	Lubec	3
Roque Bluffs	2	Cutler	2
Trescott	2	Roque Bluffs	2
Addison	1
Alexander	1
Beals	1
Cooper	1
Edmunds Township	1
Grand Lake Stream	1
Jonesport	1
Pembroke	1
Pleasant Point	1
Princeton	1
Robbinston	1

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What town do you live in?

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If you are employed/ self-employed, what town do you work in?

If you are employed/ self-employed, what town do you work in?
Machias	55
East Machias	9
Marshfield	4
Remote	4
Augusta	2
Machiasport	2
Addison	1
Beals	1
Eastport	1
Lubec	1
Roque Bluffs	1
Trescott	1
Whiting	1
Total	83

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Q3: Which of the following describes you? Select all that apply.

Answered: 123 Skipped: 2

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Q3: Which of the following describes you? Select all that apply.

Answered: 123 Skipped: 2

* Total is greater than 100% because some have multiple roles.

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Year-round resident of Machias Bay region	82.11%	101
Employed full-time	43.09%	53
Retired	22.76%	28
Self-employed	20.33%	25
Employed part-time	11.38%	14
Municipal official (volunteer, paid and/or elected)	10.57%	13
Other (please specify)	8.13%	10
Seasonal resident of Machias Bay region	6.50%	8
State agency official	5.69%	7
Unemployed	0.81%	1
Washington County legislator	0.81%	1
Federal agency official	0.00%	0
TOTAL		261

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Q4: Which of the following activities do you do in or around Machias Bay on a regular basis?

Answered: 123 Skipped: 2

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Q4: Which of the following activities do you do in or around Machias Bay on a regular basis?

Answered: 123 Skipped: 2

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Visit downtown Machias for shopping or services	88.62%	109
Ride or walk on the Downeast Sunrise Trail	73.98%	91
Watch wildlife	73.98%	91
Visit parks	60.98%	75
Enjoy scenic views from local businesses	58.54%	72
Attend cultural events	55.28%	68
Hiking or snowshoeing on nearby preserves	52.85%	65
Visit vendors on the Machias Dike	52.85%	65
Boating for work or pleasure	41.46%	51
Farming	23.58%	29
Operate a downtown Machias business	10.57%	13
Sell goods on the Machias Dike	7.32%	9
Harvesting seafood	6.50%	8
Other (please specify)	5.69%	7
Aquaculture	1.63%	2
TOTAL		755

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Q5: Dike Replacement: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations about replacement of the dike? Select your top FIVE.

Answered: 117 Skipped: 8

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Q5: Dike Replacement: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations about replacement of the dike? Select your top FIVE.

Answered: 117 Skipped: 8

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Containing chemicals leaching from landfills	72.65%	85
Avoiding uncontrolled collapse of the dike	64.96%	76
Minimizing impacts on landowners	56.41%	66
Keeping the roadway open for traffic, including emergency vehicles	48.72%	57
Restoring/ maintaining habitat for animals and plants for ecosystem health	47.01%	55
Restoring/ maintaining farming activities along the Middle River	40.17%	47
Protecting businesses from lost income due to rerouted traffic	34.19%	40
Restoring/ maintaining habitat for animals and plants for human uses	32.48%	38
Maximizing Sunrise Trail recreation opportunities	23.08%	27
Maintaining area on the dike for open-air markets	19.66%	23
Protecting historical resources	17.95%	21
TOTAL		535

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Comments for the committee about dike replacement? What else should they consider?

Word Cloud with top 100 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.0

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Q7: Downtown Flooding: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top FIVE.

Answered: 105 Skipped: 20

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Q7: Downtown Flooding: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top FIVE.

Answered: 105 Skipped: 20

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Upgrading and expanding the stormwater system	77.14%	81
Stabilizing banks and minimizing erosion	69.52%	73
Protecting the wastewater treatment plant	63.81%	67
Keeping downtown businesses in operation	59.05%	62
Maintaining views of the river & the character of downtown	55.24%	58
Keeping traffic flowing	40.00%	42
Helping business owners deal with flood risk	37.14%	39
Supporting individual choice for dealing with risk and making changes	30.48%	32
Making sure there are no derelict, abandoned buildings	18.10%	19
TOTAL		473

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Q8: The following is a list of possible responses to downtown flooding that have been discussed. Which ones should the Leadership Committee consider in making their recommendations? Check all that apply.

Answered: 101 Skipped: 24

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Answered: 101 Skipped: 24

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Repairs and upgrades to the stormwater system	80.20%	81
Flood wall or raised walkway surrounding the downtown to prevent floods	53.47%	54
Support for building owners who choose to raise or flood-proof their structures	46.53%	47
Adjustable flood barrier at The Rim Bridge	43.56%	44
Raising roads to reduce flood risk	38.61%	39
Support for building owners who choose to move out of harm’s way	34.65%	35
Inflatable or adjustable barriers surrounding the downtown	27.72%	28
Do nothing	13.86%	14
Other ideas? Please explain.	10.89%	11
Required move away from areas of downtown prone to flooding	9.90%	10
TOTAL		363

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Comments for the committee about downtown flooding? What else should they consider?

Word Cloud with top 50 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.l3nfkjkbpyqp

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Q10: Natural Resources: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top THREE.

Answered: 103 Skipped: 22

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Q10: Natural Resources: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top THREE.

Answered: 103 Skipped: 22

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Restoring and protecting freshwater wetlands	51.46%	53
Restoring and protecting saltwater wetlands	49.51%	51
Restoring and protecting grazing lands for livestock	44.66%	46
Restoring and protecting river-run fish passage (e.g. alewives or smelt)	39.81%	41
Maintaining scenic values	37.86%	39
Restoring and protecting mudflat habitats	34.95%	36
TOTAL		266

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Comments for the committee about natural resources? What else should they consider?

Word Cloud with top 50 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.ns5tivpeymei

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Q12: Water Quality: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top THREE.

Answered: 99 Skipped: 26

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Q12: Water Quality: What should the committee prioritize in making their recommendations? Select your top THREE.

Answered: 99 Skipped: 26

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Minimizing combined sewer outflows (wastewater overflowing into the bay)	86.87%	86
Containing and minimizing impacts of landfill leachate (chemicals from buried garbage)	79.80%	79
Minimizing shellfish closures due to water quality issues	53.54%	53
Minimizing pollution from failed septic systems	36.36%	36
Finding and fixing sources of PFAS and other chemical pollutants (not related to the landfill)	33.33%	33
TOTAL		287

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Comments for the committee about water pollution? What else should they consider?

Word Cloud with top 50 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.r2kk2cpamba3

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Q15: In your opinion, how far into the future should the Leadership Committee plan when they are making their recommendations?

Answered: 96 Skipped: 29

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Q15: In your opinion, how far into the future should the Leadership Committee plan when they are making their recommendations?

Answered: 96 Skipped: 29

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
5 to 10 years	18.75%	18
10 to 20 years	21.88%	21
20 to 40 years	21.88%	21
40 to 60 years	16.67%	16
60 to 80 years	2.08%	2
80+ years	18.75%	18
TOTAL		96

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What are your most important concerns regarding the issues affecting Machias Bay? Which of the issues affect you the most?

Word Cloud with top 100 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.f0k7o8pf5d08

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What opportunities do you see for finding common ground or balancing competing interests in the Machias Bay Region?

Word Cloud with top 100 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.mu4k9jyuxt40

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Q17: Have you felt or seen the effects of climate change in or around Machias Bay?

Answered: 97 Skipped: 28

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Q17: Have you felt or seen the effects of climate change in or around Machias Bay?

Answered: 97 Skipped: 28

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Yes	47.42%	46
No	32.99%	32
Unsure	19.59%	19
TOTAL		97

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You indicated that you have seen or felt the effects of climate change. Briefly explain the kinds of effects you have seen or felt.

Word Cloud with top 50 Words Mentioned:

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAGMseUoxWtrWfcMs_og4cAFBU07029JFNvYaCAyoic/edit?tab=t.pfmf9t9oucfp

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Q19: Do you own a business that primarily operates in Machias or a nearby community?

Answered: 96 Skipped: 29

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Yes	21.88%	21
No	78.12%	75
TOTAL		96

~ 250 employees total
From 1 to 55 employees per business
Most planning long term: 20 to generations
Most concerned about dike closure
Avoid dike closure May through January
Strong support for stormwater improvement

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How were you affected by the December 2023/January 2024 storms? What were the costs to your business? Are you still recovering from the damage?

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PBbz-rqV9myH8mogsM7Y9k9eSQjMQatr/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112990559301167527544&rtpof=true&sd=true. Click the Business Owner Section tab.

9 unaffected
2 relatively minor damage
2 major damage
8 did not answer

What resources do you need to understand and manage flood risks related to your business?

One person asked for:

“Financial support and information for small businesses, clarification on insurance protection options for small businesses.”

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Q29: Do you own or rent property adjacent to the Middle River above the dike in Machias or Marshfield?

Answered: 94 Skipped: 31

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Yes	31.91%	30
No	68.09%	64
TOTAL		94

Deep connection to the land
Lots of concern about impacts on landowners, some expect little impact, others more
Lots of interest in restoring/ preserving natural resources
Most oppose bridge span

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Own or rent property adjacent to the Middle River above the dike in Machias or Marshfield?

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PBbz-rqV9myH8mogsM7Y9k9eSQjMQatr/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112990559301167527544&rtpof=true&sd=true. Click the Middle Riv Owner Renter Section tab.

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Q38: Are you a member or staff of a local conservation organization?

Answered: 92 Skipped: 33

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Yes	7.61%	7
No	92.39%	85
TOTAL		92

Focus on healthy, functioning ecosystems
Importance of saltmarshes for ecosystem function
Interest in finding common ground

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Are you a member or staff of a local conservation organization?

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PBbz-rqV9myH8mogsM7Y9k9eSQjMQatr/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112990559301167527544&rtpof=true&sd=true. Click the Conservation Grp Section tab.

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Q44: Are you a public official (volunteer, paid or elected) in any of the following municipalities? If you are an official in multiple communities, select the town where you are most involved.

Answered: 91 Skipped: 34

See all comments at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PBbz-rqV9myH8mogsM7Y9k9eSQjMQatr/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112990559301167527544&rtpof=true&sd=true. Click the Municipal Section tabs.

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Machias	5.49%	5
Marshfield	5.49%	5
Machiasport	0.00%	0
East Machias	0.00%	0
Roque Bluffs	0.00%	0
Cutler	0.00%	0
Whiting	1.10%	1
Whitneyville	1.10%	1
Jonesboro	0.00%	0
None of the above	86.81%	79
TOTAL		91

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Q56: Are you a fisheries harvester?

Answered: 88 Skipped: 37

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
Yes	6.82%	6
No	93.18%	82
TOTAL		88

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Fisheries harvesters

What species do you harvest in/around Machias Bay? What is your primary fishery?	What areas of Machias Bay are most important to you for harvesting?	What % of your annual income comes from harvesting in Machias Bay?	How have you been affected by harvesting closures in the past?
Halibut, mackerel, cod, striped bass, herring, clams.	Outer	Mostly sustenance these days.	Some days not able to dig clams.
Lobster clam crab	Machiasport	90%
All fresh water and salt water species.	All areas	100 %	Very seriously every time
Lobsters	Machiasport	50%
Lobster/crab	Bucks harbor/machiasport	95%	Many years ago, when I dug clams, it was a significant impact.

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Fisheries harvesters

What changes have you noticed in Machias Bay fisheries in recent years?	How many years into the future are you planning?	What are your primary concerns about fisheries in Machias Bay?	In your opinion, what are the best ways to protect Machias Bay fisheries for the future?
More newcomers digging.	15	Keep it sustainable. Manage the resource wisely.	Fix Machias waste water treatment so no overflowing. Don’t over harvest. Closure rotations, reseeding. Research alternatives to winter road salt / chemicals.
	30	Keep the water clean and don’t leak pollutants into the ocean
none	We are not. Until Machias does the right thing	The health of all people in the bay area.	Breach the dike wide enough for normal tides to flow in and out.
Less lobsters coming in to the shallower water to molt their shells.	20-30	Federal and state over regulation and nonsensical laws and rules.	Minimizing state and federal intrusion and nonsensical regulations.
It would be good to address the waste water treatment plant and improve that.	20	I would like to see the dike replaced as it is, so that the PFAS, and silt that has been sitting on the river bed for the past 200 years, does not flow into the ocean and close us down, because that will happen if open gates are allowed.	By keeping the PFAS contained to where it is at the landfill and do not even contemplate opening the river gates.

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Q65: What is your age?

Answered: 88 Skipped: 37

ANSWER CHOICES	RESPONSES
7 to 14 years old	0.00%	0
15 to 18 years old	0.00%	0
18 to 24 years old	2.27%	2
25 to 34 years old	14.77%	13
35 to 54 years old	32.95%	29
55 to 70 years old	30.68%	27
Over 70 years old	17.05%	15
I prefer not to answer.	2.27%	2
TOTAL		88

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18 to 24 Years Old

Answered: 2

Looking 15 years into the future, what do you hope will change in and around Machias Bay?	Looking 15 years into the future, what do you hope will stay the same in and around Machias Bay?	What do you see as the main challenges in achieving your vision for the region?	How would you like to be involved in shaping the future of the bay and the region?
Thriving businesses to provide employment that would encourage young people to stay in the area and raise families, additional housing	Close community that looks out for each other	$
I’m hoping that the landfill is sorted out and is no longer disrupting the nature that makes Maine the valued gem that it is.	I’m hoping the balance of nature and city life remains the same. I love how Machias is able to keep both aspects of its identity, as opposed to the other local cities that have lost sight of it.	People coming in who don’t value or respect the balance I mentioned.	Volunteering in the solution, such as the cleanup efforts.