St. Mary's County adopts 2025 nuisance flood plan; commissioners seek funding updates for St. George's Island

St. Mary's County commissioners on Oct. 28 approved the 2025 nuisance flood plan, a resiliency document intended to guide responses to recurrent high‑tide (nuisance) flooding in low‑lying coastal areas.

Acting Director Donnie Mills said the plan was grant‑funded (described in the meeting as a 75/25 grant through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources) and had been reviewed and forwarded by the Hazard Mitigation Planning Board. Planner Kim Connor and staff described nuisance flooding as recurrent high‑tide or tidal flooding that affects low‑lying areas including St. George's Island, Piney Point and portions of Poplar Street and Camp Maryland Road.

Commissioners pressed staff on funding and next steps for frequently impacted locations. Commissioner Randy Guy and staff discussed prior coordination with the State Highway Administration and state agencies; Mills said the county receives funding from multiple state and federal programs (DNR coastal services, floodplain management funds and NOAA programs) and that the plan's resiliency toolkit is intended to help prioritize and pursue grants. Mills said the county has a quarterly state coordination meeting scheduled for Nov. 6 and staff would follow up on current projects and funding status.

A motion to approve the nuisance flood plan and authorize the commissioner president to sign related documents carried unanimously.