The Lower Shore planning conference is designed to be an interactive opportunity to learn about emerging issues and provide thoughts on how we as a community can move forward to respond in ways that maintain the open land, clean water, healthy farmland, and rural economies that make the Shore so special.
• To explore and learn about emerging issues and their impacts to land, water, and local communities
• To discuss responses and solutions that will protect Lower Shore’s land, water, and local communities in the face of change
• To identify actions that could be further explored by local leaders and community members through future collaboration—including farm and forest conservation, watershed protection and restoration, hazard mitigation, planning for renewables, and more.
9:00 am Welcome and Overview — Auditorium
9:15 Opening Plenary
Dr. Michael Scott, Department of Geography and Geosciences, Salisbury University
10:00 am Opening remarks and overview–
Managing Risk in a Changing Environment
Dr. Sara Via, Professor, Professor and Climate Extension Specialist
Dept. of Entomology & University of Maryland Extension
10:20 am Panel 1: Climate Impacts to Coastal Communities
• Facilitator: Jen Dindinger, Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist, Sea Grant Extension Program, University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Speakers:
Sea-level rise, salt water intrusion, and local water quality:
Dani Weissman, PhD candidate, University of Maryland; Graduate Research Assistant, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC)
Rising seas and hazard mitigation:
Elizabeth Habic, Maryland State Highway Administration Climate Change Program Manager
Sasha Land, Chesapeake & Coastal Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Dr. Sara Via
11:20 am Break
11:30 am Breakout Discussions – Classrooms #151 and 149
These facilitated breakout discussions provide an opportunity for participants to react to information shared during the plenary, to identify important topics, and suggest possible solutions and responses
12:15 pm Lunch in Atrium
Information tables available featuring local resources, including the Salisbury University Senior Seminar, MARBIDCO, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, Wicomico Environmental Trust, Land Trust Alliance, and more.
12:45 pm Key Note Remarks
Dr. Memo Diriker, Founding Director of the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON), Salisbury University
1:15 pm Panel 2: Meeting Renewable Energy Goals on the Lower Shore
Facilitator: Dr. Mike Lewis, Chair, Department of Environmental Studies
Professor of Environmental Studies and History, Salisbury University
Speakers:
Al Bartlett, Executive and Energy Committees Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter
and Board Member Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility
Lauren Barchi, Maryland Program Director, Solar United Neighbors
Finn McCabe, GroundStar Energy, Inc.
Helen M. Spinelli, AICP, Principal Planner, Queen Anne’s County Planning & Zoning
2:30 pm Breakout Discussion
Brian Ambrette, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will facilitate a discussion on issues of interest from the second panel, and about a new potential collaborative partnership to build regional capacity to respond to the changes and challenges discussed today.
3:00 pm Closing Remarks
Kate Patton, Executive Director, Lower Shore Land Trust
