Protecting and Improving Estuaries with Smart Growth Tools
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
July 2008 FINAL
Part of the National Estuary
Program since 1995, the
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
provides leadership and
coordination to restore and
maintain the water quality and
ecological integrity of small,
shallow Maryland bays,
including Assawoman Bay, Isle
of Wight Bay, Chincoteague
Bay, Sinepuxent Bay, and
Newport Bay.
The National Estuary Program
(NEP) was established under
the 1987 Clean Water Act
Amendments. It is a unique
voluntary program that
operates through partnerships
with EPA and other public and
private sector entities. Each
NEP uses an inclusive,
collaborative decision-making
process to deliver on-the-
ground results, making the NEP
a leading model of watershed
management.
Why Is Smart Growth Important For Estuary Protection
And Improvement?
Nationally, runoff is the second most common source of water pollution for estuaries.
Runoff from developed areas often contains nutrients, pathogens, and metals.
Cumulative impacts from conventional development ~ including increased stormwater
volume and flow rates - lead to erosion, estuary degradation, and habitat destruction.
Conventional stormwater management practices address peak flows and suspended
solids, but are only partially effective in managing cumulative impacts. Compact
development paired with preservation of critical natural areas can help protect estuaries
by (1) using land more efficiently, (2) reducing the amount of impervious surface per
capita, and (3) allowing open lands to filter rainwater naturally, thus recharging local
groundwater aquifers and supporting improved hydrologic function.
How Did The Maryland Coastal Bays Program Use Smart Growth To
Protect Their Estuaries?
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) protects and enhances the estuaries,
classified as coastal lagoons, in Worcester County, Maryland. Tidal exchange here is
limited, taking place mainly in small channels around nearby barrier islands. While the
coastal bays receive drainage from only 175 square miles of land, this limited tidal
exchange significantly increases the impacts of nutrient runoff from agricultural and
urban sources.
Historically a rural and
agricultural area, tourism
and development have
become integral parts of
Worcester County's
economy. In fact, in
terms of employment,
tourism is now the
county's second largest
industry. Recognizing
that development is
essential to the county's
economy, yet can be a
major driver of estuary
degradation, the MCBP
established a framework
for addressing these
issues in its 1999
Comprehensive
Conservation and
Management Plan
(CCMP).
In 2001, when the Worcester County Planning Commission voted to update the
county's comprehensive plan, the MCBP seized the opportunity to incorporate
environmentally responsible development principles in the new plan. First developed
in 1989, Worcester County's comprehensive plan is the basis for all of the county
planning commission's decisions about zoning and land use.
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In 2004, the MCBP began using EPA grant funding to bring together builders, architects, engineers, and other key
stakeholders to help develop revised planning and zoning laws for the county. This collaborative process culminated in
2006 in a revised comprehensive plan for Worcester County. The plan protects the
county's distinctive character and its estuaries, by (1) directing development to existing
communities and to the marginal agricultural lands adjacent to them, (2) directing
development away from highly productive agricultural lands, and (3) directing
development away from sensitive natural areas such as floodplains, forests,
groundwater recharge areas, and sensitive species habitat.
Principles of Smart Growth
• Create Range of Housing
Opportunities and Choices
Create Walkable
Neighborhoods
Encourage Community and
Stakeholder Collaboration
Foster Distinctive, Attractive
Communities with a Strong
Sense of Place
Make Development
Decisions Predictable, Fair
and Cost Effective
Mix Land Uses
Preserve Open Space,
Farmland, Natural Beauty and
Critical Environmental Areas
Provide a Variety of
Transportation Choices
Strengthen and Direct
Development Towards
Existing Communities
Take Advantage of Compact
Building Design
For Additional Information:
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Phone:4IO-2l3-BAYS(2297)
mcbofolmdcoastal bavs.org
www.mdcoastalbays.org
Smart Growth Online
www.smartgrowth.org
US EPA Office of Wetlands,
Oceans, and Watersheds
(OWOW)
Coastal Management Branch
Phone:202-566-1260
www.eoa.gov/owow/estuaries
How Did Smart Growth Tools Help MCBP Achieve Its Goals?
The MCBP recognized that it was essential to help create a collaborative vision for
development and estuary protection in Worcester County. To achieve this goal, the
MCBP used visioning exercises and meetings to establish common ground. The MCBP
actively encouraged collaboration among stakeholders with opposing viewpoints. As
part of a $20,000 public education campaign, the MCBP also published a series of
newsletters and a comprehensive planning guide to educate the public about the
benefits of incorporating smart growth elements into the comprehensive plan.
To better protect the county's rural character, the MCBP helped to improve agricultural
zoning. Agricultural lands comprise
80 percent of the county. The
MCBP advocated zoning which
directed growth towards lower
quality agricultural lands adjacent to
existing towns and infrastructure,
and away from environmentally
sensitive areas. These changes will
protect the open space for which the
county is known - and that draws a
substantial tourist trade - while
allowing sufficient development to
accommodate the 18,000 additional
residents expected by 2015. The
development will have the
additional benefit of providing
affordable work-force housing near
expected employment centers.
Prime Farmland,
Worcester County,
Maryland
Coastal Bays waiersJieds
| Prime Agricultural Soil
How Can Other NEPs Learn From The MCBP Experience?
When Worcester County initiated its comprehensive plan revision, the MCBP saw and
seized an opportunity to both protect the estuaries and protect the county's quality of
life. Other NEPs can look for similar opportunities by asking themselves these
questions:
• Are any of your counties planning to update their comprehensive plans and/or land
use ordinances?
US EPA Smart Growth
Program
Development, Community, and
Environment Division (DCED)
Phone: 202-566-2878
www.eDa.gov/smartgrowth
Is your area undergoing new growth that you could use as an opportunity to open a
dialogue about how smart growth can protect your estuary?
Can you participate in a quarterly, annual, or biannual planning process and help
educate local government officials about the connection between smart growth and
estuary protection?
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