On August 30, 2012, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of the Environment announced more than $800,000 in federal, state, and private funding for the creation of “living shorelines,” a technique that combines habitat restoration with erosion control protection for coastal landowners.
In total, 16 homeowner associations, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities were selected to participate in this program, a collaborative multi-state effort designed to encourage the installation and understanding of “living shorelines” throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“Living shorelines” shoreline stabilization techniques use natural habitat elements, instead of bulkhead or riprap, to protect shorelines from erosion while also providing critical habitat for fish, crabs, and other wildlife. Awareness and use of the living shoreline practice, partly as a result of this funding collaborative’s success, has blossomed nation-wide.
The Trust’s Living Shoreline program, now in its seventh year, has awarded more than $4 million and leveraged $7 million in matching funds from landowners throughout Maryland and Virginia. This high leverage rate can be explained by the fact that these types of projects truly help landowners through their dual-purpose nature – erosion control and habitat benefits.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was one of the founding partners of this innovative program which to date, has funded 68 on-the-ground projects in local communities that have created 28,000 linear feet of living shoreline and 18 acres of wetland habitat.
The announcement of more than $800,000 marks the largest amount ever awarded to support this ground-breaking restoration technique, and celebrates the newest partner in the funding collaborative, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. NOAA and the Trust each contributed $275,000 in funding; the Maryland Department of the Environment contributed roughly $200,000; and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources contributed $50,000.
Living Shoreline grant recipients include:
MARYLAND
Annapolis Cove Property Owners Association, Anne Arundel County, $40,000
Baltimore County Department of Recreation & Parks, Baltimore County, $13,336
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Talbot County, $60,000
Chester River Association, Queen Anne’s County, $99,000
Magothy Beach Improvement Association, Anne Arundel County, $100,000
North East Isles, Cecil County, $100,000
Severn Riverkeeper Program, Anne Arundel County, $18,784
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Anne Arundel County, $41,931
South River Federation, Anne Arundel County, $12,880
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s County, $16,500
The Gunston School, Queen Anne’s County, $100,000
West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Anne Arundel County, $39,850
VIRGINIA
City of Norfolk, VA, Norfolk, VA, $134,082
Friends of Norfolk’s Environment, Norfolk, VA, $5,894
Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Prince William County, Virginia, $16,500
The Landings at Bolling Square Community Association, Norfolk, VA, $11,212
For more information on the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Living Shoreline Program visit www.cbtrust.org
source: Chesapeake Bay Trust
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