In 2011, the Portland-based law firm, Pierce Atwood, moved from their office in Monument Square to Merrill's Wharf. The law firm's move was emotional for some Portland residents, but by working with existing businesses and the Waterfront Alliance Pierce Atwood managed a successful transition to the waterfront.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Produced by Galen Koch © 2016. Photos for this story by Galen Koch and Jenny Rebecca Nelson © 2016. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher, Andy Cohen, and Chris Zabriskie. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

The design of Portland's waterfront is no accident. In the late 1980s, the Waterfront Alliance began drafting recommendations for Portland's waterfront zones. Those recommendations laid the groundwork for the waterfront's future, and established the West Port Development Zone as an industrial working port. Today the International Marine Terminal is a viable port and a new development proposal has prompted the city of Portland to reexamine zoning on the western waterfront for the first time in 24 years.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This story for Wharfside is made possible by the Maine Port Authority and was reviewed by Waterfront Alliance. Produced by Galen Koch © 2016. Photos by Justin Levesque. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher and Loch Lomond. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

In the past four years there's been a lot more activity under the Casco Bay Bridge. The International Marine Terminal is now a fully operational freight facility, connecting Maine with the rest of North America and the North Atlantic.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Produced by Galen Koch © 2016. Photos for this story by Justin Levesque. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher, Loch Lomond, and Andy G. Cohen. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

There's a lot of silt between Portland Harbor's wharves and piers, and some of it is very, very dirty. For decades, piers owners have worked to incite a collective effort in the Portland community to remove and dispose of this material. With many stakeholders dedicated to waterfront access and increased berthing, the question still remains: Once we remove it, where do we put it?

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Produced by Galen Koch © 2016. Photos for this story by Galen Koch and Jenny Rebecca Nelson © 2016. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher, Andy Cohen, and Chris Zabriskie. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Jim Buxton keeps his boat, Nomad, at a berth at Merrill's Wharf. In this story he shares his thoughts on Portland's changing waterfront and the importance of maritime work in Portland Harbor.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Photos for this story by Jenny Rebecca Nelson. Music for this piece by Ross Gallagher and Loch Lomond. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Produced by Galen Koch © 2016

On the end of Merrill's Wharf on Portland's waterfront there's an empty lot. This is The Desert, where ground fishermen stretch out and mend their trawl nets.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Photos for this story by Jenny Rebecca Nelson. Music for this piece by Ross Gallagher and Loch Lomond. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Produced by Galen Koch © 2016

Gretchen Frank is the first mate senior designating deckhand on Machigonne II. Five days a week, seven runs a day, Gretchen directs cars and passengers onto the Casco Bay Lines ferry to Peaks Island, Maine.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Produced by Galen Koch © 2016. Photos for this story by Justin Levesque. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher and Loch Lomond. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Ships come in-and-out of Portland Harbor daily carrying precious, and sometimes even hazardous, cargo. This is the story of one ship's passage through the port and the tugboats, and crew, who make that trip possible.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Photos for this story by Jenny Rebecca Nelson. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Produced by Galen Koch © 2016

EM1 Tony Robb and EM3 Alex Tade of the Coast Guard are in charge of keeping the lights burning at 22 lighthouses in Maine. In this story, Tony Robb describes his work and pride in the lighthouse keeping legacy.

Wharfside: Stories of Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront explore the people, places, and work in Portland Harbor through photos, audio stories, and video. This project is made possible by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. Photos for this story by Jenny Rebecca Nelson. Music for this piece provided by Ross Gallagher. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley.

Produced by Galen Koch © 2016

A day on the water with SailMaine instructors and students in Casco Bay. SailMaine provides affordable access to the water through sailing and educational programming. On a foggy day in June, I joined Griffin Gent, Bridget Ruff, and other instructors as they took students out for a sail in the bay.

Photos © Jenny Rebecca Nelson 2016. Music by Ross Gallagher. Animation assistance from Lake Buckley. Produced © Galen Koch 2016. This story is part of the series Wharfside: Stories from Portland Harbor's Working Waterfront. To hear more stories like this one visit wharfside.com

Wharfside is funded by the Waterfront Alliance and Casco Bay Estuary Partnership.