$3M Improves Anne Arundel Shorelines
Ecological engineering works to prevent erosion
Two new shoreline restoration projects funded by the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (WPRP) means protection for the Bay and another step toward reaching the county’s federal pollution reduction permits.
The award of $3.016 million to Hanover-based BayLand Consultants & Designer, Inc., and sub-contractor, Shoreline Design, LLC, of Edgewater will be used to restore 2,875 feet of shoreline.
The projects will create a living shoreline in the St. Margaret’s area of the Broadneck peninsula, on the north side of the mouth of the Severn River, and the other is an extension of a living shoreline at Jack Creek Park in Shady Side, where previous work stabilized about 2,400 feet of shoreline and added public access.
The Severn River project will replace an “almost completely disintegrated” bulkhead, says Erik Michelsen, WPRP administrator. The project will stabilize the shoreline with stone breakwaters and marsh plantings.
The work will support county permits that aim to reduce and eliminate pollution from rainfall runoff which flows through storm drain systems to local waterways. Within Anne Arundel County, the Department of Public Works is the lead department tasked with ensuring compliance with permit conditions.
“Clean water is fundamental to who we are and what we value as stewards of Anne Arundel County. High quality creeks and streams, stable and ecologically diverse rivers, fully functional wetlands, and a healthy Chesapeake Bay are critical elements to a robust economy, resilient communities, and a vibrant quality of life,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “This partnership shows that we are making significant progress in both effectively and efficiently improving our waters.”
This is the fourth award in the county’s Water Quality improvements contract, launched in 2016. The program helps the county work with private sector partners to design, build and maintain environmental restoration projects that improve bay health. The public/private partnership serves as a model for creating innovative and cost-effective watershed restoration projects and has awarded $12 million to projects since its inception.