Shoreline Management

Shoreline erosion is one of the most significant threats to our State’s coastal zone. Accelerated sea level rise and increased storm frequency and/or intensity as a result of climate change will only further the risk for coastal communities, public infrastructure and vital habitats.

Maryland’s coastal wetlands and barrier and bay islands play a vital role in protecting the State’s shoreline and coastal communities by absorbing the damaging impact of coastal floods, heavy winds, and strong waves. CCP continues to play a vital role in addressing coastal erosion, specifically with the promotion of “living shorelines” techniques.

Coastal Atlas: Shorelines Mapping Tool

The Coastal Atlas’ Shorelines mapping tool allows users to access state shoreline erosion data, visualize coastal inundation from storms and identify areas at risk to sea level rise. Potential shoreline management applications for this tool include: aiding shoreline management decisions by identifying areas of high erosion and a way to visualize potential shoreline positions in 50 years; accessing the Comprehensive Shoreline Inventory - an array of information such as riparian land use, bank condition, and shoreline features (erosion control and access structures) on a county by county basis to assist policy development at local and state levels of government; and determining areas where living shorelines are appropriate for a limited number of counties.

Living Shorelines Workshop Series

Training workshops for contractors, local managers and private landowners on implementing “living shoreline” protection practices to minimize shoreline erosion and protect upland properties. Topics covered have included: site visits and determining if a living shoreline is appropriate, state and county permits, working with a contractor, financial assistance for projects, and more. To date, workshops for private landowners have been conducted in partnership with Worcester, Kent, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert Counties.

Living Shorelines Outreach Materials

• Living Shorelines outdoor interpretive panels: Kent and Worcester Counties


• Living Shorelines Project Selection Brochures: Kent, Worcester, Somerset, Calvert Counties


• Shore Erosion Control: The Natural Approach

Shoreline Erosion: What are my options?

Shoreline Erosion: What are my options? is a poster series, broken down by county, that highlights some of the issues to consider when selecting a shoreline management project. Selecting the appropriate shoreline management option is critical not only to controlling erosion but also to restoring and maintaining near-shore habitat, like beaches and wetlands. The key to selecting a suitable option is to understand the characteristics and history of the particular stretch of shoreline. Important shoreline characteristics to consider are:

• How has the shoreline changed over time and how fast has it changed?
• How deep is the adjacent water?
• How long is the fetch the distance that wind blows over water before reaching land?

Select a county and click to view the poster.

Anne Arundel	Kent
Baltimore	Prince George’s
Calvert	Queen Anne’s
Caroline	St. Mary’s
Charles	Somerset
Cecil	Talbot
Dorchester	Wicomico
Harford	Worcester

State of Maryland Shore Erosion Task Force: Final Report, 2000

In Focus

Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Erosion in Maryland: A Management Guide

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Baltimore District, to study erosion on the shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay main stem and tidal tributaries in Maryland. To support shoreline management in the Bay, the document “Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Erosion in Maryland: A Management Guide,” has been produced to address three needs:

• Identify areas around the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland where ecological, socioeconomic, or cultural resources may be vulnerable to effects from shoreline erosion over 50 years.
• Provide information on using stand-alone and online Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools to screen and evaluate potential impacts from shoreline erosion.
• Present background data and studies that may be used to support shoreline erosion project formulation.