Winners of the MdQI Award of Excellence – Green/Sustainability/Environmental Award
Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI) annually honors outstanding transportation projects. We are very proud to announce our Award of Excellence for Green/Sustainability/Environmental for our Piney Point Shore Erosions Control, St. George Islandproject for St. Mary’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation.
A model for Maryland communities seeking innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective shoreline protection solutions.
We provided shoreline erosion control services to a stretch of Piney Point Road on St. George Island. The erosion threatened existing roadway with shoreline creeping within five feet of existing roadway resulting in the potential for complete washout of the road which acts as the sole access path to the island for residential properties. Two approximately 200’ spans of shoreline erosion control were identified and scoped as the subject of the proposed retrofit. A key goal of this project was to implement living shoreline design procedures such that St. Mary’s County DPW&T could attain MS4 grant funding and TMDL crediting for the practice. Design was completed keeping this key goal in mind in conjunction with providing shoreline erosion protection measures.
Design. The project was completed with the design goal of providing a living shoreline fortified to mitigate erosive shear stresses and velocities on the existing eroding shoreline. BAI reviewed available storm surge mapping and determined the site was within a low hazard rating area which was appropriate for implementation of a living shoreline. Compared to more typical stone revetment measures, this living shoreline promotes habitat creation via installation of natural erosion counter measures including usage of coir fiber logs, and spartina plantings suited for fluctuating tidal elevation. This natural approach provided a cost-effective solution to DPW&T that met the project needs and allowed our client to seek MS4 grant funding to pay for construction of these improvements. There were extensive permitting requirements associated with shoreline and marine design, and BAI was able to deliver a cost-effective solution to the client within an expediated schedule due to urgency of erosive risk to property.
A model for Maryland communities seeking innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective shoreline protection solutions.
We provided shoreline erosion control services to a stretch of Piney Point Road on St. George Island. The erosion threatened existing roadway with shoreline creeping within five feet of existing roadway resulting in the potential for complete washout of the road which acts as the sole access path to the island for residential properties. Two approximately 200’ spans of shoreline erosion control were identified and scoped as the subject of the proposed retrofit. A key goal of this project was to implement living shoreline design procedures such that St. Mary’s County DPW&T could attain MS4 grant funding and TMDL crediting for the practice. Design was completed keeping this key goal in mind in conjunction with providing shoreline erosion protection measures.
Design. The project was completed with the design goal of providing a living shoreline fortified to mitigate erosive shear stresses and velocities on the existing eroding shoreline. BAI reviewed available storm surge mapping and determined the site was within a low hazard rating area which was appropriate for implementation of a living shoreline. Compared to more typical stone revetment measures, this living shoreline promotes habitat creation via installation of natural erosion counter measures including usage of coir fiber logs, and spartina plantings suited for fluctuating tidal elevation. This natural approach provided a cost-effective solution to DPW&T that met the project needs and allowed our client to seek MS4 grant funding to pay for construction of these improvements. There were extensive permitting requirements associated with shoreline and marine design, and BAI was able to deliver a cost-effective solution to the client within an expediated schedule due to urgency of erosive risk to property.