{"id":33619,"date":"2021-06-07T09:18:11","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T13:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=33619"},"modified":"2021-06-07T09:18:11","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T13:18:11","slug":"resiliency-through-restoration-program-breaks-ground-at-church-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2021\/06\/07\/resiliency-through-restoration-program-breaks-ground-at-church-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Resiliency Through Restoration Program Breaks Ground at Church Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living Shoreline and Wetland Installation in Anne Arundel County<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo by Stephen Badger\/Maryland Department of Natural Resources<\/p><\/div>\n

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces resilient shoreline and wetland features are being installed at the West River United Methodist Center, a camp and outdoor recreation facility in southern Anne Arundel County. This groundbreaking is the first of numerous projects supported by Governor Hogan\u2019s <\/span>Resiliency through Restoration<\/span><\/a> Initiative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This innovative restoration project is located on the West River in an area vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and coastal storm impacts. An 885-linear-foot living shoreline with vegetated breakwater and cobble beach components is being constructed to address rising tides, replace a failing bulkhead, enhance wildlife habitat, and help protect infrastructure from storm surge and coastal impacts. These natural features are complemented by 430 linear feet of regenerative stormwater conveyance wetland, designed to safely convey stormwater through the campus and to the shoreline.<\/span><\/p>\n

The initiative supports\u00a0<\/span>restoration targeting<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>design and construction<\/span><\/a> of nature-based projects, monitoring, adaptive management, community outreach and education \u2013 all activities necessary for community-driven restoration and resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the Governor\u2019s leadership, Maryland launched the Resiliency through Restoration Initiative to find smart solutions for flooding and other weather and climate impacts in our coastal communities,\u201d Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio said. \u201cThese demonstration projects maximize the use of nature-based green infrastructure solutions such as living shorelines, dunes and wetlands as an important line of defense for coastal and community protection.\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

The project site is managed by the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, which includes environmental education in its summer camping program. The camp typically hosts more than 10,000 visitors from school-aged children to adults participating in camp, conference, and club events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe living shoreline project is a win-win all around,\u201d says Chris Schlieckert, Director of the West River Center. \u201cWhen a camper or guest comes to The West River Center, our goal is for them to experience and grow in their love of God, self, neighbor, and nature. The living shoreline helps us achieve each of these goals by enhancing the beauty of the shoreline and helping our guests feel connected with the water. It provides educational opportunities as a part of our nature center programs with young people. And of course, it helps us be better environmental stewards by providing habitat, improving water quality, and advancing shoreline resiliency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the center, project partners include DNR Chesapeake and Coastal Service, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and project contractors Underwood and Associates and Sustainable Science.<\/span><\/p>\n

Resiliency through Restoration projects are solicited annually through the DNR <\/span>Grants Gateway<\/span><\/a>. Current resilience projects are in various stages of development and include:<\/span><\/p>\n