Outreach & Extension: Sustainable Communities

Contact: Vicky Carrasco

Maryland now ranks fifth in population density, with almost 70 percent of that population living in the two-thirds of the state designated as the “coastal zone.” Coastal communities have been particularly susceptible to rapid changes in population growth and migration, land cover, community character, ecosystem stability, and economic diversity.

Decisions that affect how growth influences community development often lie at the hands of local decision makers. As part of the National Sea Grant Program's Coastal Community Development program, Maryland Sea Grant provides education, outreach and assistance to community officials and leaders throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed to help decision makers understand the broad implications of their actions. Several programs assist those with a stake in how jurisdictions, communities, and landscapes adapt to change over time in Maryland’s coastal areas. These include:

Community Visioning
Collaborative for Land Use Education (CLUE)
Green Neighborhoods
Climate Change Initiatives
Coastal Zone Management

Useful Link

Riparian Buffers