12-10-2013, 12:12 PM
With Maryland set to experience the last King Tides of the summer July 21 through 24, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking residents in coastal areas to take and share photos of the resulting high waters and flooding. These unusually high tides give planners a look at what potential future sea level rise may look like. The pictures will be used in educational and outreach materials to build awareness on how coastal flooding affects Maryland's shoreline. Building a photo library will help planners understand how floods are impacting area schools, homes, harbors, beaches, public access points and other public infrastructure. DNR Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) will also use this information to aid vulnerable communities that may experience coastal hazards and increased flooding in the future. King Tides are natural, predictable tides and are not related to sea level rise or climate change. However, as waters continue to rise, coastal areas will become more at-risk to the impacts of the King Tides, as well as storm surge, flooding and other coastal hazards. To learn more about King Tides, check out the EPA factsheet here. CCS is also working to provide vulnerable coastal communities with financial and technical assistance through the CoastSmart Communities Grant to develop plans and policies that better prepare them for the impacts of and recovery from storm events, shoreline changes and sea level rise. The next request for proposals will be released in late November 2013. For more information on the Maryland King Tides Photo Initiative, including a chart showing when and where tides will be highest and instructions on how to submit a photo, participants should visit dnr.state.md.us/coastsmart/king_tide.asp. To view the photo submissions, visit www.flickr.com/groups/MarylandKingTides. Those with questions or comments may contact Skaggs at 410-260-8743 or kskaggs@dnr.state.md.us.