​Why this project:
Fowler’s Beach sits on the west end of Long Island, facing Hussey Sound. Its dunes do more than make a beautiful shoreline. They help protect Jerry Point Road, nearby homes, emergency access, public beach use, and coastal habitat.

The beach was identified as a Priority Sand Dune Erosion Hazard Area in the Town’s comprehensive plan in 2022. For years LICA volunteers have planted dune grass and beach roses and installed snow fence to trap sand and help the dunes recover. Those efforts slow erosion; they do not rebuild the dune system. Recent storms have shown that this stewardship alone cannot keep pace with rising seas and more frequent high-energy events.
Planning now lets the island choose a path that fits Long Island’s values, instead of reacting after the next major washout.

What LICA’s role is:
LICA owns Fowler’s Beach and is responsible, with Oceanside Conservation Trust, for keeping it natural and available to the community. This objective falls in line with our mission: improve, protect, and better Long Island for property owners, renters, and other residents.

In this project, LICA is working with the Town so that any future work on the beach respects the conservation easement, public access, and the character of the place. The current phase is assessment, alternatives, and community conversation - not construction.

What “nature-based solutions” means:
Nature-based solutions use sand, native plants, and natural processes to reduce storm and erosion risk while supporting the beach as a living shoreline. They are different from seawalls or other hard structures. The study is comparing a range of approaches so the community can weigh protection, cost, maintenance, and the “wild” nature of the beach.

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Options under review:
These are planning alternatives, not a final design. They will be discussed in detail at the August 27 workshop and in the Tighe & Bond report.

• No action / natural recovery - monitor the dunes and allow them to recover on their own. Least disturbance; least added storm protection.

• Natural recovery with sand fencing - fencing helps trap sand and rebuild dune height more quickly. Still limited protection for the road.

• Dune nourishment and native vegetation - add sand and plant native species to rebuild and stabilize the dunes. Stronger protection; needs ongoing plant care.

• Dune restoration with roadway improvements - restore dune volume and strengthen Jerry Point Road together. Higher cost and more construction; longer-lasting protection.

• Restored and stabilized dune - add engineered reinforcement within a rebuilt dune (such as soil-encapsulated lifts) to increase height and volume, with adaptive maintenance after severe storms.

 

How to participate:

• Attend the August 27 public workshop at the Community Center, 6–8 p.m.

• Read the project fact sheet and the full Tighe & Bond report.

• Take the public survey so priorities for the beach and the road are on the record.

• Watch the July 16, 2026 webinar, “Exploring Nature-based Strategies for a Resilient Long Island.”

 

Town project page (reports, fact sheet, survey, webinar, and FAQ):

• townoflongisland.us - Community Resilience / Fowler’s Beach

• Project fact sheet (PDF)

 

Project partners:

• Long Island Civic Association - property owner and community steward of Fowler’s Beach

• Town of Long Island - owns Jerrys Point Road

• Tighe & Bond - engineering consultant

• Greater Portland Council of Governments – community outreach facilitators

• Oceanside Conservation Trust of Casco Bay - conservation easement holder

 

Planning work has been supported by a Coastal Sand Dune Restoration Grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate long-term, nature-based options before the full design, permitting and construction phase is undertaken.

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