The eastern shore of the chesapeake BAY region has one of the highest rates of water level rise in the U.S., due to sea level rise and sinking land

The town of oxford is at the forefront of managing and adapting to inundation risks using nature-based infrastructure and habitats, such as salt marshes, with state and federal partners. The proposed project will build the eastern shores capacity to plan for and mitigate the impacts of coastal flooding and inundation. A community liaison for oxford and the lower shore will improve collaboration and engagement with local partners, leading scientists, and funders, and bring those findings to neighboring counties and communities. A new tide gauge in town creek will provide real-time tide data needed to predict flooding. A third component will evaluate how newly installed and mature resilience projects have performed and evolved since their initial construction. This initiative will help the town, state, and NGO partners to maintain and enhance the ecosystem services of marshes, and inform the consideration and siting of natural infrastructure in county and municipal adaptation plans. Requested funds of $1,060,000 will be used to hire two research staff and a community engagement and extension specialists, and will cover research and equipment costs.