Maryland Climate Leadership Academy Newsletter
Fall 2022 | Issue #3

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Created in 2019, MyCoast: Maryland is an initiative designed to give you a platform where you can share photos to document on the ground impacts of flooding and damage that are attributed to rain, storms, or high tides. Photos are linked to precipitation, riverine, and tidal data to create reports that help government agencies, business owners, and residents understand impacts in your community and encourage action to reduce localized flooding.

Reporting High Tide Flooding

High Tide Flooding, also known as nuisance flooding or sunny day flooding and is coastal flooding that occurs at high tide and interrupts day to day activities leading to a public inconvenience such as road closures, and overwhelmed storm drains. A combination of sea level rise and land subsidence is leading to more frequent tidal nuisance flood events in our coastal communities. Higher than normal tides typically occur during a new or full moon and when the moon is in a perigee or during specific seasons. We are most likely to experience nuisance flooding during the winter and spring.

MyCoast: Maryland include other features that allow the public to help report and document damage to communities from precipitation-based flooding, damage from storm surge, and the impact on restoration projects.

Storm Reporter

Not all flooding in Maryland occurs because of the tides. As a matter of fact, across the state of Maryland, flooding happens every time it rains and there is a storm. This is referred to as precipitation, or rain based flooding, which is associated with storms. The impacts of these events can be flooding, decreased water quality, damage to infrastructure, low visibility, and hazardous conditions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s, Chesapeake & Coastal Service is leading an initiative in collaboration with local partners to document the effect and impact of precipitation based and stormwater flooding in our communities. This information will help inform state and local recovery efforts.

Reporting Coastal Storm Damage

Coastal storm damage occurs after storms such as hurricanes and Nor’easters in our rivers, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Bays, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s, Chesapeake & Coastal Service is leading an initiative in collaboration with local partners to document the effect and impact of this storm surge damage to help inform state and local recovery efforts. Example pictures could include damage to infrastructure such as roads and docks, downed power lines and trees, decreased access due to flooding and physical barriers, etc.

Restoration Tracker

Marylanders are invited to help track restoration projects to document nature’s resilience to change. These photos will be put together to create a time lapse of resilience and restoration projects. Restoration tracking helps identify management needs and highlights successful practices for Maryland communities grappling with erosion, flooding and storm impacts. MyCoast: Maryland is currently set up to monitor shoreline restoration projects at West River Methodist Center (Private Access) and Crowell Road, Deal Island.