The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of maryland to help administer the states…

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of maryland to help administer the states federally approved coastal management program. The national coastal zone management program, under the coastal zone management act, is an important voluntary federal-state partnership that protects, restores, and responsibly develops our nations coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection. Noaas investment of $3.1M is leveraging over $2.6M in state funds. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the maryland coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the state including coastal hazards and climate change, ocean planning, and habitat restoration and protection. Activities funded through this award will result in the advancement of innovative approaches for financing and implementing programs that reduce coastal nonpoint source pollution and increase the number of local communities prepared to undertake on-the-ground restoration and resilience projects. The award also will continue support for a statewide approach to enhance community and ecosystem resilience through better planning, design, and targeting of nature-based infrastructure strategies known as the resilience through restoration initiative. Watershed restoration specialists will increase awareness and adoption of coastal resilience practices and offer technical and funding assistance to implement improved water quality measures among stakeholders in marylands upper eastern shore counties of cecil, kent, queen annes, talbot, and caroline and in the northern maryland region containing harford county, baltimore county, and baltimore city. The award is also funding a number of local projects or initiatives including: creation of watershed master plans for the gwynns falls and baltimore harbor watersheds of baltimore city. These plans will holistically address flooding with the objective of guiding future community development in strategic ways fulfilling state requirements under maryland house bill 1427. Design plans for a tide gate on SAN domingo creek in ST. Michaels, MD to regulate upstream sea level rise and storm surge impacts thereby increasing community resilience and sustaining the use of the ST. Michaels nature trail bridge natural area. Establishment of a multi-use watershed assessment for west ocean city in consideration of future development related to offshore wind transmission and its impacts on existing harbor uses including commercial fishermen and the maryland natural resources police.