During the June 4 meeting of the Lincoln County Commissioners, there was a presentation of what-ifs.

The focus of these questions was what if sea levels rose to levels scientists predict them to and what would happen to Lincoln County.

Bob Faunce presented a series of projections and maps to the county commissioners that showed how much devastation coastal towns could face.

The projection, which was a cooperative effort between the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, Maine Geological Survey and the Maine Coastal Program, took more than a year to bring to fruition.

“A year ago, the committee agreed to match funds,” he said.

Faunce said that in the last 100 years in Portland, water levels have increased seven inches.

“That rate of increase is accelerating,” he said.

Faunce said that models and predictions would add between one and six feet of water to ocean levels. The presentation on Tuesday showed what would happen to Lincoln County should the sea levels rise.

The computer model featured several different settings, including highest annual tides and where water levels would increase to if there was a repeat of the 1978 “Storm of the Century.”

The maps, which were generated through Google Earth, highlighted areas that would be affected by rising water levels.

One scenario, in which three feet of water is added to the Storm of the Century model, most of Capital Island's shoreline was shown encroached with water and the roads were almost all underwater.

In another, most of Damariscotta's downtown was under several feet of water and the entrance to Miles Memorial Hospital was washed out.

Faunce said they have completed simulations for 14 towns in Lincoln County. The plan is to have the presentations available online for public viewing, he said.

The aim of the project is to help towns see the potential dangers posed by rising sea levels and, upon request, to help revise building ordinances. Faunce said towns could request assistance in using the information to upgrade infrastructure and help find funds to make improvements.

Although under current projections sea levels aren't an imminent threat, Faunce said having this information available now could help with long-term planning and prevention.

“Realistically in the next 25 to 30 years, we could be looking at (an increase of sea levels) a foot,” he said.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.