Harbor & Stormwater Infrastructure Assessment
Location St. Michaels, MD
Client Town of St. Michaels
Date of Completion 2020
Services #Consulting
Sectors #Coastal Resiliency #Consulting #Environmental #Government #Infrastructure #Marine Facilities #Stormwater Management
GMB assisted the Town of St. Michaels with a Harbor & Stormwater Infrastructure Assessment. The goal of this study was to develop the topography of tidal flooding areas around the harbor as the sea level rises in the next 30 years and outline the issues surrounding stormwater management infrastructure and tidal flooding. This stormwater infrastructure assessment, along with projected impacts, will be used to complete a detailed analysis to develop viable, cost-efficient strategies and projects to prepare for the sea level rise. The focus area is St. Michaels harbors and adjacent infrastructure, including roads, culverts, pedestrian sidewalks, docks, bulkheads. Emphasis will be placed on the impact on waterfront businesses, residents, museums, B&B’s and hotels.
The final document will be used in the decision-making process for future capital projects and to update the Town’s floodplain ordinances and Hazard Mitigation Plans as required by the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. In fact, a Climate Change / Sea Level Rise Commission has been formed from the recommendations in the report, and GMB retained as a technical advisor to the Town and Commission. The final report defined the topography of nuisance flooding in the areas surrounding the Town’s harbors 2020 through 2050 and used the stormwater and harbor infrastructure inventory to identify and prioritize issues and recommend innovative adaptation projects.
GMB’s tasks included:
- Assess tidal flooding and identify infrastructure, community assets, and properties at risk
- Document and map the stormwater and harbor infrastructure using GIS
- Identify, categorize, and prioritize deficiencies in the overall system and develop an implementation plan that includes phases, timeline and budget
- Draft floodplain ordinance language and waterway management regulations and identify language and/or projects that could be included in the next Talbot County Hazard Mitigation Plan