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Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $2.8 million for Coastal Management Program in Maryland

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $2.8 million in federal funding to help administer Maryland’s federally approved coastal management program. This funding was provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Coastal Zone Management Program to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

This investment will create jobs and provide continued assistance on everything from coastal hazards and recurrent flooding, to habitat protection and water quality, to education and public outreach, to new costal community and ecosystem resilience projects. It will also fund specific local projects, including:

  • The City of Crisfield will conduct a drainage system assessment aimed at reducing the incidence of storm-induced and tidal flooding.
  • Talbot County will update its green infrastructure plan to proactively address future impacts related to flooding, storm surges, and shore erosion to protect critical County infrastructure and facilities.
  • The Town of St. Michaels will consider the impact of stormwater infrastructure deficiencies in and around their harbor and develop potential solutions to aid in flood mitigation.

“With over 3,000 miles of coastline, countless communities across our state rely on effective coastal management practices  – and their work is vital to protecting homes, businesses and ecosystems. As our coastlines are increasingly impacted by rising sea levels and other effects of climate change, I will continue working in Congress to ensure that Maryland has the resources it needs to engage in this vital work,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Environment and Public Works Committees. 

“The effects of climate change on Maryland’s coastline will be a significant challenge for years to come,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Chesapeake Bay Program partners committed to the goal of increasing the resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including its living resources, habitats, public infrastructure and communities. Achieving it requires the sustained and coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local government entities. I am pleased by this commitment and will continue to advocate for similar investments.”  

NOAA, which is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, is a scientific agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere. 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 nation's coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection.

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