HIGH RISK AREAS
AREA 1 - GREAT MARSH AREA
Strategies and Concept design for flood mitigation in the Great Marsh Area at Gerry Boyle Park extending into Dorchester County – This is a high priority for the City as this area is for public use and hosts both the Ironman/Eagleman and Boat Races. Frequent nuisance flooding and erosion issues persist at this location.
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Our Goal for Great Marsh is to (1) Protect the Gerry Boyle Park for recreational use by our citizens and for official events such as Ironman/Eagleman and Boat Races which are important to the City’s economic development, and (2) Protect life and property of citizens that live in the area that are constantly flooded due to high tides and inadequate stormwater infrastructure.
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Mitigation Strategy is to explore options for flood risk reduction, reduction in wave action, and reduction in shoreline erosion.
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Concept Design Ideas for Consideration – Preliminary ideas include (a) Restore shoreline in the form of a living levee with restoration of wetland and construction of multiple rock crab-claw break water units at base on the seaside. (b) Construct pumping station land side to discharge stormwater and water that may overtop the levee back to the river. (c) Restore Rooster Island, which existed in Hambrooks Bay, as an off-shore breakwater that would provide wave protection for a good part of the City along the Choptank River area. Consider using clean material dredged from nearby channels.
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AREA 2 - WEST END
Strategies and Concept designs for flood mitigation on West End- This area extends from Great Marsh to the City Marina area and is built up to the water’s edge. The City is implementing seawalls at the end of streets. The flood wall between these barriers is in disrepair and is also a high priority due to high tides flooding streets in the west end.
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Our Goal for West End is to (1) Protect life and property of citizens that live in the area that are constantly flooded due to high tides and inadequate stormwater infrastructure, and (2) Protect the City’s infrastructure including our storm and sewer system from flooding which affects public health and safety, and results in costly maintenance.
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Mitigation Strategy is to restore existing flood protection structures to eliminate nuisance flooding and to add additional measures both on-shore and off-shore to protect against sea level rise.
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Concept Design Ideas for Consideration- (a) Restore the original floodwall extending from the Marina to Oakley Street, and increase the height of existing flood protection (existing riprap and bulkheads) on properties from Oakley Street to Great Marsh Area- Gerry Boyle Park. (b) Design flood protection for overtopping and to the same elevation as other flood risk reduction measures that may be installed in the Great Marsh area to achieve the same level of protection that is acceptable to stakeholders along the entire shore of the Choptank River to Cambridge Creek. (c) Design a new stormwater management system for this area with the ability to discharge stormwater and water that may overtop the flood wall back to the river. This will require identifying stormwater lines discharging to the Choptank and preventing backflow from high tides on streets such as, Water Street.
AREA 3 - YACHT CLUB & CITY MARINA
Strategies and Concept designs for flood mitigation from end of Flood Wall on City Property extending from Marina to Long Wharf – This is largely open land along Water Street which is subject to nuisance flooding. Homes along water street are also subject to flooding due to high tides and major storms.
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Our Goal for the Marina and Long Wharf is to (1) Protect life and property of citizens that live in the area from repetitive flooding due to high tides and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. (2) Protect the City’s infrastructure including the City Marina, War Monuments, and Yacht Club.
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Mitigation Strategy is to provide flood risk reduction to the same level and elevation as the Great Marsh and West End area to eliminate nuisance flooding and to include additional measures both on-shore and off-shore to reduce the impact of sea level rise and shoreline erosion. Flood protection will extend from the floodwall at Choptank Avenue to Long Wharf. Also, the potential exist for landscape architecture features which will help alleviate nuisance flooding.
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Concept Design Ideas for Consideration- (a) Eliminate river water backing up in stormwater system to Water Street during high tides potentially with the installation of back-flow valves. (b) Regrade area to include an earth berm to the same elevation as the other areas along the Choptank River near the water’s edge to act as a levee that would potentially extend to Long Wharf area. (c) Design a new stormwater management system for this area with the ability to discharge stormwater back into the river.
AREA 4 - CAMBRIDGE CREEK
Strategies and Concept designs for flood mitigation along Cambridge Creek – This area of the City is built up to the water edge. It includes historic properties such as Clayton’s Crab-Processing Facility and relatively new condominiums and townhomes.
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Our Goal for Cambridge Creek is to (1) Protect life and property of commercial facilities (Clayton’s Seafood, Snappers, and Yacht Maintenance Facility) near the mouth of the Creek that are at very low elevations and subject to constant flooding. (2) Protect life and property of citizens that live in the area from repetitive flooding due to high tides and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. (3) Protect the City’s infrastructure including our storm and sanitary sewer system from flooding which affects public health and safety, and results in costly maintenance.
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Mitigation Strategy is to provide flood risk reduction by elevating critical structures and adding landscape features along the shoreline minimizing the impacts of flooding along the banks of Cambridge Creek.
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Concept Design Ideas for Consideration – (a) Consider using clean material dredged from nearby channels to increase the elevation of the shoreline of critical facilities near the mouth of Cambridge Creek (Yacht Maintenance Facility. (b) Encourage the elevation of flood-prone structures. (c) Elevate Cedar Street at the end of Cambridge Creek.
AREA 5 - SAILWINDS
Strategies and Concept designs for flood mitigation Sailwinds- the land area comprising the Sailwinds project area is largely at a higher elevation. The Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc has the flexibility to plan and design the development, thereby concentrating the placement of structures outside of higher flood risk areas. Through this planning process, guidance will be provided to the CDWI on flood risk reduction for potential integration into the site deign and development.
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Our Goal for Sailwinds is to provide guidance to ensure the development of our waterfront incorporates flood mitigation concepts to minimize flood risk. The Yacht Maintenance Facility at the mouth of Cambridge Creek is included in the waterfront development initiative. This existing facility is planning an expansion for the installation of an 800T Crane to be able to service large vessels and will require more specific guidance.
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Mitigation Strategy is to provide a large buffer of open space between the river and the new development. The potential exists to use available soil material to increase the elevation of public access to the water edge in front of the development. The area of concern is the Yacht Maintenance Facility located on Cambridge Creek, which will require a site-specific strategy.
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Concept Design Ideas for Consideration- The City of Cambridge will provide guidance through this planning process specific to flood risk reduction. The CWDI will be responsible for implementation of this guidance in the planning and design of the new development.