What is Resilience?

As the country’s third most vulnerable region to flooding, erosion, and sea level rise, the Eastern Shore can become a national model for coastal resilience in rural communities. A resilient Eastern Shore will be prepared for immediate and long-term coastal hazards and will be able to survive, adapt, and prosper in the face of uncertainty and vulnerability.

Photo courtesy of Will Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program

Empowering Communities for Action

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy provides education and outreach—including lectures about coastal resilience topics—to Eastern Shore communities. Our deep roots in the Eastern Shore allow us to use a nuanced understanding of the region to make presentations personally relatable and relevant to specific industries, economic sectors, and interests. Attendees of past lectures have expressed appreciation for gaining an understanding of a global issue in a detailed local context.

Here are some of the groups that our coastal resilience program staff have provided presentations to in an effort to educate and better prepare our coastal communities:

• Annual ESLC Climate Conference (2017–present)
• Chesapeake Bay Program
• Chesapeake College
• Chestertown Rotary Club
• County councils and planning commissions across the region
• Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities
• Maryland Adaptation and Response Workgroup
• Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Conference
• Maryland Community Rating System Workgroup
• Maryland Emergency Management Association Symposium
• Maryland Municipal League
• Oxford WaterWays groups
• St. Michaels Waterways Management Advisory Board
• The Gunston School
• Washington College

Want ESLC’s coastal resilience program staff to speak to your group or organization? Contact Jim Bass at jbass@eslc.org.

Environmental Education

The Sassafras Environmental Education Center (or SEEC) aims to teach how human beings can live compatibly with nature’s design. Led by Director (and former Congressman) Wayne T. Gilchrest and Education Program Manager Jennifer Hizer, SEEC staff and volunteers demonstrate how outdoor education integrated into the regional school system can enhance learning across various disciplines. The Center provides both children and adults with exposure to and instruction of the geology, ecology, physics, human history, economics, and politics that have shaped and continue to shape the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Education Programs Director and former U.S. Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest canoeing with SEEC guest.

SEEC partners with local schools to serve as a ground for public school educators to implement Maryland’s environmental literacy standards. Activities in the field provide students with the knowledge and skill to live sustainably within Earth’s finite ecosystem.

Want to Visit with your Class or Group? The Sassafras Environmental Education Center is located at 13671 Turners Creek Road, Unit 2, Kennedyville, MD 21645. Call Wayne or Jennifer at 410.348.5214 for more info or to book your group’s visit.

Resources

The following coastal resilience resources are available as PDF files. All links will open in a new browser tab and can be saved to your computer through your browser’s controls.

Sea Level Rise Report (All Components)

Our 2018 sea level rise report provides detailed, locally-relevant information for residents and community leaders about the projected impacts that sea level rise will have on the Eastern Shore and identifies strategies for adapting to these impacts.

Kent County Climate Adaptation Report

This 2016 report assesses Kent County, Maryland’s vulnerability to a host of climate-related hazards including sea level rise, drought, extreme heat, changing precipitation patterns, and more.

ESCAP White Paper

The Eastern Shore Climate Adaptation Partnership (ESCAP) is a network of local and state government staff, academic institutions, and non-for-profit partners planning for the impacts of climate change upon our region. This paper examines the benefits and efficiencies of collaboration across jurisdiction and discipline for the shared benefit of the Eastern Shore.

Be Informed!

Sign up for Resilience Matters and stay informed about coastal hazards and building resilience. While you’re at it, sign up for our other wonderful e-publications and stay on top of the issues affecting the Eastern Shore.

Make a Contribution Today

You can make a financial contribution large or small through our website. The process is easy, straightforward, and secure. Your donation supports the mission of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and makes a difference by improving the long-term quality of life in the Eastern Shore community.