Multiagency partners enhance Chesapeake Bay coastline under Hurricane Sandy Resiliency program

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Published Nov. 5, 2021
Updated: Nov. 5, 2021
Matt Whitbeck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisory biologist, examines shoreline protection improvements during a coastal resiliency project tour at Smith Island near Ewell, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Recent hurricane events have emphasized the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas to natural disasters through the combination of changing climate, geological processes, and accelerating sea level rise and shoreline erosion. Improving resilience—the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions with minimal damage—is a crucial objective of reducing risk. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Matt Whitbeck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisory biologist, examines shoreline protection improvements during a coastal resiliency project tour at Smith Island near Ewell, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Recent hurricane events have emphasized the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas to natural disasters through the combination of changing climate, geological processes, and accelerating sea level rise and shoreline erosion. Improving resilience—the ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions with minimal damage—is a crucial objective of reducing risk. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Jason Peters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Regulatory Senior Project Manager (front), and Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, navigate shoreline protection structures engineered to protect areas of low-lying marsh and dune habitats during a tour of coastal resiliency projects near Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. USACE supports an integrated strategy for reducing coastal risks and increasing human and ecosystem community resilience by combining the full array of measures: natural, nature-based, nonstructural, and structural. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Jason Peters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Regulatory Senior Project Manager (front), and Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, navigate shoreline protection structures engineered to protect areas of low-lying marsh and dune habitats during a tour of coastal resiliency projects near Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. USACE supports an integrated strategy for reducing coastal risks and increasing human and ecosystem community resilience by combining the full array of measures: natural, nature-based, nonstructural, and structural. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Jim Gunn, Coastal Design and Construction, Inc. Captain, and marine construction contractor, navigates the Chesapeake Bay towards a pelican pod during a multiagency tour of shoreline protection projects permitted  along sections of Rhodes Point, at Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District’s Regulatory Program worked with project proponents to protect vulnerable sections of Chesapeake Bay coastline for a Hurricane Sandy Resiliency project post construct. Through the regulatory review process, USACE is responsible for evaluating coastal resilience actions that aim to protect the Nation’s aquatic resources through fair and balanced permitting decisions. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Jim Gunn, Coastal Design and Construction, Inc. Captain, and marine construction contractor, navigates the Chesapeake Bay towards a pelican pod during a multiagency tour of shoreline protection projects permitted along sections of Rhodes Point, at Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District’s Regulatory Program worked with project proponents to protect vulnerable sections of Chesapeake Bay coastline for a Hurricane Sandy Resiliency project post construct. Through the regulatory review process, USACE is responsible for evaluating coastal resilience actions that aim to protect the Nation’s aquatic resources through fair and balanced permitting decisions. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Multiagency shoreline protection partners discuss shoreline response to a series of coastal resiliency projects during a tour of ongoing monitoring of Martin Island and surrounding Smith Island communities near Rhodes Point, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, serves as permit processing and project review advisors for interagency partner developments. Furthermore, they strategically apply science, engineering, and public policy to help configure integrated approaches to risk reduction. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Multiagency shoreline protection partners discuss shoreline response to a series of coastal resiliency projects during a tour of ongoing monitoring of Martin Island and surrounding Smith Island communities near Rhodes Point, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, serves as permit processing and project review advisors for interagency partner developments. Furthermore, they strategically apply science, engineering, and public policy to help configure integrated approaches to risk reduction. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, photographs shoreline protection improvements during a tour of coastal resiliency projects near Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Shoreline protection involves restoring and protecting banks of streams, lakes, estuaries, and excavated channels against scour and erosion by using vegetative plantings, soil bioengineering, and structural systems. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, photographs shoreline protection improvements during a tour of coastal resiliency projects near Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Shoreline protection involves restoring and protecting banks of streams, lakes, estuaries, and excavated channels against scour and erosion by using vegetative plantings, soil bioengineering, and structural systems. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Matthew Whitbeck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisory wildlife biologist for the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, evaluates shoreline protection efforts near the Fog Point sections of a coastal resiliency projects designed to protect Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The USFWS provides critical coastal wetland habitat conservation practices ensuring that essential habitat, wildlife, and coastal communities thrive. They also help deter vulnerabilities in climate change, storm stress, sea-level rise, human activity, and invasive species. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Matthew Whitbeck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supervisory wildlife biologist for the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, evaluates shoreline protection efforts near the Fog Point sections of a coastal resiliency projects designed to protect Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The USFWS provides critical coastal wetland habitat conservation practices ensuring that essential habitat, wildlife, and coastal communities thrive. They also help deter vulnerabilities in climate change, storm stress, sea-level rise, human activity, and invasive species. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, examines shoreline protection improvements during a tour of coastal resiliency projects implemented along sections of Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The purpose of these projects is to effectively reduce erosion along the shoreline and protect valuable habitat and human interests on the island while maintaining the ecological integrity of shoreline and nearshore environments. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Scott Hardaway, Coastline Design and Construction, Inc., first mate, examines shoreline protection improvements during a tour of coastal resiliency projects implemented along sections of Rhodes Point, Smith Island, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The purpose of these projects is to effectively reduce erosion along the shoreline and protect valuable habitat and human interests on the island while maintaining the ecological integrity of shoreline and nearshore environments. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

A pelican pod positions alongside a low-profile stone protection structure engineered to protect an eroding section of coastline of Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge, at Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021.  Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge is composed primarily of estuarine wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and scattered upland habitats, appearing like islands of high ground within vast expanses of tidal marsh. These upland sites provide nesting habitats for wading birds and other colonial waterbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

A pelican pod positions alongside a low-profile stone protection structure engineered to protect an eroding section of coastline of Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge, at Smith Island, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. Martin Island National Wildlife Refuge is composed primarily of estuarine wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and scattered upland habitats, appearing like islands of high ground within vast expanses of tidal marsh. These upland sites provide nesting habitats for wading birds and other colonial waterbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Multiagency shoreline protection partners navigate the Chesapeake Bay during a coastal resiliency project tour as part of ongoing monitoring of Martin Island and surrounding Smith Island communities near Rhodes Point, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The practical implementation of an integrated approach to flood and coastal flood hazard mitigation relies on a collaborative, shared responsibility framework between Federal, state, and local agencies and the public. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)

Multiagency shoreline protection partners navigate the Chesapeake Bay during a coastal resiliency project tour as part of ongoing monitoring of Martin Island and surrounding Smith Island communities near Rhodes Point, Somerset County, Md., Oct. 7, 2021. The practical implementation of an integrated approach to flood and coastal flood hazard mitigation relies on a collaborative, shared responsibility framework between Federal, state, and local agencies and the public. (U.S. Army photo by Greg Nash)