Make Cambridge Resilient Initiative
About
We were excited to resume the community outreach and support for the Make Cambridge Resilient initiative. In terms of the nature-based shoreline and stormwater flood risk reduction project, the grant award for Phase 1 - Design was executed in September 2024.
In addition to city staff, the project team includes BayLand Consultants and Designers Inc. for engineering support, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) at Horn Point for modeling and analysis, and Smith Planning and Design LLC for stakeholder coordination and public outreach.
Using grant funding designated for planning, we are:​
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continuously updating our website,
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conducting public engagement and communication,
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development and submittal of additional grant applications,
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engaging our technical Stakeholder Group, and conducting meetings.​
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Images on the right shows existing conditions at Water Street and the model earthen berm at the duck walk in the Long Wharf Park, which was displayed in December 2025. The purpose of this model earthen berm was to visually display a portion of the flood mitigation project in the Long Wharf area, as requested by the community. The model dimensions were those within the draft flood mitigation 30% project design. The height of the model berm, which was the same height within the flood mitigation 30% project design and allowed the community to get a sense of their viewshed post construction.
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The images on the left include the West End area. See before and after renderings (flood mitigation 30% project design).
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WATER STREET - MODEL EARTHEN BERM
ONE OF OUR PROJECT DESIGNERS NEXT TO THE MODEL BERM.
News & Updates
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Dorchester Star Article
Residents get update on Cambridge flood mitigation project.
Maggie Trovato
Aug 23, 2024
City of Cambridge is continuing its efforts to “Make Cambridge Resilient”
to sea level rise and major storms.
Shoreline & Stormwater Flood Risk Reduction Project
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The concept design includes a hybrid living shoreline integrated with an embankment flood barrier along the Choptank River, the City’s highest risk area, providing flood protection above the City’s Base Flood Elevation (BFE). The system also includes a stormwater system with nature- based water storage and control features designed for a 100-year rain event. There is no standard of practice for the design of hybrid green-grey flood protection systems. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences is supporting the city in optimizing the design of this flood mitigation project to reduce our risk and to minimize any negative impact downstream. This will include modeling and post construction monitoring that will inform and validate the design concepts for our hybrid flood mitigation system that could be used to establish guidelines and standards for the design similar systems for other high-risk communities in Dorchester County.
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Another key recommendation from the Make Cambridge Resilient Flood Reduction Plan is to provide for community capacity and capability building in the development and implementation other flood risk reduction activities, projects, and initiatives. Building upon the previous planning goals, new goals have been established for the 2023-2025 timeframe.