A state mapping project shows areas in Maryland that could be susceptible to sea level rise in the future.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked with George Mason University and The Nature Conservancy on the project, which shows viewers the areas that could become wetlands.
By sharing which places could become affected by rising sea levels, DNR conservation resilience planner Sara Coleman hopes people will be able to adjust before it gets too late.
“With these greater insights into the future effects of sea level rise, land managers can proactively identify areas that will be key for wildlife conservation while protecting coastal communities from storm impacts and nuisance flooding,” Coleman said. “This data will improve targeting of land acquisitions and easements, particularly on the lower Eastern Shore where the impacts of sea level rise will be most acute.”
While rising sea levels pose health and safety risks to vulnerable communities, knowing where wetlands could form in the future makes conservation efforts easier. Wetlands provide enhanced water quality, habitats for wildlife and flood protection, according to the press release.
Wetlands also create a buffer for waves, and prevent them from going too far into the shore. The map will help efforts to identify and execute a plan for conserving those areas.
“With the growing impacts of sea level rise, it’s more critical than ever that we protect corridors of land where marshes can successfully migrate and continue to benefit our coastal communities,” said Bob Allen, the Climate Ecosystem Resiliency Director for the Maryland/District of Columbia Chapter of the Nature Society.
Allen said the investments the state makes now will go a long way in the future.
