The Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project reduces coastal storm risk in Ocean City, Maryland. The project is a cost-shared effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District; the state of Maryland; Worcester County; and the Town of Ocean City.

The project consists of the wide, elevated beach berm (essentially the beach, which many may not realize exists to reduce storm risks), the protective sea wall built into the boardwalk and the vegetated dune system that continues north from the boardwalk to the state line.

These elements work together to reduce impacts to the community from big and small coastal storms that cause flooding, storm surge and wave action. The Corps estimates the project has prevented roughly $927 million in damages to Ocean City to date since its completion in the early 1990s.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), has conducted an environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, with USACE serving as the lead agency. The Environmental Assessment (EA), dated December 2019, for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Atlantic Coast Project) entitled Offshore Shoals in Federal Waters as Sand Sources for Ocean City, Maryland, supplements a 2008 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (2008 EIS). The Atlantic Coast Project, authorized through 2044, places sand on the beach of Ocean City, Maryland (MD), to reduce risk of coastal storm damage. 

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) | Appendix A-L | Annex A - Public and Agency Coordination

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (USACE) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project (Project) to evaluate the impacts of dredging several new offshore shoals to provide sand for the project for the years 2010 - 2044. Between 6,800,000 and 15,000,000 cubic yards of sand would be needed through 2044, depending on future storminess.

Record of Decision | Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS)

Annex A - Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Evaluation | Annex B - Additional Environmental and Engineering Information | Annex C - Coordination

Annex D - Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Impacts Analysis | Annex E - List of Preparers