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Center for Watershed Protection briefs Crisfield council on dock, lead-line mapping and flood projects
Summary
At the March 11 Crisfield mayor-and-council meeting, the Center for Watershed Protection summarized progress on multiple infrastructure projects — a federally funded dock replacement, lead-service-line inventory work funded by MDE, a southern flood-mitigation design RFP, and an initial roof project for a Main Street incubator.
Amanda Pollock of the Center for Watershed Protection told the Crisfield mayor and council on March 11 that technical-assistance work funded through ARPA and federal grants is helping the city advance several multi-year infrastructure projects.
Pollock said the city dock replacement is at about 30% design. Federal permitting and reviews — including historic-preservation and endangered-species reviews — remain ongoing; the project has a Maritime Administration award of a little over $2 million plus state match funds and other loans. The main dock will be raised about 18 inches and several piers about 12 inches to account for rising water levels, she said, and construction is unlikely to finish in 2026 given the current permitting schedule. "We're trying to get a better estimate, but I'm thinking next year," Pollock said of a likely 2027 completion.
On drinking-water compliance, Pollock reviewed the city's lead service-line inventory and mapping work under the federal Lead and Copper Rule. The Maryland Department of the Environment provided about $85,000 to support field investigation and digital mapping to classify services as lead, galvanized, non-lead or unknown. Pollock said the city opened bids and staff will review them this week; any recommended award would go to the council first, then to MDE and the Maryland Board of Public Works for final state review.
Pollock also said an RFP has been advertised for the 30% design phase of the Southern Crisp Hill flood-mitigation project and for full design of the Gerald Stitch Wetland. Bid submissions are due Friday at 4 p.m.; a selection committee will review proposals and CWP expects to return with a recommendation in April. "This is a substantial, very large contract that will be many years," Pollock said, adding that MDE and other agencies will review the work.
Finally, Pollock updated council on the Main Street revitalization and resiliency business incubator at 382 West Main Street. A National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund grant supports initial work; dynamic general contracting has the award for roof work, and a pre-construction meeting is scheduled for March 17 to firm up schedule and next steps. Pollock emphasized the roof replacement precedes full incubator construction.
Why it matters: the projects combine federal and state funding with local planning and will affect harbor access, sewer and drinking-water compliance, flood risk management and downtown economic development. Council members asked about schedule uncertainty and noted the complexity added by multiple funding sources and permitting steps. Pollock said CWP will continue to support procurement, grant management and coordination with agency reviewers as projects move forward.
What’s next: staff will return recommendations for procurement awards and project updates to council at future meetings; the dock team will continue permitting discussions with MARAD and other agencies, and the design teams will move from 30% toward 60% design as federal reviews provide input.
