BALTIMORE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) are holding an open house Sept. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Maryland Department of the Environment to provide information and seek input on a coastal storm risk management study for Baltimore.

This $3 million study, with the cost shared evenly between the Corps and MDOT, will focus on coastal flooding issues and potential solutions for key vulnerable locations in Baltimore. Key locations include regionally critical infrastructure, such as port terminals, highways, evacuation routes, local airport authority facilities and Martin State Airport, hospitals and public utilities that are susceptible to coastal flooding.

“The end goal of this study is to consider options that could reduce life safety concerns, economic damages and other disruptions from coastal flooding, incorporating future climate and sea level change,” said Col. John Litz, Army Corps, Baltimore District commander.

In Baltimore City, damages due to coastal flooding are estimated at $2.2 million annually. An increase in mean sea level by as much as 5.4 feet is estimated by the year 2100.

The study team will assess the implementation of structural, non-structural and nature-based coastal flood risk management solutions at different locations. Potential measures include deployable floodwalls and levees; building retrofits and enhanced evacuation planning; and drainage improvements and living shorelines.

WHAT

Open house for the Baltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

WHERE

Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21230

WHEN

Monday, Sept. 23, 2019

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.*

*The meeting is an open house format, so people can come and go any time during the timeframe; however, an optional, brief presentation on the study will be provided at 7:30 p.m.

WHY

The Baltimore metropolitan coastal region was identified as a high-risk area in the Army Corps’ North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study. This study was commissioned by Congress as a part of the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort and was completed in 2015.

In addition to the open house, members of the public are encouraged to share any information related to flooding or flood risk management that may be relevant to the study, including reports, photos or other digital data, as well as climate change impact analyses or studies, via an email to CENAB-CC@usace.army.mil.

For more information on the study, visit: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/baltimore-coastal-study/