Since 2009 Maryland has worked with a diverse set of stakeholders and resource managers to identify areas off the Atlantic Coast that would support offshore renewable wind energy development and potential submarine transmission pathways, while minimizing natural resource and human use conflicts.  To help inform decision-making, the Chesapeake and Coastal Program (CCP) partnered with the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS) during summer 2011 to conduct ocean habitat survey work.  By using primarily acoustic remote classification instruments and benthic grab samples in an approximately 3x3 square nautical mile area off Ocean City, a better map of benthic types has started to emerge.

Starting in Fall 2011, the Department of Natural Resources' Power Plant Research Program (PPRP) is partnering with Versar to take preliminary remote classification data and conduct biological sampling in some of the habitat types identified from the sonar maps.  CCP staff went out on boat field sampling days with MGS and Versar to collect information and conduct sampling.  Most recently, in September, CCP staff went out with Versar to participate in biological sampling of coarse sand, fine sand and mud habitats.  A great diversity of living resources were sampled including bay and striped anchovy, butterfish, cannonball jellyfish, hogchoker, horseshoe crabs, weakfish, windowpane flounder, spider and lady crabs and many other species.

By combining the results of these two projects and leveraging funding sources, this will allow Maryland to begin to more effectively characterize the biological communities associated with the benthic habitats off Maryland's Atlantic Coast.  The information from these projects will inform decisions about potential submarine transmission corridors and other ocean use work.  CCP and MGS will expand this work through 2012 to process all of the benthic data and samples and survey another section of State Atlantic Ocean waters.

For more information on this project and related activities in Maryland's ocean waters, e-mail oceanplanning@dnr.state.md.us or click here to visit CCP's Coastal Resources webpage. 

COASTSMART RECOVERY AFTER HURRICANE IRENE

CCP Provides New Resources to Coastal Communities Impacted 

The CoastSmart Recovery and Freeboard factsheets are available on CCP's website at: http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/publications.asp

Recent storms and flooding have reminded people all along the East Coast about the risks associated with living in the coastal zone.  While Hurricane Irene did not produce the amount of storm surge in the Chesapeake Bay as previous storms have, it is important to remember that coastal flooding will continue to be a threat and is expected to affect areas further inland in the future due to changing sea-levels and the potential increase in storm intensity and frequency.  

CWRAC AND CCP CO-HOST A COASTAL COMMUNITIES EXCHANGE

Local Governments, Decision-makers and Coastal Residents Gathered in St. Michaels to Learn How Other Communities are Addressing Coastal Issues 

On Friday, September 16, fifty-five participants representing local, state and federal governments, universities, consultants, and nonprofit organizations attended this interactive workshop at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. The purpose of the Coastal Communities Exchange was to serve as a venue to highlight projects completed or underway in Maryland's coastal zone (many of those supported by CCP funding made possible through NOAA grants); to share ideas and lessons learned; to discuss best practices; and to share products and outcomes that might be applicable to - or replicable in - other coastal communities.

The Coastal Communities Exchange featured the following:

• Anne Arundel County presented on their on their project to develop a Sea Level Rise Strategic Plan 
• Talbot County shared details of their project to conduct Coastal Management for Traditional Villages  
• Presenting on their ongoing efforts to establish stormwater utilities in their communities was Ocean City and the Town of Centreville
• The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center presented on the Watershed Assistance Collaborative's launch of the Stormwater Financing Unit
• New CoastSmart Communities Planner, Jeff Allenby, introduced the new factsheet resources available through the CoastSmart Communities Online Resource Center and reported on the development status of the CoastSmart Communities Scorecard, a community self-assessment tool
• The City of Cambridge shared their experience from being selected as a pilot community for EPA's Sustainable Building Blocks Workshop and discussed their current project: "Code and Ordinance Modification to Address Nonpoint Source Pollution and Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise"
• The Georgetown Law Center presented their work developing a Model Zoning Sea Level Rise Ordinance for Maryland
• Providing an example from another coastal state was the Delaware Sea Grant College Program who presented on a pilot project in the City of Lewes, Delaware for Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change
• The Critical Area Commission shared their work on the development of a Buffer Resource Guide
• The Lower Eastern Shore office of the Maryland Department of Planning shared how CCP and MDP were able to partner to provide Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Ordinance Updates for Seven Small Lower Eastern Shore Municipalities
• The Town of Queenstown reviewed their projects to develop an Integrated Community Design Document and a Transportation Element for their Comprehensive Plan
• Lastly, members of the Coastal and Watershed Resources Advisory Committee (CWRAC) described the role and recent involvement of CWRAC in influencing coastal policy and invited Exchange attendees to get involved with CWRAC and to attend the next meeting on October 28, 2011.

CCP is working on making the day's agenda, the presentations and handouts available for download on our website.  Check back in October. 

DNR has been partnering with the MIPS program for almost four years to administer research and development projects under the Innovative Technology Fund.  MIPS has played a critical role in administering the Innovative Technology Fund by identifying potential projects, working with University researchers and providing business development reviews.  The next round of research and development proposals is due October 17, 2011; please visit the MIPS webpage for application instructions. 

For more information, e-mail Sarah Lane or click here to visit the Innovative Technology Fund website.