AWRA Presentation

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Route 113 Highway Dualization Project Protection
of coastal ecosystems, habitats and water quality
in Marylands Coastal Bays David
Blazer Executive Director
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MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS An estuary of National
significance

• 175 sq. mile watershed

• 5 Major Bays

Assawoman and Isle of Wight (north)
Sinepuxent, Newport and Chincoteage (south)
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Maryland Coastal Bays Program

• Formed in 1996 as part of the National Estuary
  Program
• A citizen and local, state, and federal agency
  partnership

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Three years of planning culminate in commitment
to save bays in 175-square-mile watershed
encompassing Ocean City and Assateague Island
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Major sections of the plan call for restoration
of non-tidal wetlands to protect water quality
and wildlife habitat
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Eutrophication
Assawoman Bay
Single greatest problem in the Coastal Bays
St. Martin River
North to South gradient reflects population trend
Newport Bay
St. Martin River - 80 algae area
Newport Bay - 40
Assawoman Bay - 30
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ESTIMATED WETLAND LOSSES SINCE THE 1930S
1500 Ac. TIDAL
25,000 Ac. NONTIDAL
26,000 Ac. DEGRADED FORESTED WETLANDS
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1915
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Rt. 50 Drawbridge
Ocean City Inlet
Isle of Wight Bay
1945
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OCEAN CITY TODAY
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US 113 CONSTRUCTION
Improvements Needed for Safety
24 Miles from Snow Hill to Delaware Line
27 Acres of Wetland Impact
2000 Feet of Stream Impact
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US 113 MITIGATION PLAN

• Based on needs of the watershed

• Functional Wetland Replacement

• Water Quality Improvements

• Restore Anadromous Fish Passage

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Primary Projects

• Habitat recreation wetlands, stream, forest
• Stormwater quality and quantity
• Nutrient management
• Sediment and Erosion control
• Bishopville dam fish migration

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MITIGATION SITE WEIGHTING FACTORS
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WETLAND REPLACEMENT RATIOS AND FUNCTIONAL
REPLACEMENT
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FUNCTIONAL WETLAND REPLACEMENT
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Wetland Mitigation Created 94
acres Reforestation Created 36 acres
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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SITES
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NEW 113
OLD 113
LOPEZ SITE
CRIPPEN BRANCH (TAX DITCH)
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Monitoring and Maintenance
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Tree Planting
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Additional efforts
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SUMMARY
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MSHA AND THE COASTAL BAYS
PROGRAM HELPED CREATE A SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
SENSITIVE HIGHWAY
THIS SAME PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES IN PROJECTS
IDENTIFIED IN THE CCMP, NOT ALWAYS RELATED TO
HIGHWAYS
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Maryland Coastal Bays Program www.mdcoastalbays.or
g Member of the Association of National
Estuary Programs www.nationalestuaries.org