Restoration & Conservation Targeting
Targeting for Water Quality – CCS is developing targeting and
prioritization techniques to wisely use our space, time and money when
implementing water quality and coastal resilience solutions. Through a
2012-1014 NOAA Fellowship, staff identified riparian buffer and wetland
restoration opportunities across the coastal zone. CCS staff also
developed a methodology to highlight priority locations for natural
filters. High priority sites have the potential for enhanced water
quality improvement. To view final results, click here to explore the CCS Coastal Atlas.
Targeting for Resilience – Tidal wetlands and
marshes, vegetated buffers, oyster reefs, submerged aquatic vegetation,
Bay islands, beaches, and dunes provide protection to coastal
communities at risk of flooding and other coastal hazards. CCS is
collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to identify natural areas that
will enhance coastal community resilience. This project will
incorporate risk-reduction values into the existing ecological criteria
currently used to target statewide conservation. Spatial data layers
will be developed to identify priority conservation and restoration
areas with risk reduction value for vulnerable coastal communities.
Statewide Coastal Resiliency Assessment
Statewide Targeting Considerations – In addition to
water quality and coastal resilience, broader DNR conservation and
restoration priorities may be considered during site targeting and
selection. A screening process has been developed to 1) identify sites
that align with broader DNR programmatic priorities, and 2) flag sites
with potential programmatic, ecological, cultural, or historic
conflicts.
Maryland’s Natural Filter BMP Screen: Integrating broader state restoration and conservation priorities into BMP implementation decisions.
