The City of Crisfield, Maryland, is announcing a new program as part of a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mitigate current environmental challenges in Crisfield related to coastal flooding. Since Crisfield’s founding on the Chesapeake Bay, the environment has been an important part of community life, economy, and culture. Over recent years flooding has impacted local fisheries, residences, drinking water, tourism, and business. To combat these issues, the city of Crisfield is partnering with the EPA and Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network program to explore coastal resilience solutions through an educational training opportunity called the Crisfield Resilience Academy.

 

As part of the coastal community research effort being conducted by the EPA, the Crisfield Resilience Academy aims to provide opportunities for participants to interact with researchers and experts and gain practical knowledge of environmental challenges, policies, and programs that participants can share with their community networks.

 

Residents are invited to apply to join the Academy, launching in Fall 2024. Attendees will learn from scientists, experts, and local community members about coastal resilience and work together to seek solutions for Crisfield to thrive in the future. Attendees will also be given opportunities to better understand the environmental challenges facing Crisfield and potential natural solutions as well as to demonstrate leadership in the community.

 

This training consists of six Saturday sessions held in the Crisfield Library from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET on September 7, September 28, October 5, October 19, November 2, and November 16.

 

Topics discussed during the interactive sessions will include:

• Coastal resilience strategies

• Ditches and drainage maintenance

• Flood warning systems

• Nature-based solutions to flooding and storm surge such as marshes and living shorelines

• Coastal tourism and recreation

 

Those who attend all six sessions in person and participate in the associated activities will receive a completion certificate and be eligible for a stipend of up to $300 (please note that Salisbury University employees do not qualify for the stipend). If there is enough interest, the EPA will offer the Crisfield Resilience Academy again in 2025.

 

Applicants must be at least 15 years old; reside in or near Crisfield, Maryland; be interested in environmental issues; and be available to attend all six in-person sessions. The cohort is limited to 20 participants. Potential candidates can apply for the Fall 2024 Crisfield Resilience Academy at https://www.epa.gov/gcx/crisfield-resilience-academy.

 

For further questions or more information, please contact EPA’s Jenna Hartley at hartley.jenna@epa.gov (919-541-2154) or the Salisbury University Business Economic and Community Outreach Network team at beacon@salisbury.edu (410-546-6001).