Maryland’s communities are already feeling the impacts of climate change. Rising seas, stronger storms and heavier rainfall are increasing flood risk across the state. Nearly two million coastal properties and more than 100 Maryland communities are expected to experience severe flooding damage in the coming decades. Flooding threatens homes, businesses, transportation networks, farms, natural areas and public safety.
The Nature Conservancy is helping Maryland prepare for this future. Our goal is to make room for water and protect people by allowing nature to do what it does best.
In Maryland, TNC is helping to shape state policies and programs to create sustained investments in climate resilience and adaptation. The right investments will help the state reduce flood risk in coastal and riverine communities while protecting the natural systems that people depend on.
Healthy floodplains, wetlands and natural landscapes can absorb and slow floodwaters, which reduces damage to communities while providing benefits for wildlife, water quality and outdoor recreation. These nature-based solutions are among the most effective and cost-efficient ways to strengthen resilience.
But making resilience a reality requires investment. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every $1 invested in resilience and disaster preparedness returns approximately $13 in avoided damages and recovery costs. That’s why TNC is working to bring adaptation funding and policy solutions to Maryland communities.
Advancing Policies that Protect Communities
Climate Resilience: What does it mean?
Climate resilience is the ability of communities, infrastructure, economies and natural systems to prepare for, adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change.
In Maryland, building resilience means reducing flood risk, protecting people and property, and ensuring communities can thrive despite a changing climate.
Preparing for a future with more flooding requires more than responding to disasters after they happen. Maryland needs policies that help communities plan ahead, reduce risk and invest in long-term solutions.
TNC is playing an active role in shaping climate adaptation policies that prioritize dedicated funding for local and county governments to implement resilience projects. Through advocacy and legislative engagement, we are helping build strong champions for resilience in the Maryland General Assembly.
Our priority is to make way for water: not only the water moving through our rivers and coastlines today, but the additional water expected from sea-level rise, stronger storms and more intense rainfall. One of the most effective ways to reduce that risk is by protecting and restoring natural floodplains. When floodplains are allowed to function naturally, they absorb and store excess water, which helps reduce downstream flooding and protect nearby communities.
TNC is working to advance legislation and policies that:
- Increase funding for local resilience and adaptation projects.
- Support nature-based solutions that reduce flood risk while benefiting people and wildlife.
- Encourage communities to avoid new development in high-risk flood-prone areas.
- Protect and restore natural floodplains, wetlands and other landscapes that help absorb floodwaters.
- Ensure adaptation investments reach communities facing the greatest climate risks.
By aligning public investment with nature-based solutions, Maryland can reduce future costs while building safer, more resilient communities.
Piloting new ways to protect Maryland communities from flooding
TNC is partnering with the Montgomery County Green Bank (MCGB) to explore a new model for climate resilience planning in Maryland, in the form of Maryland’s pilot Municipal Resilience Program.
Through this program, Maryland municipalities will receive support to identify resilience projects, advance financing innovation and build a pipeline of implementation-ready investments. TNC’s partnership with the MCGB will build on examples of successful programs in other northeast states including Massachusetts’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program (MVP) and Rhode Island’s Municipal Resilience Program (MRP). Currently, the program is rooted in Montgomery County. However, TNC and MCGB welcome collaboration with municipalities across Maryland.
The goal is to create a self-sustaining resilience program that enables communities to move from planning to action. Rather than ending with another planning document, municipalities that complete the program will walk away with a stronger pipeline of investment-ready resilience projects positioned to pursue grants, financing, private investment and implementation.
By combining local leadership, technical expertise and innovative financing approaches, the program can help bring more flood mitigation projects from concept to reality.
Why Nature Matters
Nature is one of our strongest allies in adapting to climate change. Wetlands, forests, floodplains and other natural landscapes help absorb floodwater, reduce erosion, improve water quality, store carbon and provide habitat for wildlife. Investing in these systems can deliver multiple benefits while often costing less than traditional infrastructure alone.
By working with nature rather than against it, Maryland can create safer communities, healthier ecosystems and a stronger future.
Contact
Humna Sharif, Climate Resilience and Adaptation Director—humna.sharif@TNC.ORG
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