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Calvert County presents 2025 high-tide flood mitigation update, calls for better modeling and sensors
Summary
Environmental planner Molly Fleetham presented the 2025 high-tide flood mitigation update required by state law, citing rising sea levels and a 2024 doubling of high-tide flood incidents; staff recommended improved modeling, water-level sensors, citizen reporting and nature-based solutions, and flagged that community-specific planning remains in early stages.
Molly Fleetham, environmental planner for Planning and Zoning, presented an update to Calvert County's high-tide flood mitigation plan on July 16, describing increased local sea-level trends and a suite of mitigation actions staff recommends to prioritize at-risk communities.
Why it matters: staff told the commission that high-tide flooding incidents in 2024 were more than double any prior year since 1980 and that local sea-level rise is increasing. The plan identifies vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure, historic resources, parks, aquaculture and agriculture, and recommends measures that range from expanded modeling and sensors to nature-based restoration and public education.
What staff presented: Fleetham said the county is aligning terminology with state agencies by using "high tide flooding" and cited Maryland Natural Resources definitions. She presented local rate data for Solomons (an increase from 3.88 to 4.11 millimeters per year in recent years) and said the plan defines high-tide flooding roughly as 1.7 feet above mean high water. The plan documents mitigation progress since 2020 (flooded-roadway tool, public outreach videos, MyCoast reporting) and proposes next steps: expand modeling to pinpoint affected buildings and neighborhoods, deploy sensors to track water levels for emergency response and planning, study frequently flooded roadways and pursue restoration projects.
Questions and concern: a commissioner said a countywide plan may not be specific enough to address property-level threats and urged development of community-level plans (citing Breezy Point and Brooms Island drafts). Fleetham said better modeling is intended to identify which buildings will require site-specific attention and that community plans remain in "infant stages." Emergency management staff indicated they can provide preparedness and mitigation outreach to communities while modeling matures.
Next steps: staff said a state grant helped fund the update and that further modeling, partnerships and funding will be needed to translate plan recommendations into community-specific mitigation actions. Fleetham closed by encouraging residents to report flooding via MyCoast and to "turn around, don't drown" in immediate flood events.
