Blue Crab (photo credit: Brian Henderson) | | |
Upcoming Meetings
Annual All-Network Meeting
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 (Salisbury University)
Registration information below!
Restoration and Resilience Operating Committee
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Towns & Urban Committee - Eastern Shore Sustainable Coffee Hour
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 10:00 AM
Mayor’s Office, 115 S Division St, Salisbury, MD 21801
Contact Owen Bailey (obailey@eslc.org)
2025 Events Schedule
| | DRCN Annual Meeting Registration Open | | | |
Register today for the 2025 DRCN Annual Meeting!
Where? Salisbury University (Perdue Hall, 156).
When? Wednesday August 20th, 9:30am - 4:00pm.
Check-in will begin at 9:00 am. Meeting followed by a networking happy hour (3:00 - 4:00pm) sponsored by the Salisbury University Henson School of Science and Technology and Department of Environmental Studies.
What? During this year's meeting, members will participate in a "Visioning and Strategy Session" to refine the DRCN's mission, vision, and shared priorities.
This session is a critical step in the ongoing strategic planning process and will aid in the development of a 3-year Common Agenda to guide DRCN's course into the future.
| | | New Tool: MD Coastal Flood Explorer | | | |
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed & Climate Services (WCS) has released the new Maryland Coastal Flood Explorer tool, a user-friendly and interactive mapper that allows users to visualize predicted high tide flooding, sea-level rise projections, and historic flooding events for all of Maryland’s coastal areas. The tool was created with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program and in collaboration with Salisbury University's Eastern Shore GIS Cooperative (ESRGC), University of Maryland Sea Grant, and University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension.
The tool is the first to display our Maryland specific Sea Level Rise Projections prepared by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and provides communities with a common resource when preparing grant applications, developing Hazard Mitigation and Nuisance Flood Plans, and assessing vulnerable areas for restoration and resilience projects.
Communities and residents can explore varying scenarios including:
- Current and future high-tide flooding
- Current and future moderate and major flood events
- Projections for sea-level rise by decade through 2120
- Historic flood events like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Isabel.
The tool is immediately available for use, please contact mdfloodexplorer.dnr@maryland.gov with any questions. If you are interested in attending a Fall 2025 webinar to learn more about using the tool, please fill out this form.
| | | Water St., Havre de Grace, MD Restoration Project Update | | |
Photos taken by Kate Vogel (NWF) - Water St. restoration project in Havre de Grace, Maryland in partnership with National Wildlife Federation, with funds awarded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The third phase of the Water St. project in Havre de Grace has just gone through its last phase of construction! This is a unique, deep-water living shoreline that was constructed at 17 ft deep to show that nature-based solutions can mitigate flooding and dissipate wave energy in deep water environments. The project creates native habitat, tidal marshes, and a dune habitat. This phase improves water quality, reduced impervious surfaces, and provides a soft kayak launch to support recreational activities.
Contact: Kate Vogel, vogelk@nwf.org
Learn More
| | | Talbot County, Maryland Seeks Input on Comprehensive Plan | | | Funding Opportunities & RFPs | |
CBT Watershed Assistance Grant Program | | | |
The Watershed Assistance Grant Program is a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Trust (Trust), the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and the West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).
This program provides support for watershed restoration project designs and permitting and for watershed planning and programmatic development. The ultimate goal of the projects funded through this opportunity will be to improve water quality in:
- The entire State of Maryland
- The West Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
- The State of Pennsylvania (within the Octoraro Creek and Conowingo Creek watersheds in the Chester and Lancaster Counties)
Proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
Learn More
| | | Events, Workshops and Conferences | |
Bay Agreement Advocacy Letter due 9/1 (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
A new chapter of clean water restoration is upon us. The revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement—set to guide us beyond 2025—marks a critical opportunity to recommit to the vision of clean, swimmable, and fishable waters for all. But the new agreement, in its current form, is not nearly strong enough, and we will need all those who love the Bay to speak up for a better agreement.
- Submit an Advocacy Letter before Sept. 1st
Submit a Letter
| | Stanford University Landowner Managing Forest Areas Study | | |
The session will be recorded only with everyone's consent. This recording is for note-taking purposes only and will be kept secure. You can withdraw at any time and refuse to answer any questions.
Contact Julia Sharapi at 443-741-4922 | jsharapi@stanford.edu or
Dr. Elliott White Jr. at eewhite@stanford.edu with questions or interest.
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Land & Wildlife Speaker Series: Ownership Patterns and Landscape Diversity: Conservation Implications in Maryland
Join us on August 20th, 2025 at Noon for this month’s installment of the Land and Wildlife Speaker Series featuring Dr. Luke Macaulay from the University of Maryland Extension. This month’s webinar topic will be Ownership Patterns and Landscape Diversity: Conservation Implications in Maryland.
Subscribe to Mailing List to Register
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Eastern Shore Sustainable Coffee Hour (ESLC)
We’re kicking things off this fall with a conversation featuring Steven Miller, Director of Parks and Recreation for Wicomico County.
Steven will share insights into how Localside Program Open Space (POS) funding supports local parks, trails, and green spaces—and why this program is a vital tool for building healthier, more connected communities. From playgrounds to pollinator gardens, POS helps bring outdoor spaces to life across Maryland.
Whether you’re a planner, advocate, or just love your local park, this is a great chance to learn how state and local partnerships make it all possible.
Coffee and conversation provided—bring your questions and curiosity!
- Thursday, September 11, 2025 @ 10:00 AM
- Mayor’s Office, 115 S Division St, Salisbury, MD 21801
Learn More
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ESLC LandJam 2025
Join Eastern Shore Land Conservancy in celebrating our 35th anniversary at our third annual LandJam! This year, this family-friendly afternoon will be at the wonderful Councell Farms during their opening weekend! LandJam features live music, great food, yard games, and the many fall attractions already available at Councell Farms, including a corn maze, jumping pillow, combine slide, and pumpkins. We can’t wait to see you there!
- Councell Farms; 1173 Old Skipton Rd., Cordova, MD 21625
Register Here
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The 2026 Delaware Wetlands Conference
Mark your calendars, the 2026 Delaware Wetlands Conference is happening January 27 and 28 in Wilmington, Delaware! Hosted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program, this conference provides a platform to share the latest in wetland research, innovations, practice and policy, education, and progress on projects.
The planning committee can’t do it without YOU! We are now accepting abstracts for 15-minute oral presentations and/or poster presentations. Topics can cover wetland plants and animals, restoration, education and outreach, coastal preparedness and resiliency, and more!
Submit an Abstract
Learn More
Contact Alison Stouffer (alison.stouffer@delaware.gov) with questions.
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DNREC Releases Updated Marsh Migration Model
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released a mapping study that models and predicts the most suitable areas for Delaware’s tidal wetlands to migrate as the state experiences sea level rise as an impact of climate change.
Read Here
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Signs to Help Protect Stranded Horseshoe Crabs
As part of Delaware Audubon's 2025 Conservation Grant program, signs showing how to help stranded horseshoe crabs can now be seen in the vicinity of Delaware's inland bays. Sofia Rose Trone, an undergraduate at Purdue University, applied for the grant, designed the signs, and delivered them to her contacts in Sussex County.
Read Here
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The Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network (DRCN), formed in 2017, is a collaborative of local, state, and Federal government agencies and NGOs working with private and public landowners and local governments to identify the most important places to protect and restore, and to obtain support and funding for voluntary restoration and conservation.
The DRCN Mission is to restore and conserve Delmarva’s landscapes, waterways, and shorelines that are special to its people, fundamental to its economy, and vital for its native fish, wildlife, and plants.
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Want to be featured in next month's newsletter?
Email submissions to delmarvarcn@gmail.com
| Delmarva Restoration & Conservation Network | delmarvarcn.org | | | | |
