You have probably heard of "whale tails," but maybe you thought it was a children’s story. In this case, it’s a $1.5 million project in Ocean City to protect homes from the water. I was lucky enough to see this in person on our latest visit to the Eastern Shore to take a look at resilience and sustainability projects in Worcester and Wicomico counties.
Whale tails are actually stone barriers created to protect the shoreline from flooding. The two-year project was part of a broader effort to design six shoreline restoration, stormwater, and wetland enhancement projects in four jurisdictions across the state to demonstrate the protective benefits of nature-based solutions.
The "tails" were used to restore the marsh along a stretch of Selsey Road that protects about 20 homes from flooding during abnormally high tides.
I also received a warm reception at the Wicomico County Youth & Civic Center with a beautiful lunch and a trolley ride to tour recently-developed stormwater restoration projects. We visited vulnerable communities impacted by failing well water systems. I needed to visit these communities to understand better how we can support them before a tragedy occurs.
The Department of the Environment plays a critical role in regulating and providing funding to upgrade water and wastewater treatment facilities, which are so important on the shore because they directly affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. We are working with these jurisdictions to employ the latest technology to keep our water clean.
It’s been a busy fall season for me, full of action to make Maryland cleaner, greener and more resilient. As we prepare for the holidays, I want to share the importance of gathering with family and friends. Gathering together over the holidays allows us to create a sense of belonging. We get to share stories, laugh at old memories, and even start new traditions. It's a beautiful way to reconnect.
I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving where we can share fellowship and the bounty of our clean air, water and land.
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