Frequently Asked Questions

Tackling Our Flood Problems

I regularly see flooding between 5th and 9th Streets along Bay, Annapolis, and Atlantic Avenues whenever there’s a big storm—or even a heavy rain or high tide.  Why does this happen?

Like many communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, North Beach has experienced heavier and more frequent flooding in recent years from storms and tidal surges. Sea-level rise and increasing precipitation associated with climate change have exacerbated the historic flooding problems in the Town and put a spotlight on infrastructure that is aging and is, frankly, under-designed given what we have experienced. It has necessitated the Town acting on flood mitigation measures over the short- and long-term. 

Is the Town doing anything to deal with its flooding problem?

In recognition of the increased frequency of coastal and stormwater flooding, the Town established a Flood Committee in 2019. This committee is comprised of Town staff and residents who work together to develop and implement a comprehensive flood action plan. (Agendas and minutes for Committee meetings can be found here.)

The comprehensive flood action plan has two phases:

  • Phase 1—a framework outlining the elements of the plan—was completed (with a $35,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Committee) and approved by the Town Council in April 2021. The entire framework can be found on the Flood Committee Web Page.   
  • Phase 2 is underway with a $75,000 grant from the Maryland DNR to develop a flood action plan to address the Town’s flooding problems and recommend specific action items. After issuing an RFP, the Town selected BayLand Consultant and Designers, Inc., of Hanover, Md to develop this plan. Once the plan is complete, the Town will likely seek funding (federal, state, county, local, blended) to move forward on implementing the recommendations.

The Town’s Department of Community Conservation has consistently provided “green” sustainability programs for residents. The projects include the restoration of living shorelines and nature-based solutions which can mitigate flood damage.

The Town is also investigating whether there are any funding opportunities within the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

What are some of the other flooding solutions under consideration—both short-term and long-term?

The Town is currently working on several other solutions which are described in detail on the Flood Committee Web Page. Solutions currently underway include a new 5th Street pump station, which will be partially funded through a grant from the State of Maryland.  The Town is also looking to secure grant funding for other projects including a new pump station at 7th Street, an upgrade to the 9th Street pump station, as well as improvements to the rock seawall along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue shoreline. The expectation is that the comprehensive flood action plan (described above in Q2) will include nature-based solutions as well as structural/engineering and policy/planning recommendations.

What is the status of these short-term and long-term projects?

Design for the 5th Street pump station has been approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).  The Town completed an RFP in the summer of 2022 and a contractor has been selected.  DPW expects to have the work completed by the end of 2022. Applications were submitted January 31, 2022, to the MDE requesting nearly $2 million in funds for three infrastructure projects:

  • Building a new pump station at 7th Street and Atlantic Avenue,
  • Upgrading the 9th Street pump station, and
  • Enhancing the rock seawall along the Atlantic Avenue shoreline.

The grant submissions were a joint effort by the DPW, Town staff, and the Stormwater & Flood Committee. The MDE is expected to act on the applications by December 2022. In addition to the MDE grants, the Town also filed Notices of Interest with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management in August 2022 to pursue FEMA grants for these three projects. The work for the development of the comprehensive flood action plan was awarded to BayLand Consultant and Designers in May 2022. It is estimated that the action plan will be completed within a year. 

When there’s a heavy rain many of the homes on my street are inundated with water. Will these solutions deal with flooding in all areas of the town, not just the waterfront?  

The projects that North Beach is undertaking address both coastal flooding from the Bay and stormwater flooding. While the North Beach waterfront has perhaps the most visually dramatic flood problems, there are significant “inland” issues as well, i.e., flooding in portions of Greenwood Avenue, water-soaked yards, poor drainage leading to wet basements, etc. That’s why all of the areas within North Beach town limits are included in the scope of the comprehensive flood action plan framework. This includes 1st Street to 11th Street and Atlantic Avenue to Greenwood Avenue. For residents who are looking for solutions to water-soaked yards, a good resource is the Calvert County Watershed Stewards.

I live in North Beach, but not on the waterfront and I am not directly impacted by flooding.  What does this mean for me?

Even though some homes may experience little or no impact from severe weather events or heavy rain, flooding disrupts the whole community—roads are closed, traffic is diverted, services (like trash pick-up) are suspended, businesses are closed (or inaccessible).  And critical community resources like emergency services and outreach to the more vulnerable in the community come under intense strain. The flooding also has environmental impacts, increasing the amount of polluted runoff to the Bay and adjacent wetlands. In short, the habitual flooding in North Beach has physical impacts to the Town (damage to our natural and built environments), economic consequences (damage to homes and business, loss of tax revenue) and adverse effects on the quality of life for residents (disruption to business, community events, and the public safety).

What resources is the Town devoting to these efforts?  Will these projects raise my taxes?

Currently, the Town is relying on a grant from the Maryland DNR to fund the vast majority of the cost for developing a comprehensive flood action plan.  Once the plan is developed and its recommendations are studied and prioritized, the Town will likely engage a variety of sources (federal, state, county, local, blended) to fund the implementation. The Town has either secured or is in the process of seeking funding for the pump stations and other infrastructure-oriented flood mitigation projects.  It is worth noting that the Town spent over $35,000 in repairs to the boardwalk and other infrastructure following the October 2021 storm. As mentioned previously, the Town is also investigating whether there are any funding opportunities within the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Will Town residents have the opportunity to see the “comprehensive flood action plan” and offer input before any final decisions are made?

Yes. There will be several check-in points through the development of the comprehensive flood action plan that call for community input. Surveys, public presentations, and other communications are planned as an integral part of the process. The Town wants to be sure that the concerns and experiences of all residents are shared and understood. The Flood Committe page is a good place to keep up with flood-related activities.

How is this different from previous flood mitigation studies done by the Town?

The Town has had to cope with coastal hazards, extreme weather, stormwater flooding and high tides for many years. But it has gotten worse. We’ve endured heavier and more frequent instances of all these events. Just as the flood and stormwater “behavior” has changed over the years, our need to respond has changed. This plan is looking at flood and stormwater impact not just for the next few years but also for 2030, 2050 and as far out as 2100. The goal of the current comprehensive flood action plan is to identify projects, programs, and strategies that will make a direct impact on both coastal and stormwater flooding. The Town recognizes that we need to act and develop real solutions to address the flooding and its detrimental impact to the shoreline, wetland areas, roadways, residential and commercial structures, and public safety.

In the meantime, is there anything I can do to help? Even if I am not directly affected by flooding?

Volunteer with the Flood Committee. There will be a need for help, especially as the Flood Action Plan is implemented. Download and use the My Coast: Maryland app to share current flood pictures. Instructions can be found here. Participate, engage, comment, take the surveys … we need robust community input to make this plan work. 

Where can I keep up to date?