Dear DIPP Stakeholders:

We took a short newsletter hiatus as the Sea Grant project came to a close, but we are back with a number of exciting updates. Before we get to those though, we'd like to send a huge thanks to everyone for their participation in the many workshops, group fieldtrips, and focus area discussions that we've had over the last two years, as well as for taking the time to complete those lengthy surveys. Without your involvement and commitment to the process, DIPP would not have been able to help move projects forward to address shoreline erosion and ditch flooding issues. On that note, below you'll find updates on DNR's Deal Island Shoreline dune reconstruction project. We are also pleased to share news about a grant that Somerset County is pursuing as a first step to address ditch flooding concerns in Oriole and Dames Quarter. We also have updates on other efforts to improve ditch drainage on Hodson White Rd.

While the Sea Grant project work is finished, DIPP continues to forge ahead with support from a NOAA grant that will expand our network with churches to continue efforts to enhance the resilience of the Peninsula (and beyond). We will have updates on this work in the very near future. As always, please get in touch with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely,

The DIPP Team

Update on the Deal Island Shoreline Reconstruction Project

The Deal Island Shoreline Project kicked off last fall at the Deal Island Peninsula Project Shoreline Erosion Workshop. Since discussing the project with community members, Somerset County and Maryland DNR have met with potential contractors and permitting agencies to discuss the project’s scope and design. The County has also completed a competitive bidding process to select a qualified coastal engineer. In February 2018, Somerset County selected Coastline Design, PC to design the shoreline project. Moving forward, the County and DNR will work with Coastline Design to incorporate feedback from the community and permitting agencies.  An updated timeline of the whole project can be found on the Deal Island Shoreline Project page of the website. 

Updates on Efforts to Address Ditch Flooding Concerns 

The letter was accompanied by a collection of signatures from concerned residents impacted by flooding from these ditches, which frequently spill over onto the roadway and neighboring properties during abnormally high tides and storms. We'd especially like to thank Nancy Goldsmith for collecting these signatures. We will keep you informed of future correspondence and updates from SHA as we receive them. 

New Grant Proposal to Assess Open Ditch Drainage Issues in Dames Quater and Oriole

The Somerset County Department of Planning and Zoning is submitting a proposal to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Resiliency Grant Program to carry out an engineering assessment of the ditch drainage systems in Oriole and Dames Quarter. These areas were previously identified through the Sea Grant project work as the areas most vulnerable to nuisance flooding caused by ditch overflow. If funded, the assessment will be the first step in enabling the County to better understand the network of ditches in these areas, identify the problem spots that are preventing proper drainage, and develop projects to address these concerns.

Technical Service Provider Workshop Held in January

On January 24th, DIPP team members Sasha Land and Jen Dindinger led a workshop for technical service providers interested in learning about DIPP's collaborative approaches for flooding and erosion resiliency planning. The workshop was held at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, and included an overview of the Sea Grant funded Integrated Coastal Resiliency Assessment process, and a discussion of successes, challenges, and lessons learned. The workshop ended with a facilitated dialogue about other collaborative projects and approaches being done in the region, and ways in which collaborations could be improved in the future to better connect resources to communities facing socio-environmental vulnerabilities. 

NOAA NERRS at Monie Bay: Update

In the News