CLA Issues Report Card Assessing Maryland Counties’ Floodplain Protections

This past summer brought some of the wildest weather many of us have ever experienced. Widespread wildfires, extreme heat, and record-breaking storms have already left perilous impressions on our communities, and many of us can’t help but wonder how else a changing climate may impact our environment and communities.

For example, how will we manage the increasing precipitation and sea level rise that leading scientists forecast in the Mid-Atlantic region? One answer is to protect and reinforce floodplains—flat lands adjacent to water bodies—which offer the first line of defense from flooding by absorbing excess water. However, floodplains offer multiple other benefits, from great views to recreational access, or for industrial purposes, and consequently have been significantly developed. Because development weakens the resiliency of floodplains (and introduces more toxins into the Chesapeake Bay), CLA advocates for local laws that control floodplain development.

To effectively advocate, we must be educated. This summer, CLA completed a survey of the twenty-four Maryland Counties’ (including Baltimore City) floodplain development ordinances to understand which jurisdictions lead the way in restricting potentially harmful development in floodplains. At the end of this post, we include a report card assessing the strength of the counties’ floodplain development ordinances. In the meantime, here is a summary of our findings:

• Baltimore County has the strictest ordinance, which bans all development in floodplains, save for a few low-impact exceptions.
• Eight counties have partial bans (labeled “Good” in the table below), which prohibit development in the floodplain unless (a) no alternative location exists or (b) the development is a necessary improvement to an existing structure.
• Fourteen counties (including Baltimore City) have less stringent floodplain development ordinances (labeled “Fair” in the table below), which prohibit only unpermitted development in floodplains. These counties generally follow the Model Floodplain Management Ordinance published by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Most communities are required to update their local floodplain management regulations with the Model Ordinance, at the very least.
• Worcester County has the weakest floodplain development ordinance. It does not prohibit unpermitted development in tidal flood zones and requires only that development proposals be designed with flood damage minimization in mind.

With this information, we can streamline our advocacy efforts for local laws that prioritize floodplain conservation. We know that healthier floodplains will bring resilience, health, and increased safety to our Bay communities. To learn more about land use, planning, and conservation, visit https://www.chesapeakelegal.org/bay-issues/land-use-and-habitat/.