Mayor Scott, Department of Public Works, and South Baltimore Gateway Partnership Announce Plan to Leverage Funds for Projects that Address Climate Resiliency and Environmental Health
Board of Estimates Approves $5.1 Million for Creating Wetlands in Baltimore’s Middle Branch
Today, the City of Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved $5.1 million in funds to be administered by the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) towards creating new “constructed wetlands” within the Middle Branch of the Patapsco. This funding contributes to the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI), a comprehensive strategy to protect South Baltimore neighborhoods from storms and flooding while restoring the shoreline of the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, under the banner of the Reimagine Middle Branch planning effort.
“Today’s funding announcement is a win in support of the neighbors and communities of South Baltimore, which these new wetlands will protect. As a port city, we must proactively support innovative projects like this one as an integral part of the Baltimore’s climate resiliency strategy,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
“The communities of South Baltimore are coming together to reclaim the Middle Branch and its shoreline for a healthy environment and for recreation. Developing new wetlands is part of that vision, both to protect critical infrastructure and to create new landscapes where residents can enjoy fishing and boating, and experience new trails and boardwalks along the water,” says Michael Middleton, Executive Director of Cherry Hill Community Development Corporation.
Phase 1 of the MBRI seeks to build wetlands and vegetated berms adjacent to Middle Branch Park in Cherry Hill and Brooklyn and adjacent to BGE’s Spring Gardens natural gas facility in Ridgely’s Cove. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will match the $5.1 million funding from Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) with a grant of $3.5 million. The combined funds will underwrite construction of wetlands and nature-based resiliency features at a City-owned parcel of waterfront land in Brooklyn known as “Site 5a” at South Hanover Street and Frankfurst Avenue.
“This site floods regularly, keeping emergency vehicles from reaching Harbor Hospital quickly. These wetlands are protective measures to make sure that South Baltimore communities and their resources are protected for the future, long-term. We’re honored to be the convener and steward of this leveraged funding, working with partners for a major, positive impact for Baltimore City,” said SBGP Executive Director Brad Rogers.
The funds approved today are from DPW’s Stormwater Enterprise Fund. Site 5a supports the City’s mandated goal of improving water quality in the Baltimore Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay by treating stormwater runoff.
“DPW is proud to support the Mayor’s vision of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Baltimore City,” said DPW Director Jason W. Mitchell. “This project provides the co-benefits of reducing shoreline erosion and improving community resiliency to sea-level rise, coastal storm energy and flooding. It aligns with the City’s Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (DP3), which calls for the use of wetlands along the City’s waterfront shoreline to improve resiliency, while providing a valuable, sustainable and resilient amenity for our residents and visitors alike.”
SBGP and Baltimore City eagerly await word from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on whether the project will receive an additional $32 million in grant funds requested through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, for which it is a finalist, in order to fully realize MBRI Phase 1.