At the end of September, four CoastSmart Communities (CCI) grant recipients for FY2011 completed their projects and have turned in their final reports. These documents are great examples of how to integrate climate change and coastal hazards into local planning.

The City of Annapolis finalized a two-year grant which investigated the effects of sea-level rise on the city, focusing on the City Dock and Eastport areas.  The City hired a consultant to assess the vulnerability of these low-lying areas and to develop planning and regulatory responses to the anticipated impacts of sea level rise in the City.  The City took an innovative approach by compiling a list of relevant policies and regulations that will need to be modified to accommodate higher sea levels.  The report details the issues with each policy as it is currently written and provides recommendations on revisions to the City's code that should be considered.

Anne Arundel County also completed the second part of a two year project, following up on their Phase I Vulnerability Assessment completed last year using a CCI grant.  The Phase II Sea Level Rise Strategic Plan identifies the major planning issues the County will face related to sea level rise and recommends future actions to protect resources and minimize impacts.  The plan prioritizes each recommendation to identify actions that need to be taken in the next few years, in the next five years, and in the longer term.

The Talbot County Planning and Zoning Department finished a project investigating storm water management, shoreline conditions, and threats from sea level rise in the villages of Bellevue, Newcomb and Royal Oak.  The project team identified specific water pollution, flooding and shoreline erosion problem sites within the three villages and evaluated them for potential solutions, keeping the effects of sea-level rise in mind.  As part of the report, estimated costs and potential funding sources were identified for each solution as well as determining next steps for how to implement it.

All three of these reports describe innovative methods for addressing sea-level rise and coastal hazards that could be replicated at the county or municipal level.  These reports, as well as other policy and planning resources will be available in early December in the CoastSmart Communities Online Resource Center.   

The next request for proposals for the CoastSmart Communities Initiative grant program will go out in early 2012 and will be looking to help fund projects that address sea-level rise and coastal hazard planning at the local level.

Communities interested in learning more about CoastSmart Communities and steps they can take to address vulnerability to climate change impacts and resources available to help tackle climate change related risks at the local level should e-mail Jeff Allenby with the Chesapeake & Coastal Program.  

CCP provides a number of technical and financial assistance programs to help coastal and Bay communities conduct sound coastal management and nutrient reduction initiatives.  While CCP manages a number of competitive grant programs that target specific coastal objectives, our staff is always looking for ways to help good projects get matched with the right funding source. When project proposals that fall just outside of the scope of a particular grant program, every effort is made to explore alternate funding sources for solid proposals or to help improve the proposal for future consideration.

If you have a project that needs funding, but do not think it fits neatly into CCP's existing portfolio of grant programs, we invite you to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI).  Simply create a profile in CCP Grants Online and at Question #16 (Funding Source/RFP) select "General Need/LOI Only".  Submitting a LOI is similar to our other grant applications and you should follow the steps through to completion. 

There is no application deadline for letter of intent, they are accepted on a rolling basis. Funding is, of course, not guaranteed but information provided in your LOI will help CCP staff try to match you with an appropriate funding source or recommend other resources that may be available.

Maryland's Watershed Grant Program, an important component of the State's larger Watershed Assistance Collaborative, received 10 applications from local governments and watershed organizations for a total request of over $377,000 for the first round grant cycle in fiscal year 2012.  

Since 2009, The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has offered technical planning and design assistance associated with protection and restoration programs and projects that lead to improved water quality in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Maryland Coastal Bays. Local governments and non-profit organizations are invited to submit requests for assistance two times every fiscal year - spring and fall.  Decisions on funding recipients for this current round will be announced in December.  If you are a local government or non-profit organization and need financial assistance for watershed planning or project design, please visit The Chesapeake Bay Trust www.cbtrust.org and click on grants, and watershed assistance. 
 

To learn more about Maryland's efforts in providing assistance to locals to implement pollution reduction projects and programs to meet water quality standards, please click here to visit the Watershed Assistance Collaborative website or e-mail Brent McCloskey with the Chesapeake & Coastal Program.

Governor O'Malley launched Smart, Green and Growing in 2008 to engage every Marylander in the State's efforts to create a more sustainable future - one that recognizes the inherent connection between our quality of life, our economy and our environment.  

The program is currently seeking partners -- organizations that are helping create a more sustainable future by promoting SGG information to their members, customers and constituents, adopting sustainable practices and sharing their own innovative ideas and successes.

Become an SGG Partner, learn about our state's genuine progress, check out the green registry and more at http://www.green.maryland.gov/. Contact us at sgg@dnr.state.md.us for more information.