Join the Kennebunk River Committee for a Kennebunk River Hydrology Study presentation on Sept. 16th

Learn more here: https://smpdc.org/kennebunkriver

Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC), in collaboration with the Towns of Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), and the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS), have installed a new tide gauge sensor at Government Wharf in Kennebunkport. The new Kennebunk River tide gauge was developed by Hohonu, a Hawaii-based flood monitoring company, and will measure water levels and flooding on the Kennebunk River for the next two years. Data collected by the tide gauge will be used by engineering firm GEI Consultants to develop a local hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) model of current and projected future flooding along the Kennebunk River. Funding for the tide gauge installation and ongoing data collection was supported by a private foundation through SMPDC's Kennebunk River Hydrology Study project.

Real-time and historic tide level data for the Kennebunk River is now accessible to the public via Hohonu's online dashboard and the TideCast smartphone app, with informational signage about the sensor and how to access tide data located at Government Wharf. Local officials hope that the new tide gauge will help community members and businesses dependent on the Kennebunk River better understand local tide conditions and plan for future flooding along the river.

"Information gained from this project will provide local insights to better prepare businesses and residents along the Kennebunk River," said Stephen Houdlette, Kennebunk Economic Vitality Director. "This work continues earlier efforts like the Watershed Based Management Plan and helps the Town of Kennebunk work with Kennebunkport as well as regional and State partners to build resiliency. The results of the hydraulic and hydrologic modeling will give our municipalities the tools to weather specific events like river flooding from storms and to also plan long-term solutions to elevated water levels in the area." Both Towns' Climate Action Plans and recent regional planning studies have previously highlighted the Kennebunk River waterfront - specifically the Dock Square and Lower Village areas - as being at high risk for future flooding due to sea level rise and storm surge. In December 2024, SMPDC received grant funding to conduct additional local data collection and analysis in support of flood resilience planning for the Kennebunk River in partnership with both municipalities. The Town of Kennebunkport has also received $80,000 of funding through the State of Maine's Community Action Grant program to evaluate possible adaptation and resilience methods for Dock Square and other vulnerable waterfront areas, utilizing data and modeling made possible by the new tide gauge.

"The Kennebunk River is at the heart of our community's history, economy, and way of life," said Kennebunkport Town Manager Laurie Smith. "Having access to accurate, real-time tide data is an important step in helping us understand how flooding impacts our waterfront today and how it may change in the future. This information will allow us to make better decisions to protect our residents, businesses, and infrastructure while preserving the river for generations to come."